Nov 19, 2024 City Council - Revised

IN THIS PRESENTATION TO RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER 21ST IS WORLD PANCREATIC CANCER DAY IN LONG BEACH, AS WELL AS NOVEMBER AS PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS.

I'M HONORED FOR THE SECOND TIME TO BE USHERING

[ PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH]

MONTH.

LEARNING OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS CAN BE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING AND SCARY FOR INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACTS AND FIGURES, THE RISKS AND SYMPTOMS, AND THE RESEARCH AND TREATMENT AVAILABLE.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER, WHICH HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST FIVE-YEAR SURVIVAL RATES.

I CAN SPEAK FROM SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THAT INDEED IT CAN ACT FAST.

MY FATHER-IN-LAW, PASSED AWAY 28 DAYS AFTER HIS DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATIC CANCER.

I KNOW THAT MY FAMILY IS JUST ONE OF MANY IN LONG BEACH THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE AND HONORED TO PLAY THE SMALL PART IN INCREASING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION IN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE EXPERIENCES AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.

AND IN STANDING IN SUPPORT OF OTHERS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH SIMILAR LOSS AND TRAGEDY.

WE'RE JOINED THIS EVENING BY DR. PATEL OF CITY OF HOPE LONG BEACH, MEISE RICH FROM CITY OF HOPE, ORANGE COUNTY, AND LEE RITLER FROM PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK OR PANCAN, TO SPEAK ON THE FACTS AND DETAILS ABOUT PANCREATIC CANCER TO HELP SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT THE DISEASE AND THEIR ONGOING WORK TO FIGHT IT, AND HOW FOLKS IN THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY CAN GET INVOLVED.

I WANNA THANK THEM FOR BEING HERE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I AM ONE OF THE, UH, MEDICAL HEMATOLOGIST ONCOLOGIST WITH CITY OF HOPE, UH, LOCATED HERE IN LONG BEACH.

WE HAVE, UH, TWO CLINICS HERE LOCALLY, UM, AND THEN OF COURSE THROUGHOUT THE LA AREA.

UM, AND I AM GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, PANCREATIC CANCER TODAY.

CANCER ACTUALLY BEING ONE OF THEM.

UM, SO THAT'S ME, UH, CHANGI PATEL.

AND, UM, SO I'M GONNA DO JUST A, IT'S A VERY SHORT OVERVIEW.

IT DOES NOT GO INTO ANY DETAIL, BUT, UM, IN GENERAL, UH, PANCREATIC CANCER IS, UH, THE CANCER OF A SMALL ORGAN THAT'S LOCATED IN THE ABDOMEN.

IT'S ACTUALLY LOCATED TOWARDS THE BACK, UH, BETWEEN THE STOMACH AND THE SPINE.

IT HELPS US TO DIGEST OUR FOOD BY MAKING ENZYMES, UM, THAT HELP US TO CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS AMONG OTHER THINGS.

UM, AND THEN CANCER, UM, ITSELF IN GENERAL IS THE ABNORMAL GROWTH OF CELLS, UM, IN THIS CASE WITHIN THE PANCREAS.

UM, IF YOU GET, UH, A COLLECTION OF CELLS, THEN YOU GET A TUMOR.

AND THE TUMOR IN THIS CASE CAN AFFECT, UH, THE PANCREAS'S ABILITY TO DO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.

UM, AND SO THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN REDUCE, UH, YOUR RISK FOR GETTING PANCREATIC CANCER.

UH, SYMPTOMS OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD INCLUDE, UM, POTENTIALLY ABDOMINAL PAIN, UH, WORSENING OF ACID REFLUX, UM, ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH, UH, ABNORMALITIES AND BLOOD SUGAR, UM, OR DIGESTION AS WELL.

SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, NOT BEING ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR, UM, UNDERSTOOD WELL, THEN IT WOULD BE WORTH, UH, SORT OF GOING DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE.

UM, SO WHAT CAUSES PANCREATIC CANCER? UM, IN GENERAL, OUR, THE BEST OF OUR UNDERSTANDING IS IT HAS TO DO, UM, A LITTLE BIT WITH, UH, GENETICS, WHICH IS SORT OF A, A BROAD, UH, CATEGORIZATION.

MANY PEOPLE, UM, WITH CANCER, UM, DON'T EVER SORT OF KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEY GOT IT.

UM, IN THIS CASE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GENES, UM, AND IT SORT OF EXPLAINS IN DETAIL THERE, BUT THERE ARE, UM, TWO TYPES OF GENES WE THINK ABOUT.

THERE ARE OUR OWN GENES THAT WE, UM, REPLICATE IN OUR CELLS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF OUR LIFE.

AND THOSE CAN MAKE MISTAKES, AND WE CALL THOSE SOMATIC MUTATIONS.

THEY'RE OUR MUTATIONS, AND THEY DO DRIVE CANCERS.

UM, AND SO, UH, THE DETAILED UNDERSTANDING OF SOMATIC MUTATIONS THAT, UH, DRIVE PANCREATIC CANCER IS STILL AN AREA THAT'S STILL, UH, BEING RESEARCHED HEAVILY, UM, AND DOES HELP US TO, UM, CREATE CLINICAL TRIALS AND NEW THERAPIES.

UM, AND THEN THERE IS OF COURSE, UM, GERMLINE MUTATIONS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE INHERITED FROM MOM AND DAD.

UM, AND THOSE, UM, CAN PREDISPOSE US TO MANY TYPES OF CANCERS.

UH, PANCREATIC

[00:10:01]

EVEN, UH, WITH MUTATIONS THAT ARE COMMONLY HEARD OF, THINGS LIKE BRCA ONE, BRCA TWO CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF PANCREATIC CANCER AS WELL.

UM, THE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT, UM, YOUR RISK FOR GETTING PANCREATIC CANCER ARE LIFESTYLE CHOICES SUCH AS SMOKING HEAVY ALCOHOL USE, UM, AN UNHEALTHY DIET, UM, UH, CONTACT TO DIFFERENT CHEMICALS SUCH AS PESTICIDES.

UM, WE KNOW THAT AGENT ORANGE HAD, UM, SOME INCREASED RISK OF MALIGNANCY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT EXPOSURE AS WELL.

UM, AND THEN, UM, CHRONIC DISEASES THAT CAUSE, UM, IRRITATION AND INFLAMMATION WITHIN THE PANCREAS, UH, SUCH AS DIABETES AND PANCREATITIS CAN INCREASE THE RISK AS WELL.

UM, IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CLOSE RELATIVES WITH A, A PERSONAL HISTORY OF PANCREATIC CANCER, UM, OR BREAST, OVARIAN COLORECTAL CANCERS AND MELANOMAS, THERE IS SOME, UM, CROSSOVER IN THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER AS WELL.

UM, SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, UM, OR TO LOOK FOR PANCREATIC CANCER EARLY? UM, WELL, THE MOST, UH, SORT OF OBVIOUS REASON IS THAT IF YOU FIND IT EARLY, THAT IS SORT OF OUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CURATIVE INTENT.

UM, AND USUALLY CURATIVE INTENT IS A COMBINATION OF, UH, SURGERY AND, AND CHEMOTHERAPY, UM, AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

UM, AND SO THE EARLIER YOU CAN FIND IT, THEN THE MORE LIKELY YOU CAN SORT OF ACHIEVE THAT.

UM, IN PATIENTS WHO, UH, UNFORTUNATELY PRESENT WITH MULTIPLE AREAS OF DISEASE OR METASTATIC DISEASE, UM, WE ARE AT THIS POINT UNABLE TO ACHIEVE A CURE.

SO IT'S, UM, A LOT MORE FOCUSED ON CONTROL.

UM, NOWADAYS WE DO HAVE, UH, ONGOING CLINICAL TRIALS AND SEVERAL APPROVED, UH, STANDARD OF CARE THERAPIES THAT ARE EFFECTIVE IN PANCREATIC CANCER.

UM, AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO SORT OF GET THE INFORMATION, UM, GET IN AND SEE, UH, THE MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST IN THIS CASE, UM, AND, AND FIND OUT WHAT IS THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU.

UM, AND THIS IS THE, THE DIAGRAM IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF THE, UH, SURGICAL PROCEDURES THAT IS DONE, UM, FOR CURATIVE INTENT FOR PANCREATIC CANCER.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE SURGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THIS.

UM, THE OTHER SORT OF NEWER THERAPIES, AND THIS IS AGAIN, VERY, VERY BRIEF, UM, THINGS LIKE RADIATION FOR SMALL LESIONS OR FOR PATIENTS WHO CANNOT TOLERATE THE STANDARD OF CARE THERAPIES.

WE DO HAVE ONGOING TRIALS AND VACCINES, UM, THROUGHOUT THE NATION AS WELL AS HERE IN AT CITY OF HOPE, UM, IN PANCREATIC CANCER.

THIS IS FOR A PATIENT WHO HAS ACTIVE PANCREATIC CANCER.

IT DOES NOT PREVENT US FROM GETTING IT.

UM, AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY TARGETED THERAPIES THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT, UM, BOTH IN PANCREATIC CANCER AND OTHER CANCER TYPES AS WELL.

AND, UM, AND THEN HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? MOSTLY IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION, KNOWING WHAT SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR, MAKING SURE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW WHAT SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR, GETTING MEDICAL CARE, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, SORT OF GETTING IN TO SEE US AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

UM, GETTING SUPPORT GROUPS.

AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, WE HAVE AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION CALLED THE PANCREATIC, UM, CANCER ACTION NETWORK THAT HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF KNOWLEDGE OF, UM, WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS, UM, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO AND, UM, CAN, UH, LOOK TO FOR ANSWERS, BECAUSE OF COURSE, EVERYBODY'S JOURNEY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

AND SO HAVING A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE FACED IT IS, IS INCREDIBLE.

UM, SO WITH THAT, UM, DR.

REITER IS GONNA TELL US A LITTLE BIT, UM, MORE ABOUT PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK.

THANK YOU, DR.

DO THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU COUNSEL PEOPLE FOR LETTING US COME AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT PANCAN.

MY WIFE DWAYNE AND I BOTH LOST OUR FIRST SPOUSES TO PANCREATIC CANCER.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW PASSIONATE WE ARE ABOUT TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT CAN BE DONE.

IT SEEMS LIKE A HOPELESS DISEASE, BUT WHEN I WAS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, WE HAD A 4% SURVIVAL RATE TO FIVE YEARS.

NOW IT'S 13%.

OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO 20% BY 2030.

I THINK WE THINK WE'LL DO THAT.

SO WHAT OUR ORGANIZATION DOES IS, WITHOUT ANY CHARGE, WE PROVIDE SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION TO PATIENTS SUPPORT GROUPS.

WE FUND RESEARCH.

WE TRY TO INCREASE AWARENESS, MUCH LIKE YOU'RE LETTING US DO TONIGHT TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT PAN CAN, CAN DO.

WE ALSO REALLY ARE EMPHASIZING ADVOCACY TO ORGANIZATION, STATES AND FEDERAL TO BE ABLE TO FUND PANCREATIC CANCER RESEARCH.

AND WE'RE MAKING SOME MAJOR HEADWAY.

SO WHY, BY ALLOWING US TO COME AND TALK TO YOU TONIGHT AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT PANCAN.ORG, WHICH IS OUR WEBSITE, IS THE FIRST PLACE TO GO.

WE HAVE PHONE NUMBERS YOU CAN REACH.

I HAVE CARDS I'VE LEFT, AND IMPORTANTLY, I'VE ALSO LEFT SOME PURPLE RIBBONS AND PURPLE WRISTBANDS THAT I'M HOPING.

THANK YOU, MEGAN.

KARA HAS AN EXAMPLE OF THOSE, AND I'VE LEFT PLENTY, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO BRING BACK MORE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT NOVEMBER 21ST IS WORLD PANCREATIC CANCER DAY.

MY WIFE DWAYNE, IS A LITTLE MORE ARTICULATE AND BETTER LOOKING THAN I, SO MAYBE YOU CAN, UH, GET A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT PANCREATIC CANCER FROM HER PERSPECTIVE.

WELL, WE'RE REALLY HERE AS, AS, UH,

[00:15:01]

MY HUSBAND TOLD YOU BECAUSE BOTH OF OUR SPOUSES SUFFERED FROM PANCREATIC CANCER.

MINE, WHEN IT WAS SORT OF NOT MUCH WAS KNOWN ABOUT IT, IT WAS IN 2003.

AND HE WAS QUITE YOUNG AND HAD NO PARTICULAR SYMPTOMS THAT WERE SUGGESTIVE OF ANYTHING UNUSUAL.

HIS BEST FRIENDS WERE, UH, FAMILY DOCTORS.

I MEAN, NOTHING SEEMED PARTICULARLY OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

AND YET IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT CAN TAKE A LIFE SO VERY QUICKLY THAT IT'S, IT'S ALMOST SHOCKING.

AND WHEN I EXPERIENCED THAT IN 2003, THERE WAS NOTHING.

THERE WERE, THERE WERE NO SERVICES.

THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

DESPITE MY HUSBAND HAVING MANY, MANY DOCTOR FRIENDS, UH, IN A SMALL AREA IN PENNSYLVANIA, NOT A LOT WAS KNOWN ABOUT IT.

WE, WE WENT CRAZY LOOKING FOR CLINICAL TRIALS.

AND OFTEN THAT BURDEN OF THAT AT THAT POINT, WITHOUT PANCAN WAS ON THE PATIENT'S FAMILY.

AND SO NOW PANCAN IS HERE FOR, I THINK OVER 20 YEARS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, 25, RIGHT? AND THEY PRO PROVIDE ALL KINDS OF FREE RESOURCES AND SERVICES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS TO AT LEAST INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF THIS DISEASE, WHICH OFTEN TAKES PEOPLE VERY, VERY QUICKLY IF THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS. SO THAT'S REALLY OUR PURPOSE IN BEING HERE.

SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALLOWING US TO FULFILL OUR ROLE, WHICH IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS.

WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT PANCAN HAS A SERIES OF TERRITORIES.

YOU'RE PART OF THE ORANGE COUNTY TERRITORY BECAUSE IT'S ORANGE COUNTY AND LONG BEACH, AND WE HAVE A ONCE A YEAR CELEBRATION OF THOSE WHO HAVE SURVIVED OR SURVIVING, OR OTHER PEOPLE ARE JUST MOTIVATED TO COME OUT TO OUR WALK AT ANGEL STADIUM IN APRIL.

SO YOU CAN FIND ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS.

IT'S CALLED PURPLE STRIDE, AND IT'S ALL ON THE SAME WEBSITE, PANCAN.ORG.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.

PLEASE WEAR THOSE WRISTBANDS AND REMEMBER PANCAN AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I JUST THANK, UM, DR. PATEL AND DR.

RITLER AND ALL OF YOU FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING WITH US TODAY.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO RICK PINSON, OUR, ONE OF OUR FIFTH DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHO LOST HIS WIFE TO PANCREATIC CANCER, WHO, UM, HAS BEEN REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE TO, UH, MAKE US MORE AWARE SO THAT WE CAN BRING YOU HERE TO HELP ALL OF US BECOME MORE AWARE.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO REMIND FOLKS ON THE 21ST TO WEAR THEIR PURPLE RIBBONS.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE, SO IF YOU WANNA COME FORWARD, LET'S, UH, UH, TAKE A PHOTO AND RECOGNIZE, UH, THIS AWARENESS MONTH, PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CENTER.

THAT'S RIGHT.

DO YOU NEED US? NO, YOU'RE GOOD.

AND IF WE CAN, UH, BRING DOWN THESE ROPES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER KERR WILL NOW SET UP FOR OUR, UH, MONTHLY ANIMAL CARE SERVICE PET ADOPTION.

[ ACS PET ADOPTION]

PAUL, I CAN HEAR DOG.

SO SWEET.

THERE IT IS.

YOU'RE ON.

HELLO, HELLO, STEAM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE MAYOR.

MY NAME IS MAY VILLANUEVA

[00:20:01]

FROM LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY OUR AWESOME VOLUNTEER, ANNA GRABOFF AND OUR SHELTER PET OF THE MONTH.

SO THIS IS PARIS.

SHE IS OUR LOVING 4-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER.

UH, THIS SWEET GIRL HAS A HEART FULL OF LOVE AND A PERSONALITY TO MATCH.

SHE ABSOLUTELY ADORES HER WALK.

SO IF YOU'RE AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST, SHE'LL HAPPILY JOIN YOU FOR SOME DAILY ADVENTURES.

UH, SHE LOVES TO BE SHOWERED WITH AFFECTION AND HAS A CUTE LITTLE LINK.

UM, IF YOU TO GET YOUR ATTENTION, UH, YOU CAN PROBABLY HEAR IT NOW.

, UM, THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW PARIS, AND THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER.

UM, ANOTHER FUN QUIRK ABOUT HER IS THAT SHE DOES A LITTLE CUTE TWERK WHEN SHE'S SUPER EXCITED.

YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE THAT THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND, UM, SO IF YOU WANT TO , YOU CAN SEE HER TALKING NOW.

SO IF YOU WANNA ADOPT HER, UM, COME MEET HER TODAY AT LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

OOPS, SORRY.

SHE'S PARIS.

, GO SAY HI.

UH, VACCINES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE, PROTECTING OUR FURRY FRIENDS FROM VARIOUS DISEASES.

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH CAMP CLINICS TO HOST A LOW COST, UM, LOW COST VACCINE CLINIC AT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER EVERY MONDAY, SECOND FRIDAY, AND FOURTH FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.

WE ALSO ANNOUNCE MORE DATES EVERY MONTH, SO PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A FULL SCHEDULE.

UH, THE CLINIC OFFERS A VARIETY OF VACCINES, INCLUDING THOSE AGAINST RABIES, AS WELL AS MICROCHIPPING.

YOUR ANIMAL AND VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST 60 PETS OF THE DAY.

ALL CATS MUST BE IN A CARRIER AND DOGS ON A LEASH.

WE ALSO WANTED TO PROMOTE OUR SPAY NEUTER VOUCHER PROGRAM, UM, AN INITIATIVE, AN INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND REDUCE THE OVERPOPULATION OF ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE ALL RESIDENTS TO VOUCHERS TO COVER A PORTION OF OUR SPAY NEUTER SURGERY COSTS, MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT ALL PETS ARE STERILIZED.

UM, FOR DOGS YOU CAN RECEIVE UP TO $60 AND 95 CENTS.

AND FOR ALL CATS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY CATS, YOU CAN RECEIVE A HUNDRED DOLLARS.

UM, TO APPLY, YOU MUST BE A RESIDENT.

UM, SUBMIT A VOUCHER APPLICATION ONLINE AND PROVIDE A PROOF OF ADDRESS, WHICH CAN EITHER BE A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR A UTILITY BILL.

AND THEN LASTLY, HERE'S ALL OF OUR INFORMATION.

IF YOU WANT TO ADOPT, FOSTER, VOLUNTEER, OR DONATE.

OUR SHELTER IS OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THROUGH, UM, STARTING AT 10:00 AM AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OF TODAY'S INFORMATION AND MORE, UM, RESOURCES@LONGBEACH.GOV SLASH ACS.

AND THEN I'LL PUT PARIS'S INFORMATION BACK ON THE SCREEN.

ALRIGHT, SO, UH, PARIS IS PRETTY FRIENDLY, A VERY NICE DOG, AND SHE, UH, I THINK SHE REALLY LIKES COUNCILWOMAN KERR 'CAUSE SHE WENT RIGHT UP TO COUNCILWOMAN KERR.

UM, AND SHE DANCES.

SHE'S, SHE'S A DANCER.

SHE'S, UH, BEEN A DANCER IN ANOTHER LIFE, AND, BUT NOW SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A HOME.

THESE, THESE MONTHLY PET ADOPTION'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

EVERY PET THAT'S COME IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAS GOT, HAS, YOU KNOW, GOTTEN ADOPTED AND FOUND THEIR FOREVER HOME.

AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PARIS ALSO, UH, HAS A GOOD, A GOOD STORY, A GOOD ENDING TO THE STORY.

SO MAKE SURE YOU SUPPORT OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

UH, YOU HAVE THE CONTACT INFO, WELL, HE HAVE HER, HER STUFF UP, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE PUT UP THE CONTACT INFORMATION ONE MORE TIME.

THAT'S RIGHT.

JUST, UH, CALL THAT NUMBER OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE, LONG BEACH.GOV/ACS.

UH, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARIS, UH, OR OUR INCREDIBLE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR 'EM ONE MORE TIME.

UH, WE'LL NOW GET INTO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

LET'S QUEUE THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE.

CONSENT.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT? OH, HAS IT NOT BEEN GIVEN? NOPE.

OH, THERE, I THOUGHT IT WAS.

OKAY, NOW IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT? SEEING NONE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

NOW IF MY VOICE, IF MY MOUTH SOUNDS A LITTLE OFF, I HAVE NEW RETAINERS IN AND IT'S LIKE THE FIRST 24 HOUR PERIOD, SO IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD, SO JUST BEAR WITH ME.

UH, WE HAVE A REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SET, CLOSED SESSION.

MADAM CITY ATTORNEY.

[00:25:01]

WE HAVE TWO ITEMS TO REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION.

WE HAVE A SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF LAUA VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 AND A SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER ZBU VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR $175,000.

UH, NEXT WE'LL GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE.

WE HAVE, LET'S SEE, NINE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

WHEN YOU HEAR A NAME, PLEASE

[ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ]

COME FORWARD.

FRANKIE MEDO, UH, FRANCISCO GONZALEZ, CAPRICE MCDONALD, ANTHONY HOLMES, MATT CARROLL, JOSEPH EDWARD, PAUL MARTINEZ, PAULETTE DUNN, AND JANAE PRICE.

SO FIRST IS FRANKIE.

IS FRANKIE HERE? FRANKIE GOING ONCE.

BEAR WITH ME THAT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

UH, I'M A GRAD STUDENT AT USC, UH, MAJOR, UH, IN A MASTER'S OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM.

AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, RETURNING CITIZENS OF REENTRY IN LONG BEACH.

UH, SO THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE SPEAKING ON, UH, IN LONG BEACH.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY, UH, 3,300 PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE HOMELESS IN THE CITY STREETS OF LONG BEACH.

UH, 70 70% OF THEM ARE RECENTLY, UH, WERE INCARCERATED, COMING BACK INTO THE CITY, AND THEY'RE LACKING, UH, SUBSTANCES SUCH AS EDUCATION, UH, A HOME.

UH, I PREVIOUSLY, UH, YOU HAVE A HOMELESS SERVICES@LONGBEACH.GOV.

YOU HAVE A NUMBER THAT I'VE BEEN CALLING FOR THE LAST COUPLE DAYS AND LEFT A MESSAGE, AND I'VE RECEIVED NO REPLY.

IT STATES THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE STREET THAT ARE REACHING OUT FOR SOME HELP AND FOR SOME FOUNDATION.

AND, UH, I MYSELF HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY.

LONG BEACH IS CURRENTLY THE FIFTH BIGGEST HOMELESS CITY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

SO I'M ASKING FOR IS, IF POSSIBLE, IF WE CAN HAVE SOME RESOURCES SUCH AS A HOMELESS OUTREACH, UH, AND HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS TO RECOVER, GETTING THEM OFF THE STREETS, ASKING IF THEY WANT A REHABILITATION PROGRAM, UH, HELP 'EM WITH EDUCATION.

I DON'T HAVE NO DATA IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I'M WELL AWARE SINCE WORKING AT RECOVERY FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, THAT IF WE CAN EDUCATE THESE PEOPLES PEOPLE COMING FROM, UH, THESE CALIFORNIA PRISONS AS WELL AS ANY TYPE OF HOMELESS PERSON, THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS TO TURN THEM INTO, UH, OF STANDING CITIZENS, UH, GREATLY INCREASES THEIR CHANCES OF STAYING OUT HERE AND GETTING THEIR LIFE BACK ON TRACK.

UH, YOU GUYS CURRENTLY HAVE A FEW, UH, REHABILITATION FACILITIES.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT COUNT.

I COULDN'T PULL THAT UP, BUT YOU HAVE TARZANA, WHICH IS VERY WELL KNOWN IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

LATA IS ANOTHER FACILITY, A COMPANY THAT HAS A LOT OF OUTREACH IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS WELL AS SAFE REFUGE.

UH, THESE ARE JUST THREE FACILITIES AND THEY ALL TAKE MEDICARE.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, PEOPLE THAT COME OUT OF, UH, PRISON, UH, ARE GIVEN MEDICARE TO COME OUT WITH.

SO THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO BRING UP, AND I'M TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR THESE PEOPLE TOO.

IF WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME STABILITY, SOME RESOURCES TO WORK WHEN THEY COME OUT AND HELP THEM OUT, GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND, UH, FOR YOUR RESEARCH, FEEL FREE TO LOOK AT LONG BEACH.GOV/HOMELESSNESS.

IT'S A DASHBOARD.

IT'S A LOT OF RESOURCES.

THERE WOULD BE A GOOD, A GOOD STARTING POINT.

NO, I, I DID.

I HAVE, THANK YOU.

I, UH, DOWNLOADED SOME PAPERWORK.

REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS, RIGHT? REENTRY PROGRAMS, UM, TRANSITIONAL PROGRAMS. THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S A FEW.

AWESOME, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS FRANCISCO GONZALEZ, THEN CAPRICE MCDONALD.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY NAME IS FRANCISCO GONZALEZ.

I AM ALSO A STUDENT FROM USC STUDYING FOR, UM, MY MASTER'S IN, UH, SOCIAL WORK, INTEGRATED SOCIAL WORK.

UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.

UM, I JUST WANNA ADD ON TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS IN LONG BEACH IS, IS VERY HIGH.

UM, AND THERE IS SEVERAL

[00:30:01]

HOWEVER, IT SEEMS, UH, THAT THE NEED FOR EXPANSION, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REQUIRED.

UM, I WORK FOR THE LOS ANGELES CENTER FOR ALCOHOL DRUG ABUSE.

UH, WE HAVE A, A FACILITY RIGHT HERE IN ON, ON CHERRY AVENUE, AND WE ALSO HAVE A RECOVERY BRIDGE HOUSING.

UM, AND WORKING, WORKING IN THIS AGENCY, IT'S, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE NEED FOR EXPANSION IS, IS, IS, IS NEEDED.

UM, WE ONLY HAVE ONE, ONE OUTPATIENT AND ONE RES, UH, RECOVERY BRIDGE HOUSING.

AND THE NEED FOR EXPANSION IS, IS, IS REQUIRED.

UM, WHERE I WORK AT TODAY, IT'S A WAREHOUSE THAT WAS ABANDONED AND CONVERTED INTO A 60 BED RESIDENTIAL FACILITY.

UM, IT WAS VERY COST EFFECTIVE.

UM, THEY CONTRACTED SOME, UH, CONTRACTORS AND REMODELED THE FACILITY, AND NOW WE HAVE A 60 BED FACILITY.

UM, THIS IDEA CAN GREATLY INCREASE THE CHANCES OF PEOPLE, UM, RECEIVING TREATMENT, RIGHT? WE HAVE, UH, UH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, UH, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND CRIMINAL THINKING, RIGHT? SO WITH, WITH THAT IN MIND, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF ABANDONED BUILDING IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, RIGHT? A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT, UH, WAREHOUSE CONVERTED INTO, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, A 60 BED FACILITY WOULD COST ABOUT 500,000, RIGHT? IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW, BUT IN THE LONG RUN, THE CITY WOULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY, RIGHT? IF AT, IF HALF OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, AT LEAST HALF OF THESE INDIVIDUALS RECOVER FROM THEIR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, CRIMINAL THINKING, THE CITY WILL SAVE A LOT MORE MONEY FROM THE CRIMES THAT ARE BEING PREVENTED, RIGHT? WITH JUST HALF OF THESE INDIVIDUALS RECOVERING.

SO IT'S JUST A CALL TO ACTION, UM, IDENTIFYING THESE ABANDONED BUILDINGS, CONVERTING 'EM INTO RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES, AND, UH, THE STAFF IS THERE.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF STAFF, WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERNS.

UM, SO THE, THE STAFF IS THERE.

UM, WE JUST, IT'S JUST A CALL TO ACTION TO, UM, GET THESE PEOPLE TREATED FOR, FOR THE DISORDERS.

AFTER CAPRICE IS ANTHONY HOLMES.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CAPRICE MCDONALD.

HELLO, LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL AND MY FELLOW RESIDENTS.

ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, THE MAYOR'S BALLOT MEASURE JB TO REMOVE THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION'S HIRING OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY CLASSIFIED SERVICE PASS.

THE MEASURE PASSED AT 60 40% RATE, AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE RESIDENTS THAT ADVOCATED FOR A NO VOTE TO PREVENT THE WEAKENING OF EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS AND A STANCE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.

AND I'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESIDENTS AGAINST CORRUPTION KNOWN MEASURE.

JB COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO THANK IAN PATTON OF LONG BEACH REFORM COALITION, HERMAN LONG RETIRED CIVIL SERVICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DR.

FELTON WILLIAMS, RETIRED BOARD PRESIDENT OF LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, ROBERT MARKS COMMUNITY DEVELOPER AND ACTIVIST, ROBIN GORDON PETERSON, A COMMITTEE MEMBER AND A CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, AND ALSO IN SUPPORT NOT OF THE COMMITTEE, VICE PRESIDENT JOSE SUNA OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONERS, JOANNE GARCA, VICTORIA LOVE ERIC FROST HOLLAND.

AND ALSO I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANTHONY HOLMES, A CITY EMPLOYEE WHO CAME OUT AND SPOKE HIS TRUTH TIME AFTER TIME.

AND I LIKE TO THANK JACKIE RAY OF THE JACKIE RAY SHOW AND JASON RUIZ RUIZ OF THE LONG BEACH WATCHDOG.

BOTH ARE PART OF THE UNBIASED MEDIA COMMUNITY THAT MADE EFFORTS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO JOLENE TATUM, A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND ADVOCATE FOR RESIDENT.

WHAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THE CAMPAIGNING PROCESS THAT THE PUBLIC WAS UNINFORMED AND MISINFORMED, AND IN MOST CASES, CONVOLUTED WITH HALF TRUTHS OF THE 60% THAT VOTED YES.

AND OF THE 40% THAT VOTED NO, MANY ONLY FOLLOWED WHOM THEY TRUSTED TO THE RESIDENT STAKEHOLDERS.

THE MAYOR'S WIN WAS NOT A LOSS FOR THE PUBLIC.

IT WAS, IT'S, IT WAS A WIN FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE WHAT WE GOT OUT OF IT WAS EVERYONE NOW HAS GAINED SOME KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS AND AWAKEN AND REALIZE THAT WE CAN NO LONGER BE COMPLACENT, AND IT'S NOT OKAY TO BE ASLEEP AT THE WILL.

ALTHOUGH THE CHARTER NOW DID AWAY WITH THE INTERNAL OVERSIGHT, WHICH WAS THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,

[00:35:01]

IT IS NOW THE COMMUNITY'S DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THAT WATCHDOG AND OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT GO UNCHECKED.

AND I'M NOT SAYING NOT TO TRUST YOUR LEADERS, BUT IT'S UNREALISTIC, UNREALISTIC TO BELIEVE THAT EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL TO CITY STAFF TO ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING.

SO EVERYONE, PAY ATTENTION.

LEARN WHAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS DOING, AND MOSTLY HOW YOUR MONEY AND RESOURCES ARE BEING SPENT.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS ANTHONY HOLMES.

I AM NOT GONNA BE LONG WINDED TODAY AFTER ANTHONY MATT CARROLL.

I'M NOT GONNA BE LONGWINDED TODAY, LITTLE UNDER WEATHER, BUT I WANTED TO LOOK AT CHRISTINA DUGGANS LAST WEEK.

YOU SAID IT DOESN'T TAKE STATISTICS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CRISIS GOING ON WHEN IT COMES TO OPIOID AND OUR CITY IN OUR COUNTRY.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T TAKE STATISTICS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM AND RETALIATION GOING ON AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS IN OUR CITY, IN OUR COUNTRY.

YOU GUYS HAVE A NICE DAY.

BLACK LIVES MATTER AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY STAY WOKE.

NEXT IS MATT CARROLL.

AFTER THAT IS JOSEPH EDWARD.

MY NAME IS MATT CARROLL.

I LIVE IN CAL HEIGHTS, SIX BLOCKS FROM WARDLOW AND CERRITOS, WHERE THE CITY PROPOSES TO BUILD A FIVE STORY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND COLLABORATION WITH THE WEST HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MANY LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THIS PROPOSAL.

THE PROPOSED DESIGN IS TOO MODERN AND DOESN'T FIT THE ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER, UH, OF THE AREA.

LONG BEACH DESERVES BETTER, SOMETHING THAT RESPECTS ITS HISTORY AND BLENDS WITH ITS NEIGHBORHOODS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHY NOT CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT IN WEST HOLLYWOOD? IT WAS DESIGNED BY KFA ARCHITECTURE FOR THE SAME ORGANIZATION THAT THE CITY IS PARTNERING WITH AT WARDLOW AND CERRITOS, THE WEST HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION.

THEY ALREADY HAVE THE BLUEPRINTS.

PERHAPS THIS DESIGN COULD BE ADAPTED TO THIS LOCATION.

I'M SURE THAT ITS SIZE COULD BE SCALED LARGER OR SMALLER DEPENDING ON WHAT'S APPROVED.

IT'S NOT PERFECT.

FOR EXAMPLE, I'M NOT A FAN OF THE GROUND LEVEL PARKING GARAGE, BUT THE OVERALL DESIGN WOULD PROVOKE LESS OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT, AND YOU CAN DO EVEN BETTER.

ONE IDEA IS TO INVITE THE ARCHITECT AND HOUSING CORPORATION TO WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THE HOMES.

HOMES THERE.

I'M SURE THAT SOMEONE FROM CAL HEIGHTS COULD JOIN THIS TOUR.

IMAGINE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ENHANCED BY DETAILS THAT TIE IT AUTHENTICALLY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

A PROCESS LIKE THAT WOULD CREATE MORE SUPPORT FOR YOUR PROPOSAL AND SET A BETTER PRECEDENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COURT GOING FORWARD.

AND THERE ARE OTHER BUILDINGS RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH THAT RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY THAT COULD BE MODELS FOR THE WARDLOW AND CERRITOS PROJECT, SUCH AS THE LAFAYETTE AT ONE 40 LINDON BUILT IN 1928, OR THE CALIFORNIAN AT 3 25 WEST THIRD BUILT IN 1924, OR EVEN LIKE SENECA BUILT IN 2006 AT THE FORMER JAVA LANE SITE.

BUT THIS IS ONE POSSIBILITY THAT I FOUND ON THE WEB.

I'M NOT AFFILIATED WITH IT.

IT'S CALLED BLUE HIBISCUS.

IT'S LOCATED AT 1125 NORTH DETROIT STREET IN WEST HOLLYWOOD.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY KFA ARCHITECTURE BASED IN CULVER CITY, FOR THE WEST HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION TO, WITH THE CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH, DESERVE THE SAME THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION FOR THE CHARACTER OF OUR UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WEST HOLLYWOOD'S.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

THANKS, MATT.

AND THE PROCESS ISN'T OVER YET.

IT'S STILL ITERATIVE.

I KNOW THIS IS PART OF IT THOUGH.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS.

UH, NEXT IS JOSEPH EDWARDS, THEN PAUL MARTINEZ.

HELLO, UH, JOSEPH EDWARDS, UH, LONG BEACH RESIDENT.

I'D LIKE TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF LATE NIGHT TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHILE THE CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM DOES HELP OUT MANY, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO GET HOME AFTER MIDNIGHT.

LONG BEACH HAS QUITE AN ACTIVE NIGHTLIFE SCENE, AND I KNOW WE LIKE THOSE TAX DOLLARS.

UH, WITH BARS AND SOCIAL HANGOUTS CLOSING AS LATE AS 2:00 AM THOSE WORKING, THE CLOSING SHIFTS ARE STAYING MUCH LATER THAN THAT.

PEOPLE FACING FINANCIAL STRUGGLES CANNOT CONSTANTLY AFFORD OPTIONS LIKE UBER OR LYFT.

SURE, YOU CAN GRAB A LINE SCOOTER OR SOMETHING, BUT $10 A NIGHT, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT ADDS UP FAST.

PLUS IT PUTS YOU AT RISK OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING AND HAVE BEEN DRINKING.

THIS OFTEN FORCES PEOPLE TO WALK OR FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO GET HOME.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS, I'LL LEAVE TO YOUR IMAGINATION BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU, IF YOU CAN FATHOM A SCENARIO, IT'S PROBABLY BEEN DONE FOR A RIDE

[00:40:01]

HOME.

UM, UH, THIS CAN EXPOSE ONE TO UNSAFE SITUATIONS, INCLUDING EXPLOITATION WITH HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ON THE RISE.

THIS LACK OF RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION INCREASES VULNERABILITY TO ATTACK.

EXPANDING LATE NIGHT PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTIONS IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE WHO HAS NO OPTION BUT TO DEPEND ON IT.

THANK YOU, JOSEPH.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS PAUL, THEN PAULETTE.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS PAUL MARTINEZ AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF HIV PREVENTION IN BOTH THE HETEROSEXUAL AND LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITIES HERE IN LONG BEACH.

DESPITE ADVANCES IN MEDICINE AND EDUCATION, HIV CONTINUES TO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN LONG BEACH.

THOUGH THERE ARE SOME SERVICES ADDRESSING HIV PREVENTION, MORE CAN BE DONE.

HIV INFECTION RATES HAVE NOT GONE DOWN DESPITE THE CURRENT EFFORTS.

AND THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY FACES A HIGHER RISK OF CONTRACTING HIV, GETTING BISEXUAL.

MEN AS WELL AS TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK WITH GAY MEN BEING 28 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO CONTRACT HIV THAN HETEROSEXUAL MEN AND TRANSGENDER WOMEN, 14 TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN OTHER WOMEN.

THIS IS DUE TO BARRIERS LIKE STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION, AND LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

PROGRAMS SUCH AS A PLA HEALTH AND THE LGBTQ PLUS CENTER OF LONG BEACH ARE CRITICAL IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO TESTING, COUNSELING, AND CARE SPECIFICALLY FOR LGBTQ PLUS INDIVIDUALS ADDRESSING THESE DISPARITIES.

BUT MORE SHOULD BE DONE AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP.

THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERS SOME TESTING AND RESOURCES, BUT MORE CAN BE DONE TO EDUCATE YOUNG FOLKS ABOUT PREP FREE TESTING AND LOW COST OR FREE STI TREATMENTS.

I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL IN MARY TO PUSH FOR MORE COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE.

WE CAN WORK TOWARDS REDUCING NEW INFECTIONS ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES.

HIV DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AND NEITHER SHOULD LONG BEACH IN PREVENTION EFFORTS.

LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK THE PANCREATIC AWARENESS NETWORK FOR BEING, UH, HERE FOR THE PRESENTATION.

MY FATHER DIED OF PANCREATIC CANCER IN 2019.

IT STARTED WITH BACK PAIN AND BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE.

THE CANCER HAD TAKEN HOLD.

THE TREATMENT HE RECEIVED ALLOWED HIM TWO YEARS, WHICH WAS JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR HIM TO WITNESS THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST GRANDCHILD.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO PUSH FOR MORE AWARENESS EFFORTS TO THE PUBLIC FOR THIS CANCER.

LIKE A RIPPLE EFFECT OF EVENTS THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING HERE.

THANKS FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, PAUL.

NEXT IS PAULETTE, AFTER PAULETTE IS JANAE.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND THANK YOU CHRISTINA DUGGAN FOR THE MOMENT OF SILENCE.

I NEEDED THAT.

UM, THE PURPOSE OF ME SPEAKING TONIGHT IS BECAUSE I, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BUT I'M ALSO VERY, VERY UPSET OF WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

I'VE BEEN HOMELESS FOR A YEAR HERE IN LONG BEACH.

I'VE ADVOCATED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FAMILIES HERE FOR 17 YEARS.

AND, UM, MY FAMILY AND I WERE AT THE A BC SHELTER DURING OUR STAY THERE.

THERE WAS A BUT NAKED MAN WITH A GUN.

THEY CAME INTO THE MEN'S DORM.

THERE WERE OVER 25 MEN INSIDE OF THAT DORM, AND THERE WERE NO PROTOCOLS THAT WAS TO BE KNOWN OF, OR ANY POLICIES TO TAKE PLACE FOR SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR THE RESIDENTS.

NO ONE, UH, REPORTED IT FOR OVER FOUR MONTHS, AND I DECIDED TO REPORT IT AND GAVE THE VIDEO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN I REQUESTED FOR COUNSELORS TO COME OUT TO HELP THE RESIDENTS THAT WAS VENTING FROM WHAT THEY'VE SAW.

UH, FROM THERE, WE LEFT A BC SHELTER AND WE WENT TO, UM, WE WENT TO RESIDENCE INNS FOR CHRISTMAS, AND THEN WE WENT TO EXTENDED STAY.

AT EXTENDED STAY WAS WHERE THE YOUNG MAN KILLED HIMSELF.

THE THE TEENAGER KILLED HIMSELF LIKE A WEEK PRIOR, BEFORE WE GOT THERE.

AND THEN AFTER, UH, HE DID THAT, MY HUSBAND PASSED, WHICH IS WHY I THANK YOU, UM, CHRISTINA AGAIN, BECAUSE HE PASSED THIS YEAR IN MARCH ALSO, UM, AFTER HE PASSED, I ENDED UP LEAVING AS WELL TO GO HELP MY MOM.

SO AFTER I LEFT THE YOUNG MAN AT EXTENDED STATE MURDERED A, A KID THERE AT EXTENDED STAY AGAIN AND THEN MURDERED THE, THE MOTHER, HIS MOTHER'S BOYFRIEND AT, IN THE, UM, GARAGE HERE IN LONG BEACH.

SO MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN

[00:45:01]

THAT'S, THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS MY, MY THING IS REACH OUT MORE, SOME ADVOCACY.

I'M HERE.

UM, I LOVE LONG BEACH.

I DON'T PLAN ON GOING ANYWHERE AND THANK YOU Q.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS JANAE, OUR FINAL SPEAKER, JANAE PRICE.

HELLO.

UM, I'M JANAE PRICE AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH NOW FOR A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS.

UM, MY MAIN THING, I KNOW THE CITY OF LONG BEACH WANTS TO GEAR TOWARDS BIG EVENTS, UM, FUN EVENTS AT THE QUEEN MARY NEAR BEACH CITIES.

UM, THE LONG BEACH HALF MARATHON GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY YEAR.

I'VE PARTICIPATED IN IT, I'VE DONE STUFF AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

UM, BUT WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, OUR PARKING SITUATION IS KIND OF A DIFFICULT SITUATION TO HOST A LOT OF THESE EVENTS.

UM, THERE ARE EMPTY LOTS AND EMPTY BUILDINGS OR LOTS THAT CLOSE EARLIER, EARLIER.

UM, AND IF WE COULD PUT MORE FUNDING TOWARDS INCREASING HOW LONG THESE LOTS ARE OPEN SO PEOPLE HAVE BETTER PARKING SITUATIONS OR INCREASING, UM, BUILDING UP THESE LOTS.

SO BUILDING THEM TALLER SOMETIMES CAN ALSO HELP.

ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF POTHOLES THAT NEED TO BE FIXED IN THE STREET.

AND AGAIN, I LIVE ON A STREET THAT THERE'S BEEN A POTHOLE, A VERY LARGE POTHOLE THERE FOR OVER THREE YEARS.

UM, PREVENTS STREET PARKING MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.

PEOPLE DON'T WANNA PARK IN THOSE CERTAIN AREAS.

SO WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, AND I KNOW LIKE HOSTING BIG EVENTS IS SOMETHING THAT BRINGS IN A LOT OF MONEY AND THAT THE CITY LIKES TO DO.

UM, I THINK HAVING THE ABILITY TO HOST THESE EVENTS MEANS HAVING THE ABILITY TO PUT THESE CARS SOMEWHERE, HAVE PEOPLE COME TO THE CITY AND NOT FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ARRIVE TWO HOURS EARLY AND STRUGGLE TO PARK WITH WHATEVER SITUATION IS GOING ON.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ON THAT POTHOLE.

HAVE YOU REPORTED IT ON GO LONG BEACH, THE MOBILE APP? I HAVE NOT.

OKAY, SO WE GOT POTHOLE CREWS DOING SIX DAYS A WEEK RIGHT NOW.

DOWNLOAD THE GO LONG BEACH MOBILE APP, SELECT POTHOLE, TAKE A PICTURE AND SUBMIT.

IT GETS ADDED TO THE QUEUE.

SO THEY'VE DONE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, LIKE 40,000 POT.

THEY'RE GOING POTHOLE CRAZY RIGHT NOW.

SO MAKE SURE YOU TURN IN THAT POTHOLE.

OKAY? OKAY.

CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON ONE APPEAL OF THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE WAR OIL TANK INSTALLATION PROJECT FILE PURSUANT TO LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE APPELLANT AND ADOPT RESOLUTION, DENYING THE APPEAL AND UPHOLD THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONER CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL EIR FOR THE PROJECT.

WELL, THAT SATISFIES, UH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR HEARINGS.

OUR FIRST HEARING ITEM 26, PLEASE.

ITEM 26 A IS A REPORT FROM HARBOR RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD AND

[26. 24-55591 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record and conduct a public hearing on one appeal of the Board of Harbor Commissioners' certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the World Oil Tank Installation Project (Project) filed pursuant to Long Beach Municipal Code Section 21.21.507 by the "Appellant" (Coalition for Clean Air, Communities for a Better Environment, Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice and Sierra Club - Angeles Chapter); and adopt resolution denying the appeal, and uphold the Board of Harbor Commissioners' certification of the Final EIR for the Project. Office or Department: Harbor Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

AND THIS ITEMS REQUIRE AN OATH.

ALRIGHT, LET'S MINISTER THE OATH.

PLEASE STAND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TESTIFY ON THE, ON THIS ITEMS, AND PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

YOU AND EACH OF YOU DO SOLEMNLY STATE THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE IN THE CAUSE NOW AND PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

SO HELP YOU GOD.

PRESENTATION AND REBUTTAL.

SOME PEOPLE WERE A LITTLE HESITANT ON RAISING THEIR HAND ON THAT ONE.

ALRIGHT, LET'S START WITH THE STAFF REPORT, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME, ISSIE ARLAY.

I AM A DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

I REPRESENT THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEFORE IT TODAY AN APPEAL OF THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE WORLD OIL TANK INSTALLATION PROJECT.

THE PROCEDURES FOR THIS HEARING WILL BE AS FOLLOWS.

FIRST, THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT.

SECOND, THE APPELLANTS WILL PRESENT.

THIRD, THE PROJECT APPLICANT WILL PRESENT THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT AND APPELLANTS WILL THEN EACH HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A REBUTTAL.

THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT HAS 15 MINUTES TOTAL FOR ITS PRESENTATION AND REBUTTAL.

THE APPELLANTS HAVE 10 MINUTES TOTAL FOR THEIR

[00:50:01]

THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT AND APPELLANTS CAN EACH DIVIDE THEIR TIME AS THEY CHOOSE BETWEEN PRESENTATION AND REBUTTAL TIME.

ANY REBUTTAL TIME SHALL BE RESERVED AT THE OUTSET OF A PARTY'S INITIAL PRESENTATION.

NEITHER THE PROJECT APPLICANT NOR THE APPELLANTS MAY SUPPLEMENT THEIR APPEAL TIME DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS HEARING, THESE PRESENTATIONS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND CITY COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS.

IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY ON APPEAL TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS COMPLIED WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT OR CQA IN CERTIFYING, IN CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT OR EIR, THE ISSUE ON APPEAL.

THE ISSUES ON APPEAL ARE LIMITED TO THOSE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED BY APPELLANTS IN THEIR APPEAL LETTER DATED OCTOBER 4TH, 2024, A COPY OF WHICH WAS PROVIDED TO ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS TWO OPTIONS IN CONSIDERING THIS APPEAL.

IF THE CITY COUNCIL DETERMINES THAT THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONER'S CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL EIR COMPLIES WITH CQA, THEN IT MUST DENY THE APPEAL AND APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONER'S CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL EIR FOR THE PROJECT.

ALTERNATIVELY, IF THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS THAT THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONER'S CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL EIR DID NOT COMPLY WITH CQA, THEN IT WOULD GRANT THE APPEAL AND DIRECT THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT APPROPRIATE REVIEW IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT BEFORE THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT RECONSIDERS THE PROJECT.

THIS CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.

I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO HARBOR DEPARTMENT STAFF FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.

CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS.

AND WE WILL BE RESERVING FOUR MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS FOR OUR REBUTTAL.

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

I'M RENEE MOYLAN, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HARBOR DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE BEFORE YOU TO ADDRESS ONE APPEAL THAT HAS BEEN FILED IN RESPONSE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL DE DETERMINATION BY THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS.

PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT OR CQA FOR THE WORLD OIL TANK INSTALLATION PROJECT.

WE'LL PRESENT A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT, A SUMMARY OF THE APPEAL AND OUR RESPONSES THIS EVENING.

AS DESCRIBED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS TASKED WITH DETERMINING IF THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL EIR IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH CQA.

THE APPELLANT CAN ONLY ADDRESS ITEMS BROUGHT UP WITHIN THEIR LETTER OF APPEAL.

SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ON OCTOBER 4TH, 2024.

RIBOS OPERATES A PETROLEUM STORAGE FACILITY ON PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY AT 1405 PRC STREET IN THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF THE LONG BEACH HARBOR DISTRICT.

THE SITE HAS OPERATED AS A PETROLEUM STORAGE FACILITY SINCE 1964.

THE TERMINAL CONTAINS SEVEN PETROLEUM TANKS WITHIN A ROUGHLY 13 FOOT HIGH CONTAINMENT WALL FOR A TOTAL STORAGE CAPACITY OF 502,000 BARRELS.

THREE OF THE SEVEN TANKS ARE USED TO STORE CRUDE OIL RECEIVED VIA PIPELINE AND TRANSMITTED THROUGH TRUCK LOADING RACKS TO AND FROM WORLD OIL REFINING IN SOUTHGATE TO PRODUCE PAVING AND ROOFING ASPHALTS.

FOUR OF THE SEVEN TANKS ARE LEASED TO CUSTOMERS FOR OFFSITE STORAGE OF FUEL OILS AND ARE TRANSMITTED BY PIPELINE.

IN AUGUST, 2019, THE PORT RECEIVED A HARBOR DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATION FROM RIBOS PROPOSING TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE TWO NEW 25,000 BARREL CAPACITY PETROLEUM STORAGE TANKS WITH TANK FOUNDATIONS, PUMPS AND CONNECTIONS TO EXISTING UTILITIES SUCH AS ELECTRICAL LINES AND PETROLEUM PIPING.

THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD INCREASE THE STORAGE CAPACITY AT THE TERMINAL BY LESS THAN 10%.

RIBOS IS NOT PROPOSING ANY OTHER MODIFICATIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE RIBOS TERMINAL OR THE WORLD OIL REFINING FACILITY IN SOUTHGATE OR TO CUSTOMER FACILITIES.

BEFORE I GET TO THE GROUNDS FOR APPEAL, I WANNA PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS FOR THIS PROJECT.

IN 2021, THE HARBOR COMMISSIONERS ADOPTED A NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH DETERMINED THERE WOULD BE NO SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE PROJECT.

THE BOARD'S DECISION WAS APPEALED TO THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL.

PRIOR TO THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPEAL HEARING RIBOS ASKED THE PORT TO PREPARE AN EIR FOR THE PROJECT.

THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION WAS WITHDRAWN AND THE EIR WAS PREPARED.

ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, THE FINAL EIR WAS

[00:55:01]

THE EIR ALSO DETERMINED THERE WOULD BE NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS.

AN APPEAL WAS FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ON OCTOBER 4TH.

THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED DETAILED RESPONSES TO EACH OF THE GROUNDS FOR APPEAL WITHIN THE STAFF REPORT PACKAGE.

AND TONIGHT WE'LL ADDRESS THESE GROUNDS FOR APPEAL.

TO DEMONSTRATE THE EIR WAS CERTIFIED IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH CQA.

THE APPELLANT CLAIMS THE EIR WAS DEFICIENT IN THREE AREAS.

CUMULATIVE IMPACT ANALYSIS, ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS, AND THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION FOR CUMULATIVE IMPACTS THE APPELLANT CLAIMS. THE EIR FAILED TO PROPERLY EXAMINE IMPACTS IN THREE WAYS.

FIRST, THE APPELLANT CLAIMS. THE EIR IS RELATED AND CUMULATIVE PROJECT LIST, OMITS RELATED STORAGE TANKS AND OTHER OIL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.

AND ON THE PROJECT SITE, CE QA GUIDELINES STATE THAT WHEN USING A LIST OF PROJECTS, THE LEAD AGENCY SHOULD CONSIDER THE NATURE OF EACH ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE BEING EXAMINED AND PROJECT LOCATION.

THE CUMULATIVE PROJECTS CONSIDERED IN THE EIR WERE SELECTED BASED ON PROXIMITY, EMISSIONS, POTENTIAL AND OPERATIONS.

THE APPELLANT ALSO STATES THE EIR IGNORES THE SEVEN EXISTING STORAGE TANKS AT THE RIBOS TERMINAL.

THE EIR ADEQUATELY ADDRESSES BOTH OF THESE CLAIMS. OF THE 1100 PERMIT APPLICATIONS, ONLY 61 WERE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND ONLY 31 WERE FOR ABOVE GROUND STORAGE TANKS.

SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE PROJECTS DID NOT HAVE THE PROXIMITY EMISSIONS POTENTIAL OR SIMILAR OPERATIONS REQUIRED UNDER CQA.

ALSO CONTRARY TO THE APPELLANT'S CLAIMS, THE EIR DOES INCLUDE THE SEVEN EXISTING TANKS AT THE RIBOS TERMINAL AS WELL AS EXISTING REFINERIES, FACILITIES AND OTHER FUEL OIL STORAGE TANKS.

THESE EMISSIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BASELINE CONDITIONS.

FURTHER PORT STAFF EVALUATED EMISSIONS IN THE SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN FROM THE PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND MARKETING SECTOR AND BASED ON A QMD EMISSIONS INVENTORY DATA FOUND THAT EMISSIONS IN THIS SECTOR ARE DECLINING.

OVERALL, THE DECLINING REGIONAL EMISSIONS COUPLED WITH THE PROJECTS LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS MEANS THE RIBOS PROJECT WOULD NOT BE CUMULATIVELY CONSIDERABLE UNDER A-Q-M-D-S-Q-A GUIDANCE.

SECOND, THE APPELLANT CONTENDS THE E'S GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF ANALYSIS IS NARROW AND EXCLUDES AFFECTED RESIDENTS SENSITIVE RECEPTORS AND THE ASSEMBLY BILL SIX 17 COMMUNITIES OF WILMINGTON, CARSON, AND WEST LONG BEACH.

THE GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF ANALYSIS IS APPROPRIATE AND NOT NARROWLY DEFINED.

PROJECT EMISSIONS WOULD BE DOMINATED BY THE PROPOSED STATIONARY SOURCES FIXED AT THE SITE.

THE GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE USED IN THE EIR ISOLATES THE LOCALIZED ADVERSE EFFECTS.

EXPANDING THE SCOPE WOULD DILUTE THE ANALYSIS BY FOCUSING ON A LARGER AREA SUCH AS THE REGION AND WOULD OBSCURE THE LOCALIZED IMPACTS.

THUS, THE GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF ANALYSIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PROJECT AND COMPLIES WITH CQA.

THIRD, THE APPELLANT CLAIMS. THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT ANALYSIS IS INADEQUATE BECAUSE OF THE GUIDANCE UPON WHICH IT RELIES.

THE EIR RELIES ON CURRENT ADOPTED SOUTH COAST A QMD GUIDANCE, WHICH IS WHAT IS REQUIRED UNDER CQA.

THE APPELLANT HAS NOT PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE APPROVED REGULATORY METHOD.

IN SUMMARY, FOR CUMULATIVE IMPACTS, THE EIR INCLUDES ALL RELEVANT PROJECTS, HAS AN APPROPRIATE AND DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE, AND RELIES ON CURRENT REGULATORY GUIDANCE.

ALL IN COMPLIANCE WITH CQA FOR THE ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS, THE APPELLANT STATES THE FINAL EIR FAILED TO PROPERLY EVALUATE THE REDUCED SIZE TANKS ALTERNATIVE, WHICH WOULD INSTALL TWO NEW TANKS THAT ARE SMALLER THAN THE PROJECTS 25,000 BARRELS EACH.

ACCORDING TO CQA GUIDELINES IN EIR SHALL DESCRIBE A RANGE OF REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROJECT THAT WOULD FEASIBLY ATTAIN MOST OF THE BASIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT, BUT WOULD AVOID OR SUBSTANTIALLY LESSEN ANY OF THE SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT.

THE PROJECT'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF TERMINAL OPERATIONS, REALIGN STORAGE CAPACITY NEEDS, AND MAKE MORE EXISTING TANKS AVAILABLE FOR LEASE BY CUSTOMERS.

THE REDUCED SIZE TANKS ALTERNATIVE WAS ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER ANALYSIS DUE TO ITS INABILITY TO MEET THE BASIC PROJECT OBJECTIVE OF INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF TERMINAL OPERATIONS.

THE REDUCED SIZE TANKS ALTERNATIVE WOULD REQUIRE RIBOS TO DIVIDE A SINGLE CRUDE OIL DELIVERY, WHICH IS TYPICALLY 25,000 BARRELS AMONG TWO TANKS.

THIS IS NOT EFFICIENT AND DOES NOT MEET THIS BASIC PROJECT OBJECTIVE.

[01:00:02]

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVES EVALUATED, INCLUDING THE PROJECT ITSELF WOULD NOT RESULT IN ANY SIGNIFICANT AIR QUALITY IMPACTS.

THEREFORE, ELIMINATION OF THE REDUCED SIZE TANK ALTERNATIVE FROM FURTHER EVALUATION IN THE EIR IS JUSTIFIED.

AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH CQA FOR THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION, THE APPELLANT ASSERTS THAT THE EIR IS MISLEADING BECAUSE IT STATES THE EXISTING TANKS WOULD BE LEASED TO CUSTOMERS FOR FUEL OIL STORAGE.

THE APPELLANT ASSERTS, THERE IS NO WAY TO ENSURE THAT FUEL OIL WILL BE STORED IN THE EXISTING TANKS.

THE EXISTING TANKS HAVE OPERATING PERMITS TO STORE BOTH CRUDE OIL AND FUEL OIL AND THE EIR CONTEMPLATES BOTH.

IF THE EXISTING TANKS STORE FUEL OIL, THE EIR CONCLUDES THAT EMISSIONS WOULD BE LOWER THAN IF CRUDE OIL IS STORED IN THE TANKS.

IF THE EXISTING TANKS CONTINUE TO STORE CRUDE OIL, THEN THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE RELATIVE TO THE BASELINE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE EXISTING TANK STORE, THE REASONABLY FORESEEABLE RESULT IS EITHER A REDUCTION OR A CONTINUATION OF EMISSIONS THAT OCCUR IN THE BASELINE CONDITIONS.

BOTH SCENARIOS RESULT IN NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.

THUS, THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION COMPLIES WITH CQA AS DETAILED IN THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT FOR THIS APPEAL AND CORRESPONDING ATTACHMENTS, THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONER CERTIFICATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE PROJECT WAS DONE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH CQA.

THEREFORE, THE APPEAL SHOULD BE DENIED.

THIS CONCLUDES OUR STAFF REPORT.

WE'D LIKE TO RESERVE THE BALANCE OF OUR TIME AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

NO OTHER VIABLE PROJECT ALTERNATIVES EXISTED.

SO NOW, UH, WE'LL GO TO APPELLANT COMMENTS.

MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE FOR APPELLANT COMMENTS? 10 MINUTES, MAYOR.

10 MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ADAM FRANKEL.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH EARTH JUSTICE AND I'LL BE PRESENTING THIS APPEAL ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL CONCERNED ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.

TODAY I WILL FOCUS ON A FEW KEY CONCERNS REGARDING, UH, I'M SORRY, COULD WE ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? A FEW KEY CONCERNS, UH, REGARDING THE EIR FOR THIS PROJECT.

I'LL RESERVE THE REMAINING TWO OR THREE MINUTES OF MY TIME TO PROVIDE A REBUTTAL TO STAFF'S COMMENTS AND ALSO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

FIRST, I'LL DISCUSS THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND SERIOUS HEALTH IMPACTS FROM THIS PROJECT.

I WILL THEN TURN TO THE EI R'S DEFICIENCIES, SPECIFICALLY THE FLAWED PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS, THE INACCURATE PROJECT DESCRIPTION, AND LASTLY, THE E'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE PROJECT'S CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.

UH, BEGINNING WITH SAFETY HAZARDS.

THE COALITION HAS BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM ON THIS PROJECT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THE PROJECT WOULD HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPACTS IN AN AREA WHERE RESIDENTS ALREADY BREATHE THE MOST POLLUTED AIR IN THE NATION AND EXPERIENCE ELEVATED CANCER RISK.

THESE TANKS ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS.

THEY'RE SUSCEPTIBLE TO LARGE FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS WHICH THREATEN THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF ONSITE WORKERS AND NEARBY RESIDENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2012, A WORKER WAS KILLED AND ANOTHER WAS SEVERELY INJURED WHEN AN OIL STORAGE TANK SUDDENLY EXPLODED DURING MAINTENANCE IN ARVIN, CALIFORNIA.

MORE RECENTLY, IN 20 19, 2 MASSIVE STORAGE TANKS EXPLODED AT A TANK FARM IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY THAT RESULTED IN A SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER, UH, REGARDING HEALTH IMPACTS, OIL STORAGE TANKS ROUTINELY RELEASE TOXIC EMISSIONS, WHICH ARE KNOWN AS VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS OR VOCS THAT CAUSE SEVERE HEALTH IMPACTS FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS AND ONSITE WORKERS.

INHALING VOCS CAN CAUSE VARIOUS ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS, INCLUDING IRRITATION OF THE EYES, NOSE AND THROAT, HEADACHES, AND DIFFICULTY BREATHING.

CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN VOCS CAN DAMAGE THE LIVER, KIDNEYS, AND NERVOUS SYSTEM AND CAUSE CANCER.

THIS PROJECT WILL WORSEN THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS THAT RESIDENTS SUFFER FROM OTHER EXTENSIVE OIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY IN THE AREA, INCLUDING OPERATIONS FROM THE LARGEST OIL REFINERY ON THE WEST COAST, WHICH IS THE MARATHON REFINERY IN WILMINGTON.

GIVEN THE POTENTIAL, SORRY, UH, GIVEN, UH, MOVING ON TO PROJECT ALTERNATIVES, UM, GIVEN THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND HEALTH IMPACTS FROM THIS PROJECT, AN EIR AN ADEQUATE EIR WAS CRITICAL, BUT THE PORT'S EIR CONSCIOUSLY AVOIDED REALITY IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THIS PROJECT APPROVED.

FIRST, THE EIR PRETENDED

[01:05:01]

SQA REQUIRES AN EIR TO CONSIDER FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVES THAT CAN ACHIEVE MOST OF THE PROJECT'S OBJECTIVES WHILE ALSO REDUCING ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.

HERE, THE EIR OUTRIGHT REJECTED THE SMALLER TANK'S ALTERNATIVE BASED ON THE INCORRECT ASSUMPTION THAT IT WOULD DISRUPT THE TERMINAL'S DEWATERING OPERATIONS AND POTENTIALLY REQUIRE INSTALLATION OF A FOURTH OIL STORAGE TANK.

BUT THE PORT FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THESE ASSERTIONS.

IN FACT, THE EIR DOES NOT SPECIFY HOW LONG CRUDE OIL DELIVERIES WOULD NEED TO REST FOR DEWATERING NOR HOW OFTEN THE TERMINAL WOULD RECEIVE ITS CRUDE DELIVERIES BY REFUSING TO PROPERLY ANALYZE THIS FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE, WHICH THE EIR ADMITS WOULD REDUCE THE PROJECT'S AIR QUALITY IMPACTS THE EIR PRESENTED INACCURATE INFORMATION AND PREVENTED THE HARBOR COMMISSION FROM CONSIDERING VIABLE ALTERNATIVES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROJECT.

MOVING ON TO THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION, UH, THE EIR DESCRIBES A DIFFERENT PROJECT THAN WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE HARBOR COMMISSION UNDER CQA, AN ACCURATE PROJECT DESCRIPTION AS THE FOUNDATION OF AN INFORMATIVE AND LEGALLY ADEQUATE EIR HERE.

THE EIR ASSERTS WITHOUT EVIDENCE THAT THE PROJECT WOULD LEASE EXISTING TANKS TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY TO STORE MARINE FUEL, WHICH HAS LOWER VOCS THAN CRUDE OIL.

BUT THE EIR AND THE TERMINALS OPERATING PERMITS DO NOT CONTAIN ANY LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT TYPE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCT CAN BE STORED INSIDE THE TANKS.

SO IN REALITY, THESE TANKS COULD BE USED TO STORE CRUDE OIL AND THE PROJECT COULD ULTIMATELY HAVE EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT AIR QUALITY IMPACTS THAN CURRENTLY EXIST AT THE SITE.

THUS, THE E'S PROJECT DESCRIPTION MISREPRESENTS HOW THE EXISTING TANKS WILL BE USED IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT THE PROJECT'S LIKELY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS WILL BE ON CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.

THE EIR PRETENDED THE PROJECT WOULD EXIST IN A REGION WHERE THERE ARE NO OTHER SIMILAR POLLUTING OPERATIONS.

SQL REQUIRES AN EIR TO ACCURATELY ACCOUNT FOR AND DISCLOSE A PROJECT'S CUMULATIVE IMPACTS, MEANING THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.

TOGETHER WITH THE IMPACTS FROM OTHER SIMILAR PROJECTS IN THE AREA THE PROJECT WOULD OPERATE IN OR NEAR THE COMMUNITIES OF WEST LONG BEACH, WILMINGTON AND CARSON THAT ALREADY EXPERIENCED SEVERE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS AND ARE DESIGNATED AS A CLEAN AIR PRIORITY AREA.

UNDER ASSEMBLY BILL SIX 17, THE STATE'S DESIGNATION RECOGNIZES THAT THESE COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE SEVERE AIR POLLUTION BURDENS FROM MULTIPLE FREEWAYS, RAIL YARDS, OIL REFINERIES, OIL STORAGE, TANK FARMS, PORTS, AND OTHER HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES.

ACCORDING TO THE SOUTH COAST AIR DISTRICT'S MATES FIVE STUDY RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR THE PROJECT EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE HIGHEST REGIONAL CANCER RISK LEVELS FROM EXPOSURE TO TOXIC AIR POLLUTION FROM THESE VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS.

THESE HEALTH IMPACTS ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

IN FACT, OVER HALF OF RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THIS PROJECT ARE LATINO AND MORE THAN A THIRD ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN OR ASIAN AMERICAN.

DESPITE ACKNOWLEDGING THE REGION'S SEVERE ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS, THE EIR IGNORES THE DOZENS OF NEARBY STORAGE TANKS AND RELATED OIL REFINERIES.

INSTEAD, IT LOOKS AT A HODGEPODGE OF EXISTING FACILITIES THAT EITHER HAVE FAR LESS SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OR INVOLVE VERY DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITY THAN THIS PROJECT.

THIS SKEWED ANALYSIS IS MISLEADING AND DIS DOWNPLAYS THE PROJECT'S SIGNIFICANT CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.

THE EIR SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT THAT WOULD RESULT FROM ADDING EVEN MORE OIL INDUSTRY POLLUTION TO THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS ALREADY SEVERELY BURDENED BY EXTENSIVE FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE SERIOUS HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THIS PROJECT FAR OUTWEIGH ANY OF ITS SHORT-TERM BENEFITS.

THIS COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO ENSURE THIS PROJECT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED.

AND TO STOP THIS DANGEROUS PROJECT FROM NEEDLESSLY HARMING THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AND LIVE IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

WE URGE YOU TO GRANT THIS APPEAL AND DIRECT PORT STAFF TO REVISE THE EIRS DEEPLY FLAWED ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS.

THERE IS NO URGENT NEED FOR THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD.

IN FACT, WITHIN THE SOUTH COAST REGION ALONE, THERE ARE OVER 1100 EXISTING OIL STORAGE TANKS, WHICH PROVIDE MORE THAN ADEQUATE STORAGE STATEWIDE.

THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION RECENTLY REPORTED THAT THE STATE'S OIL INDUSTRY ONLY USED ABOUT HALF OF ITS EXISTING STORAGE CAPACITY DURING THE LAST SIX YEARS.

A PROJECT SUCH AS THIS THAT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO MASSIVE 25,000 BARREL TANKS THAT WILL STORE OVER 2 MILLION GALLON GALLONS OF PETROLEUM PRODUCT NEAR SCHOOLS

[01:10:01]

AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS MUST COMPLY WITH SEQUENCE MANDATES TO ACCURATELY INFORM THE PUBLIC AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

THIS EIR FAILS TO DO EITHER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.

I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS AND I'LL RESERVE THE REMAINING TWO MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.

WE'LL NOW GO TO STAFF FOR THE HARBOR RE HARBOR STAFF REBUTTAL.

BEFORE I START OUR REBUTTAL, UM, THE APPELLANT HAS RAISED A NEW GROUND FOR APPEAL RELATIVE TO SAFETY HAZARDS THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ITS ORIGINAL APPEAL, APPEAL TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, SO PURSUANT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S GUIDANCE, THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT CONSIDER NEW ISSUES NOT INCLUDED IN THE APPEAL LETTER.

AND I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION.

AS A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY, THE SCOPE OF THE APPEAL IS LIMITED TO WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE APPEAL LETTER DATED OCTOBER 4TH.

THE SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED WERE NOT RAISED IN THAT LETTER, AND SO THAT IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE APPEAL TODAY.

THE APPELLANT HAS NOT PROVIDED SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO DEMONSTRATE THE DOCUMENT DID NOT COMPLY WITH CQA, WHICH IS THE ACTION BEFORE THE COUNSEL TONIGHT.

SO WE'LL RESTATE THE, SOME OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN OUR PRESENTATION TO DEMONSTRATE THE EIR WAS COMPLETED IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH SQL GUIDELINES AS IT RELATES TO CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.

THE EXISTING FACILITIES, INCLUDING FUEL STORAGE FACILITIES, ARE INCLUDED IN THE EIR AND AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AS PART OF THE BASELINE CONDITIONS.

THE EIR ANALYZES THE EFFECTS OF 47 PROJECTS IN THE PROPOSED PROJECT'S VICINITY.

THESE PROJECTS WERE SELECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE MOST LIKELY TO GENERATE EMISSIONS AND IMPACTS NEAR THE PROJECT SITE DURING THE TIMEFRAME OF PROJECT CONSTRUCTION, AND THUS, THEY ARE THE MOST APPROPRIATE PROJECTS TO INCLUDE FOR CUMULATIVE ANALYSIS.

IMPACTS FROM EXISTING OIL REFINERIES AND STORAGE FACILITIES ARE ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE EIR BASELINE.

THE PROJECT ITSELF DOES NOT EXCEED A QMD SIGNIFICANCE THRESHOLDS, AND THUS DOES NOT WORSEN EXISTING CONDITIONS.

I WILL ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE PROJECT'S INCREMENTAL CONTRIBUTION OF 2.1 MILLION GALLONS WOULD BE LESS THAN 0.07% OF THE OVERALL CUMULATIVE PETROLEUM TANK STORAGE CAPACITY OF 3 BILLION GALLONS IN THE SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH AQMD'S EXISTING CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE PROJECTS THAT HAVE IMPACTS BELOW ALL A QMD SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA CAN BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT CUMULATIVE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS.

THIS IS THE CASE FOR THE WORLD OIL TANK INSTALLATION PROJECT AS IT RELATES TO THE ELIMINATION OF THE REDUCED SIZE TANKS ALTERNATIVE UNDER THE REDUCED SIZE TANK.

ALTERNATIVE RIBOS WOULD POSSIBLY NEED A FOURTH CRUDE OIL TANK IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE DEWATERING PROCESS BECAUSE THE REDUCED SIZE TANK ALTERNATIVE WOULD MAKE THIS DEWATERING PROCESS HIGHLY INEFFICIENT.

IT WAS ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION BECAUSE IT DID NOT ACHIEVE THE PROJECT OBJECTIVE.

TO MAKE TERMINAL OPERATIONS MORE EFFICIENT, THE PROJECT ITSELF HAS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS AND IT MEETS ALL PROJECT OBJECTIVES.

UNDER CQA, THERE IS NO REASON TO FURTHER EVALUATE AN ALTERNATIVE THAT DOES NOT MEET BASIC PROJECT OBJECTIVES.

AND AS IT RELATES TO THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION, THE APPELLANT IS OVERSTATING THE RELEVANCE OF THE FUEL TYPE STORED IN THE TANKS REGARDLESS OF THE FUEL TYPE STORED.

THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE EIR ANALYSIS OR IMPACTS, WHICH WILL REMAIN LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT UNDER EITHER SCENARIO, RIBOS IS ALLOWED TO STORE FUEL OIL OR CRUDE OIL UNDER ITS OPERATING PERMIT.

THE EIR TAKES NO CREDIT FOR EMISSION REDUCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH STORING FUEL OIL.

IF THE EXISTING TANKS CONTINUE TO STORE CRUDE OIL, THEN THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE RELATIVE TO THE BASELINE, AND THUS THERE WOULD STILL BE NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS UNDER CQA.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR REBUTTAL.

SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL.

AND WE HAVE, UH, TWO MORE MINUTES FOR THE APPELLANT REBUTTAL.

UH, THANK YOU FOR BEFORE THE TIME STARTS.

I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A CLARIFYING POINT.

UM, THE HEALTH RISK ISSUES REGARDING VOC HEALTH IMPACTS WERE ABSOLUTELY ADDRESSED IN THE APPEAL LETTER, AND SO I DO BELIEVE, UM, THOSE

[01:15:01]

UM, SO MOVING ON TO, UH, CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.

THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ANALYSIS IN THIS EIR DID NOT CONSIDER STORAGE TANKS THAT ARE LITERALLY JUST HUNDREDS OF FEET AWAY FROM WHERE THIS PROPOSED PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED.

THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ANALYSIS FAILED TO CAPTURE THE SEVERITY OF THE POLLUTION BURDENS AND THE RESULTING HEALTH IMPACTS OF THOSE BURDENS ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

IT'S ENTIRELY INACCURATE AND ARTIFICIAL TO SAY THAT THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS WERE ADEQUATELY OR ACCURATELY EVALUATED WHEN THE LIST OF PROJECT THAT WAS CONSIDERED DIDN'T INCLUDE A SINGLE OIL REFINERY OR OIL TANK PROJECT, WHICH THERE ARE MULTIPLE OF IN THE AREA.

UM, REGARDING THE AIR QUALITY, UH, SORRY, REGARDING THE ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS, UM, THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT EFFICIENCY IS A NEW ONE FROM THE PORT STAFF.

UM, IT'S, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THAT ASSERTION IN THE EIR.

UM, THERE'S NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE DEWATERING PROCESS ENTAILS AND WHY THAT WOULD CAUSE ANY PURPORTED INEFFICIENCIES, UM, AND OR ANY EXPLANATION OF, OF WHY USING A SMALLER TANK COULDN'T BE DONE FEASIBLY ACHIEVED.

AND THE EIR ITSELF ADMITS THAT THE SMALLER TANK'S ALTERNATIVE WOULD REDUCE THE PROJECT'S AIR QUALITY IMPACTS.

AND SO THAT ALTERNATIVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY EVALUATED, WHICH IT WAS NOT.

UH, REGARDING PROJECT DESCRIPTION, THE PORT'S ASSERTION HERE IS THAT THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE BASELINE, UH, EVEN IN THIS HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO THAT THE TANKS ARE STILL USED TO STORE CRUDE OIL, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY INCORRECT BECAUSE THE EIR STATES NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE EXISTING TANKS ARE UNDERUTILIZED.

AND SO THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL CAPACITY STORAGE IN THE TANKS, WHICH MEANS HAD NO TIME IS UP, WHICH MEANS YOU COULD HAVE ADDITIONAL CRUDE STORED IN THE TANKS AND A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE EMISSIONS THAT WERE NOT CONSIDERED.

SO THAT IS, UH, THE END OF THE APPELLATE REBUTTAL.

WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE HAVE LOOKS LIKE 10 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

PLEASE COME FORWARD WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME.

DORY CHANDLER, OSCAR ESPINO PADRON, JAY PARA TOMMY AVA, JOHN EDMOND, UH, DAVE SHUKLA, DOULE A WITH SPANISH INTERPRETATION REQUESTED.

JOHN MUNOZ, JOSH DELEON, AND AHA RECHER.

SO FIRST UP IS DORY, AND AFTER DORY IS OSCAR.

EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, ONE QUESTION.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE WHO'S HERES SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE APPELLANTS, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE, YOU CAN'T PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AS AN APPELLANT.

SO JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT.

SO PER THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, OSCAR, ARE YOU THE APPELLANT? I AM PART OF THE GROUP, YES.

BUT I WAS GONNA PROVIDE COMMENTS ON A, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL AS A YEAH, YOU CAN I DO THAT AS WELL.

I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT, SO IF YOU'RE A LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND YOU ARE PROVIDING PERSONAL COMMENTS, BUT YOU CANNOT ADD TO THE APPEAL.

DORY, PLEASE PROCEED.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD MORNING.

EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS DORY CHANDLER.

EXCUSE.

I'M A RESIDENT.

UM, MR. MAYOR, UH, ARE WE GIVING A THREE MINUTES OR A 92ND? UH, ARE, DO OUR CURRENT RULES APPLY TO THE HEARING? DON OUR CURRENT RULES APPLY TO THE HEARINGS AS WELL.

OUR COUNCIL RULES ON, YES.

90 SECONDS.

SO IT'D BE 90 SECONDS 'CAUSE IT'S 10 SPEAKERS.

ALRIGHT.

PLEASE PROCEED.

VOCS AND AIR TOXINS ARE EMITTED BY STORAGE TANKS, BY BREATHING, WORKING, AND FLASH LOSSES.

I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, LONG BEACH HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROMISES TO REDUCE AND GRACEFULLY SHIFT AWAY FROM OUR OIL PAST AND MOVE TOWARDS A RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE.

BECAUSE OIL AND GAS EXPANSION IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS, PARKS, AND THOUSANDS OF CITY, CITY RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MY FAMILY, IS A BAD IDEA FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH.

A STRATEGY HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE UPCOMING YEARS FISCAL BUDGET TO REDUCE STRUCTURAL RELIANCE ON OIL REVENUES.

WE KNOW THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY.

IN THIS SAME VEIN, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THE APPELLANTS IN THIS CASE AND ASK YOU TONIGHT TO NOT APPROVE THE WORLD OIL PROJECT.

WE HAVE CONTINUING CONCERNS.

I HAVE CONCERNS AS A RESIDENT THAT THE EAR HAS NOT CONSIDERED THE COMMUNITY OF IMPACTS OF CONTINUED OIL EXPANSION TO AIR QUALITY AND TO OUR LONG BEACH, LONG BEACH COMMUNITIES.

HEALTH, CRUDE OIL STORAGE CAN CAUSE RESPIRATORY ISSUES, HEADACHES, NAUSEA, AND CANCER.

AS WE HEARD EARLIER TODAY, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE LIVING AND WORKING NEAR THESE STORAGE FACILITIES,

[01:20:02]

IN ADDITION, EMPLOYEES AT THE PORT ALREADY BREATHE IN SOME OF THE WORST, MOST TOXIC AIR IN THE STATE.

EXPANDING OIL CAPACITY WOULD ONLY FURTHER JEOPARDIZE THIS.

RIBOS DOES NOT GUARANTEE THROUGH ANY OF ITS PROJECT COMMITMENTS THAT THE TWO EXISTING TANKS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE AVAILABLE FOR AT LEAST, WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY TO HOLD MARINE OILS AND NOT CRUDE OIL.

AND THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE CRUDE OIL EXPANSION AND OIL EXPANSION IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, SENATE BILL 1137.

NOW, IN EFFECT AND UNDER THE AREA UNDER DISCUSSION, AS PART OF THE HEALTH PROTECTION ZONE, THE SE ANALYSIS SHOULD INCLUDE STORAGE TANKS.

YOUR TIME IS UP, UP TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

NEXT IS OSCAR, AFTER OSCAR IS JAY.

HI, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS OSCAR ESPINO BARRON, AND I'M AN ATTORNEY AT EARTH JUSTICE.

BUT I'M HERE TODAY, UM, AS, AS REALLY A PRODUCT OF LONG BEACH.

I, I GREW UP IN THIS CITY.

MY PARENTS AND SEVERAL OF MY SIBLINGS STILL LIVE IN LONG BEACH.

AND, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP, UM, I WAS TAUGHT THE EXPRESSION, BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE, DON'T SEE WHAT YOU BELIEVE, AND ALMOST ANYONE, RIGHT, THAT YOU, THAT LIVES, UM, NEAR THE PORTS, NEAR THE INDUSTRIAL HUBS WOULD, WOULD AGREE, RIGHT? THAT WHAT WE SEE NEAR AND AROUND WHERE, WHERE THIS STORAGE TANK PROJECT IS BEING PROPOSED IS A LOT OF OIL INDUSTRY OPERATIONS.

UM, BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT, RIGHT? FROM LOOKING AT THIS EIR YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD SEE A DIFFERENT REALITY AS WAS EXPLAINED DURING THE PRESENTATIONS.

A REALITY THAT ARGUES, RIGHT? THAT NO ADDITIONAL POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES SHOULD BE IN PLACE TO PROTECT SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

UM, AND I HAVE SEEN RIGHT, THE CITY'S, UM, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE CHANGES, RIGHT? THAT, THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS, HAS BROUGHT FORWARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, BUT THERE'S ONE THING THAT STILL BURDENS OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, AND THAT'S REALLY THE OIL INDUSTRY POLLUTION.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT, RIGHT? IT, IT'S SORT OF A DRIP AFTER DRIP OF SOMETIMES SMALL PROJECTS THAT COME INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT IN THE AGGREGATE RIGHT TURN INTO MAJOR POLLUTION IN THE AREA.

AND SO WE HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO, UH, PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

NEXT IS JAY, THEN TOMMY.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS JAY PARA POLLY, UH, SPEAKING AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT.

UM, AND WE STARTED THIS HEARING OFF TALKING ABOUT CANCER RISK, PANCREAS CANCER, UH, SERIOUS ISSUES.

THERE WAS SOMETHING EVEN THAT CAME UP ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION.

WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK SOMETIMES AND LOOK AT THESE THINGS, EVEN IF THERE ARE SEQUEL ISSUES HERE AND IN A, IN A LAWSUIT, THOSE COULD POTENTIALLY BE ADDRESSED IF NEEDED IN A COURT OF LAW.

BUT SPEAKING JUST MORE AS A LAYMAN, UM, THERE'S A CLIMATE CONFERENCE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN AZERBAIJAN, A PETRO STATE.

WE'RE ALREADY AT THE 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS GLOBAL WARMING THRESHOLD IN 2025 THAT THIS WORLD WAS SUPPOSED TO REACH NOT UNTIL 2100.

EVERY TIME THERE'S A LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND A LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT PROJECT THAT'S GETS SNUCK UNDER THE RADAR BECAUSE IT'LL JUST GET UNDER A SQA THRESHOLD WHERE MITIGATION IS REQUIRED.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS ENABLING AN ADDICTION THAT HAS TO BE STOPPED.

IT'S JUST ONE MORE HIT.

CAN I GET ONE MORE HIT OF OIL WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING MY CHILDREN, MY FAMILY, MY NEIGHBORS, UH, FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS? IT'S TIME FOR A JUST TRANSITION.

I DON'T, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT CONTRACTS ARE IN PLACE, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WORLD OIL JACKETS THAT ARE GONNA BE ANNOYED AT SOME POINT.

THERE HAS TO BE A PARADIGM SHIFT.

AND THAT STARTS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL THAT ACTUALLY TAKES A STAND AND STOPS THESE INCREMENTAL CREEP OF MORE POLLUTION AND MORE POLLUTION, MORE POLLUTION, AND PUSHING THE ENVELOPE FURTHER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER.

THERE ARE SE DEFICIENCIES HERE, AND A RECIRCULATED EIR IS ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE.

UH, I JUST URGE YOU TO THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE HOLISTICALLY AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, NEXT IS TOMMY, THEN JOHN.

OH MAN, GOOD EVENING.

UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY STAFF AND, UH, PUBLIC.

UH, MY NAME IS TOMMY FVA.

I AM HERE TO SUPPORT, UM, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, LALC BILLING TRADES.

WE'RE HERE IN FULL SUPPORT, AND IT JUST, MYSELF AND ONE OTHER BROTHER THAT'S IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

BUT, UH, WE ARE HERE IN FULL SUPPORT TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD.

AND, UH, WE LOOK FOR, UM, YOUR SUPPORT TONIGHT, UH, YOU KNOW, TO ADOPT, UH, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.

NEXT IS JOHN, THEN DAVE.

TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE RIBOS TERMINAL PROJECT.

HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK.

MY NAME IS JOHN EDMOND.

I'M HERE TONIGHT

[01:25:01]

ON BEHALF OF CENTRAL CHA, THE LONG BEACH MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART, CAMBODIA TOWN, THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH BUSINESS ALLIANCE, UH, UH, ALLIANCE LONG BEACH AREA, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FUTURE PORTS, BIZ FED, THE PROSPEROUS CENTER, COACHING AND CONSULTING, THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN CITIES, THE SOUTH BAY ASSOCIATION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE HARBOR ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT WHO HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS OF SUPPORT.

AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR COLLECTIVE VOICES.

AND NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT THAT I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

PLEASE STAND THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, DENYING THE APPEAL, AND UPHOLD THE HARBOR COMMISSION'S CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.

THE EIR, UH, HAS POSED NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND THIS PROJECT, UH, CREATES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES OF WELL-PAYING GOOD LOCAL UNION JOBS FOR A LOCAL PROJECT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NEXT IS DAVE.

AND THEN DUL.

SAY, GOOD AFTERNOON, DAVE SHUKLA, THIRD DISTRICT CONCERNED RESIDENT.

UM, I AM HERE IN OPPOSITION TO STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.

I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE APPEAL AND DENY THAT THIS PROJECT NEED TO BE RAN THROUGH SO FAST.

UH, THERE'S NO URGENCY TO THE PROJECT.

THERE'S NO NEED.

WHY THE CITY SHOULD CEDE A SECOND OF LOCAL CONTROL WHEN IT COMES TO AIR IMPACTS OR HEALTH IMPACTS ON ITS OWN RESIDENTS.

NONE AT ALL, ESPECIALLY DURING PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS WEEK.

UM, THERE'S NO REASON WHY YOU CAN'T RECIRCULATE THE A IR AND SPEAKING AS A MAPMAKER.

I THINK, UH, I WILL ASSERT AGAIN, JUST AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT, SOMEONE WHO JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF GIS, THAT I COULD MAKE A MORE ADEQUATE AND ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS, ESPECIALLY FOR A BA 6 1 7 COMMUNITIES.

I SEE NO REASON WHY THE CITY CAN'T ASSERT THAT.

IT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION, BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING PROPOSED IN ITS OWN BOUNDARIES TO ITS OWN RESIDENCE.

NOW THAT MY SON IS OLDER, HIGH SCHOOL, HE'S IN HIGH SCHOOL.

NEXT IS, AND THEN JOHN.

SO FIRST OF ALL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THIS SPACE.

MY NAME IS, AND I'M A MEMBER OF CBE.

I'M 30 YEARS OLD.

I HAVE, I APOLOGIZE.

I AM, I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR 30 YEARS IN WILMINGTON, AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS FIRMLY AND STRONGLY MY OPPOSITION TO THE PETROLEUM.

AND I'M HERE TO PLEAD TO YOUR NOBLE HEARTS AND TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL.

I AM AGAINST THE TANKS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT HERE IN THE CITY HERE, WHERE THEIR SCHOOLS ARE NEARBY WHEN THERE'S KINDERGARTENS AND KIDS, WOMEN THAT ARE PREGNANT, I WAS REALLY HAPPY WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY SON.

BUT EVEN IF THEY'RE IN OUR WOMB, THEY ARE STILL BREATHING THAT SAME AIR OF CONTAMINATION.

AND WE ALSO BREATHE IT AND TAKE IT IN EVEN AS WE'RE SPEAKING.

WHEN MY SON WAS BORN, I WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS BORN WITH BIRTH BREATHING ISSUES, AND HE WAS ALSO BORN WITH, HE WOULD SCRATCH AND SCRATCH SO MUCH THAT HE WOULD BLEED EVEN IN HIS PRIVATE AREAS, HE WOULD BLEED.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING VERY STRONG.

[01:30:01]

AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY IT'S AFFECTING HIM MENTALLY.

DO YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE HE HAS, HE HIDES, HE WEARS LONG SLEEVES.

IT'S NOT ONLY AFFECTING HIM PSYCHOLOGICALLY, BUT ALSO PHYSICALLY.

SO PLEASE STOP GIVING THESE PERMISSIONS.

AND WITH THE CONTAMINATION, MY SISTER DIED OF CANCER.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES.

GLOBAL, RIGHT TO HAVE HEALTH .

NEXT IS JOHN, THEN JOSH.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS JOHN OZ, AND NOT ONLY AM I A LONG BEACH RESIDENT OF OVER 35 YEARS, I'M HERE REPRESENTING OVER 6,700 MEMBERS OF UA, LOCAL TWO 50 STEAM FITTER PIPE FITTERS, WELDERS, HVRC TECHS AND APPRENTICES.

UH, AS A LONG BEACH RESIDENT, I SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT AND PUTTING LOCAL UNION WORKERS FROM THIS GREAT CITY TO WORK, ESTABLISHING LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE, AND SUPPORTING A STABLE, GOOD UNION PAYING JOB.

AS I'VE HAD MYSELF, UM, I'M ALSO THE APPRENTICE COORDINATOR AND THE TRAINING THAT WE DO WITH OUR APPRENTICES AND OUR JOURNEYMEN ARE ALL SKILLED, SKILLED TRAINING THAT THEY GO THROUGH FIVE YEAR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WITH, UH, COUNTLESS HOURS OF EXTRA CLASSES AND ALL CENTERED AROUND SAFETY, MUCH LIKE THE, UH, LA BUILDING TRADES, LA AND OC BUILDING TRADES.

ALL THE OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT WORK FOR OTHER TRADES, I MEAN, WE'RE TRAINED HIGHLY IN THE, IN THE SAFEST WAY POSSIBLE.

WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUS.

UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS WITH SAFETY BY FAR.

WE TRAIN AT THE HIGHEST, HIGHEST SAFETY THREATS AND, AND TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY IN OUR TRAINING.

UM, OVER, AFTER OVER TWO YEARS OF THE REVIEW FINDINGS ARE CLEAR, THIS PROJECT MEETS THE REGULAR REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.

YOUR TIME IS UP, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS.

SO WE, UH, THANK YOU.

WE HOPE THAT YOU GUYS APPEAL, UH, DENY THE APPEAL.

NEXT IS JOSH, AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS ALE ALE.

AND GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JOSH DE LEON.

I AM A CONCERNED RESIDENT, BORN AND RAISED HERE IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

I'M CALLING YOU TO SUPPORT THIS APPEAL AND OPPOSE THIS FOSSIL FUELED STORAGE PROJECT.

BUT I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY TODAY BECAUSE MY FAMILY HISTORY TRACES THE HARMS OF THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ACROSS THIS REGION.

MY FAMILY CAME FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

THEY LANDED IN WILMINGTON, WHERE THERE'S REFINERIES.

THEY MOVED TO CARSON WHERE THERE'S POLLUTION, AND THEN TO LONG BEACH.

AND IN EACH ONE OF THESE CITIES, THEY TOOK IN THE INVISIBLE DAILY DOSE OF POLLUTION.

AND NOW, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, I HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE SAME PAINFUL NEWS.

YOUR TITA HAS CANCER, YOUR TITO HAS CANCER, AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AT A RATE ONLY EXPLAINABLE BY THE PLACES WE HAVE LIVED.

AND BY THE DAILY BETRAYAL POISED IN OUR AIR, WE OPEN TODAY ON A PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS PRESENTATION.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO CANCER, I AM ALL TOO AWARE.

WE CARRY THE BURDEN OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AS FILIPINOS, AS MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN WEST SIDE LONG BEACH, ACROSS THE REGION.

AND I ASK, WHEN WILL IT BE ENOUGH? WHY DO WE NEED TWO MORE MASS OIL TANKS IN OUR CITY? JUST A HALF MILE FROM SCHOOLS AND RESIDENCES? AND WHILE YOU COULD BE ASKED TO IGNORE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH IMPACTS, MY FAMILY CAN'T.

MY COMMUNITY CAN'T.

CANCER DOESN'T CARE.

POLLUTION DOESN'T CARE.

BUT YOU CAN.

SO I ASK YOU TO LISTEN TO THE APPEAL BY ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT THE APPEAL.

STOP THIS PROJECT.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES BASED ON MY MOM'S EXPERIENCES.

AND OUR FINAL, UH, SPEAKER.

AHA.

I HOPE THAT'S, IT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S SPELLED IN HERE, SO I'M NOT SURE WE THAT'S GREAT.

AND I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN AND SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN WILMINGTON.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE THIS COUNCIL TO RETURN THE EIR TO THE PORT FOR VISION TO BE MORE PROTECTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

I MADE THE DECISION TO ORGANIZE ALONGSIDE

[01:35:01]

MY MOM GREW UP IN NATIONAL CITY IN SAN DIEGO, WHICH IS ALSO A PORT CITY, AND IS ALSO AN AB SIX 17 CLEAN AIR PRIORITY COMMUNITY.

WHEN MY MOM WAS GROWING UP THERE, HOWEVER, IT WASN'T DESIGNATED AS A CLEAN AIR PRIORITY, BECAUSE ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WAS NOT A PRIORITY BACK THEN.

THIS JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW FAR WE'VE COME IN TAKING THE FIRST STEPS TO RECTIFY THE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES THAT HAVE ENFORCED ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE FOR DECADES.

COMMUNITIES IN WEST LONG BEACH, CARSON AND WILMINGTON HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AT THE PORTS.

WITH THE PASSAGE OF AB SIX 17, IT SEEMED LIKE CALIFORNIA WAS FINALLY PRIORITIZING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES LIKE THOSE AT THE PORTS.

THIS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE TOXIC AIR POLLUTION LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARKS AND RESIDENTS.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE SUCH A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND ALL THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TO APPROVE THIS UNNECESSARY PROJECT WITHOUT ADEQUATE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS MADE IN PROTECTING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES AND TO REQUIRE THE PURPORT, THE PORT TO REPAIR AN ADEQUATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WELL, THAT, UH, WE'LL NOW CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL FOR COUNCIL DELIBERATION ON THE HEARING, WE'LL START WITH THE MAKER OF THE MOTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER YANGA.

EXCUSE ME, MAYOR.

UH, BEFORE WE DO THAT TAKE THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE ONE MORE THING TO DO, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THE APPLICANT GETS THREE MINUTES, IS THE APPLICANT HERE? CORRECT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PORT STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS SUE GORNICK, AND I SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORLD OIL.

I LEAD OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY INITIATIVES FOCUSING ON STRATEGIC PLANNING AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE TO ENSURE WORLD CLASS PERFORMANCE ACROSS OUR COMPANY.

AS A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS, WITH OVER 720 EMPLOYEES, 47% OF WHOM LIVE IN LA COUNTY, WE ARE PROUD TO BE A RESPONSIBLE AND TRUSTED PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

IN LATE 2021, WE RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE HARBOR COMMISSION FOR THIS PROJECT.

HOWEVER, AFTER THE APPROVAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS APPEALED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FURTHER REVIEW.

WHEN IT CAME TO THE COUNCIL, WE AGREED TO CONDUCT A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.

DURING THIS PROCESS, WE COLLABORATED CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY IMPORT STAFF.

WE ARE PLEASED THAT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FULL EIR CONFIRMS THE ORIGINAL FINDING THAT THIS PROJECT PRESENTS NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE SAFETY OF THIS PROJECT, HAVE PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND DURING THIS PROCESS, WE'VE STRENGTHENED OUR COMMITMENT TO LOCAL JOB CREATION BY PARTNERING WITH THE BUSINESS OR THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES, ENSURING QUALITY JOBS FOR LOCAL WORKERS.

WORLD OIL WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IS COMMITTED TO RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES.

OUR CORE LINES OF BUSINESS INCLUDE COLLECTION, TREATMENT, AND RECYCLING OF AUTOMOTIVE WASTES OF INCLUDING USED MOTOR OIL, OILY WATER, AND ANTIFREEZE, AS WELL AS MANUFACTURING AND ROOFING AND PAVING ASPHALT PRODUCTS.

THE PROJECT IS CRUCIAL TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS AND EFFICIENCY OF OUR REBOS TERMINAL, WHERE WE CURRENTLY EMPLOY SIX FULL-TIME WORKERS AND TO ITS TENANTS AT THE TERMINAL.

WE STORE MATERIALS USED FOR THE BLENDING OF LOW SULFUR MARINE FUELS AND CRUDE OIL, WHICH IS ONLY USED TO PRODUCE PAVING AND ROOFING ASPHALTS AT OUR SOUTHGATE PLANT.

ADDING TWO NEW SMALLER STORAGE TANKS WILL ENHANCE OUR OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, WE ARE ALSO EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL TO STORE ALTERNATIVE FUELS AT THE TERMINAL.

THIS WILL HELP HELP US ADAPT AS CALIFORNIA TRANSITIONS TO CLEANER ENERGY, ENSURING THAT WE CAN MEET BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS RESPONSIBLY AND EFFICIENTLY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED CONSIDERATION THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

WE ARE PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR LABOR PARTNERS.

YOUR VOTE TO DENY THE APPEAL WILL ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE ECONOMY.

BUT I JUST WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO WITH MISS CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL, IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AS A NEGATIVE DECLARATION, WHICH MEANT THAT IF WE HAD DATA VOTE THAT NIGHT, IT WOULD'VE BEEN DONE DEAL.

NOW WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER IRAN.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I WANNA THANK ALL THE PARTICIPANTS OF TONIGHT'S HEARING.

IT'S A VERY COMPELLING TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD TONIGHT, VERY TOUCHING,

[01:40:01]

I CAME FORWARD AND I SAID, NO, WE NEED A POST STUDY.

WE NEED A EIR.

AND WE INVOLVED, MY COLLEAGUES AT THE TIME, CONCURRED AND THE HARVARD COMMISSION COMPLIED.

SO I THINK THE HARVARD COMMISSION AT THEIR, THEIR EXPENSE AND THE EXPENSIVE WORLD OIL, TO TAKE THAT EXTRA STEP, CONDUCT AN EAR OF GOING TOPA TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT DID NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE FIX THAT WE ALL THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE.

AND HE DOING THAT.

AND WE DON'T TRUST THE PROCESS.

THERE'S DON'T EVEN TRUST.

WE HAVE TO TRUST THE PROCESS.

SO WITH THAT, I WANNA MOVE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE RECEIVE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY PRESENTED DURING THE WORLD OIL FEAR OF APPEAL HEARING.

I FIND THERE IS GOOD CAUSE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, TO DENY THE APPEAL AND OF HOLD WARN HARVARD COMMISSIONERS CERTIFICATION OF THE FINAL ER FOR THE PROJECT.

AND I REQUEST THAT MANY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AGREE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SARR.

I AM ALSO, I ALSO WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR, THE INFORMATION THEY PRESENTED AND, AND THE TESTIMONY AS WELL.

I, UM, WILL SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER YANG'S MOTION BECAUSE I AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT DID COME BEFORE US, WE DID WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH A FULL EIR AND IT'S BEEN PRESENTED.

UM, SO WITH THAT, I, I, I SECOND, BUT I DO ALSO HAVE A QUESTION THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS, GIVEN SOME QUESTIONS AROUND IMPACT, COMMUNITY IMPACT.

AND IT'S GONNA BE WITHIN, UM, THE CQA GUIDELINES.

SO I, I DO WANNA JUST AT LEAST ASK WHAT, WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITY IMPACT CONSIDERATION IN THE CQA GUIDELINE? SO WHEN IT COMES TO CQA, WE ARE MEASURING THE INCREMENTAL CHANGE OF THE PROJECT.

AND IN THIS CASE, UM, PURSUANT TO A QMD GUIDANCE AROUND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS, IF A PROJECT HAS LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM THE BASELINE, IT IS CONSIDERED TO NOT HAVE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.

THE EXISTING FACILITIES ARE ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE BASELINE CONDITIONS.

SO FROM A CQA PERSPECTIVE, UM, A PROJECT THAT HAS LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS CANNOT BE SAID TO HAVE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.

SO, UM, BASICALLY IT JUST DIDN'T MEET THE THRESHOLD THAT IT WOULD HAVE A IMPACT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE YES, I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING IT WITHIN LEGAL TERMS, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE JUST CLEAR IN, IN KIND OF SOME SIMPLE LANGUAGE THAT IT JUST DIDN'T MEET THE THRESHOLD THAT'S RIGHT.

TO TO, TO HAVE, UH, IMPACT THAT WOULD BE OF RAISING CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY.

AND THE A QMD THRESHOLDS ARE DESIGNED, DESIGNED TO BE PROTECTIVE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ERRING ON THE SIDE OF, UM, EMISSION REDUCTIONS.

YEAH.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FOR THOSE WHO ARE HEARING AS MUCH AS I'VE HEARD EARLIER, THAT WHILE THE APPELLANT DIDN'T BRING FORTH THIS AHEAD OF TIME, I JUST STILL THINK THAT THAT'S SOME OF THE ONGOING CONCERN THAT WAS RAISED LAST TIME.

AND I JUST WANNA REITERATE WHAT THOSE GUIDELINES WERE AND WHAT THE FINDING WERE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, COUNCIL DE DELIBERATION.

I WANT TO, UH, THANK EVERYONE WHO, UH, PARTICIPATED BOTH LAST TIME AROUND, UH, THE, THE APPLICANTS, THE APPELLANTS, THE PORT STAFF, UH, ALL THE WORK THAT'S TAKEN PLACE FROM THAT, UH, HEARING, MAYBE TWO YEARS, WAS IT TWO YEARS AGO? I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

UH, AND ALL THE WORK THAT'S TAKEN PLACE FROM THEN TILL NOW, UM, THIS IS THE PROCESS WORK.

THIS IS THE PROCESS WORKING.

UM, IT WAS APPEALED TO COUNCIL, COUNCIL MADE A DIFFERENT DECISION, AND EIR WAS CONDUCTED.

THIS IS WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.

AND NOW THE COUNCIL IS READY TO MAKE A DECISION.

SO WITH THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

[01:45:07]

EXEMPTION, ADOPT RESOLUTION, APPROVING A MINOR MODIFICATION TO THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED LOCAL COASTER PROGRAM AMENDMENT THAT REPEALS THE 1989 VICTORY PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES AND ADOPTS VICTORY PARK, SANTA CRUZ PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES AND PROPOSED FINDINGS TO MAKE TYPOGRAPHICAL AERIAL CORRECTIONS AND TO ADD TREE TRIMMING BEST PRACTICES, AND A NESTING BIRD PROTECTION MEASURE TO THE PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR VICTORY PARK AND SANTA CRUZ PARK IN THE DOWNTOWN SHORELINE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, AND ADOPT RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO SUBMIT ALL RELEVANT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TO THE COASTAL, TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSIONS FOR A FINDING OF CONFORMANCE WITH THE CERTIFIED LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM DISTRICT ONE.

THANK.

WE'LL, NOW MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND HEARING.

ITEM 25, PLEASE.

ITEM 25 IS REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD, CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPT CATEGORICAL

[25. 24-55305 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and accept Categorical Exemption CE-23-113; Adopt resolution approving a minor modification to the previously approved Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA23-002) that repeals the 1989 Victory Park Design Guidelines (Guidelines) and adopts Victory Park/Santa Cruz Park Design Guidelines and proposed findings in accordance with the California Coastal Commission’s request to make typographical corrections and to add tree trimming best practices and a nesting bird protection measure to the proposed Guidelines for Victory Park and Santa Cruz Park in the Downtown Shoreline Planned Development (PD-6) District; and Office or Department: Suggested Action: ]

STAFF REPORT, PLEASE.

UH, FOR THIS ITEM, WE HAVE ALLISON SPIN RUIZ, ADVANCED PLANNING OFFICER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

UM, I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO DISCUSS, UM, UH, AMENDMENTS, UH, REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION REGARDING THE VICTORY IN SANTA CRUZ PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES.

UM, TO GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT, YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE LINE ON THE MAP IS SHOWING, UH, JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF OCEAN BOULEVARD VICTORY AND SANTA CRUZ PARK ARE A LINEAR PARK, UM, THAT IS THE OLDEST PARK IN THE CITY, AND, UM, EXPANDS, UH, BASED ON THIS PARK SPACE.

THE DESIGN GUIDELINES ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY, SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING DEJA VU, BUT WE'RE BACK BECAUSE OF REQUIREMENTS OF THE COASTAL COMMISSION, UM, FOR, UH, THE ADOPTION PROCESS TO BE COMPLETE.

SO, JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, UH, THE UPDATED GUIDELINES ARE BASED ON, UM, THE PRIORITIES YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE TO CREATE AN ESTABLISHED, UH, CONSISTENT DESIGN LANGUAGE, MAKE AN ATTRACTIVE AND INVITING OPEN SPACE FOSTER, UM, OPEN SPACE THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO BE OUTSIDE.

CELEBRATE OUR OLDEST PARK HERE IN THE CITY, PROMOTE BEST PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, RESTORE PARKLAND OVER TIME, AND ESTABLISH CONSISTENT AND ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE WITH THE DESIGN PRINCIPLES TO USE, UH, UNIFICATION, VARIETY, RESPECT, ACCESS, AND PROMOTION.

SO, A QUICK HISTORY.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THESE GUIDELINES IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, AND THEN THIS COUNCIL ACTED BACK IN FEBRUARY.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE COASTAL ZONE, THAT WAS NOT THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS.

WE DID BRING FORWARD THE, UM, PACKAGE THAT YOU ALL ADOPTED IN FEBRUARY TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION BACK IN AUGUST.

AND THEY WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE PROPOSAL.

HOWEVER, THEY DID HAVE MINOR AMENDMENTS, WHICH NOW THIS COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO ACT UPON, UM, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE ADOPTION PROCESS.

AND I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THOSE RIGHT NOW.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TYPOGRAPHICAL CORRECTIONS MADE, BUT THE PRIMARY EDIT IS SHOWN IN RED LINE HERE ON THE SLIDE, WHICH IS, UH, A REQUIREMENT OF THE COASTAL COMMISSION FOR US TO INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE AN EXISTING TREE TRIMMING POLICY, WHICH REQUIRES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, BURDEN NESTING SURVEYS, TREE TRIMMING BEST PRACTICES FOR PROTECTION OF HABITAT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.

THESE MODIFICATIONS AIM TO REINFORCE OUR EXISTING POLICIES AND CONDITIONS AND WOULD NOT ALTER THE, UH, SCOPE OR INTENT OF THE GUIDELINES.

SO, UH, BY WAY OF QUICK BACKGROUND HERE AS WELL, UM, THE 1989 GUIDELINES WERE CERTIFIED BY THE CALIFORNIA COMM COASTAL COMMISSION BACK IN 2004.

SO THIS PROCESS REPEALS AND REPLACES THOSE GUIDELINES, AND THEREFORE DOES, UH, TRIGGER THE LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDMENT, UM, THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY, THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT UNDER CQA NOTICING WAS COMPLETED AS REQUIRED UNDER OUR CODE, WE ASK YOU TO ACT BECAUSE THIS WAS, UM, UH, ACTED ON BY THE COASTAL COMMISSION BACK IN AUGUST.

AND ACTION IS REQUIRED BY FEBRUARY 9TH, UM, OF 2025.

AND WITH THAT, WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, UM, AS A MEMBER OF THE COAST COMMISSION, I RECALL HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE LCPA AND, UM, IT WAS A VERY GOOD PROJECT, AND IT IS NOW.

UH, SO NOW WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE SAYING NONE? WE WILL NOW TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALLISON, FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

VERY, VERY, UM, PROUD OF THIS PROJECT.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT.

[01:50:01]

SO THANK YOU.

UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ZARO? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER ORANGA.

NOVEMBER 20TH AS TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO ANNUALLY RAISE THE TRANSGENDER FLAG AT LONG BEACH CIVIC PLAZA DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER TO RECOGNIZE TRANSGENDER AWARENESS MONTH.

UH, WE'LL GO TO ITEM 37, PLEASE.

ITEM 30 SEVEN'S COMMUNICATION FROM VICE MAYOR ALLEN, COUNCILWOMAN SANAZ, AND COUNCILWOMAN KERR.

RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT RESOLUTION, OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING EVERY

[37. 24-55657 Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft resolution officially recognizing every November 20th as Transgender Day of Remembrance, and direct City Manager to annually raise the Transgender Flag at Long Beach Civic Plaza during the month of November to recognize Transgender Awareness Month. Office or Department: Cindy Allen, Vice Mayor, Second District; Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District; Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR ELLEN.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND, UH, I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN IN DEJAS AND COUNCILWOMAN KER FOR SIGNING ON TO THIS ITEM.

THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER IS TRANSGENDER AWARENESS MONTH, AND IT'S A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR AND RECOGNIZE OUR TRANSGENDER NON-BINARY AND GENDER DIVERSE FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS.

THIS IS ALSO A TIME FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS, TO FOSTER UNDERSTANDING, AND TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSE EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE TRANS TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

SO TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 20TH, UM, ALSO MARKS TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

THIS IS AN OCCASION TO HONOR THE LIES OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS WHO'S LOST, WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO VIOLENCE.

THIS IS A DAY TO CALL ACTION, TO COMBAT THE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

THE DAY, UH, BEGAN IN 1999 AND REMAINS A VITAL REMINDER OF THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR EQUALITY AND SAFETY.

TOMORROW MORNING, WE WILL RAISE THE TRANSGENDER FLAG AT CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL.

IT IS MY, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WE WILL FOSTER A MORE INCLUSIVE AND TOLERANT ATMOSPHERE FOR OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL BE A SYMBOL THAT LONG BEACH LOVES AND STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

BY RAISING THE FLAG TOMORROW.

IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE CAN CREATE A WORLD THAT VALUES AND RESPECTS EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.

THIS IS A STEP TOWARDS A SAFER AND MORE UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO WILL SERVE AS A CALL TO ACTION TO REMEMBER TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH, ARE PROTECTED AND EMPOWERED TO LIVE THEIR LIVES AUTHENTICALLY.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO BRING, UH, THE ATTENTION, UM, OF THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT, UM, THAT I RECEIVED.

AND I GAVE THIS TO ALL OF OUR COUNCIL FOLKS.

WE RECEIVED, UM, A LETTER FROM THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE L-G-B-T-Q CAUCUS, WHICH IS, UH, ONE OF THE LARGEST L-G-B-T-Q CAUCUSES IN THE NATION.

WE HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT, UM, ALSO FROM LONG BEACH PRIDE, A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER OF LONG BEACH, UM, FROM EQUALITY CALIFORNIA AND FROM THE HARVEY MILK PARK, UM, EQUALITY PLAZA SELECTION COMMITTEE COMMITTEE.

SO, PLEASE, UM, LOOK AT THESE LETTERS AND THANK YOU, UM, TO ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SENT IN THESE LETTERS.

UM, IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM, I DO URGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH ARE EQUAL.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

VERY WELL DONE.

UH, TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IS A TRADITION NOW IN THE CITY, AND, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY FITTING THAT WE RAISE THAT FLAG.

I THINK IT'S MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAID, BUT ALSO ALL THE RHETORIC, ALL THE HATE NATIONALLY.

IT'S IMPORTANT YOU TAKE AFFIRMATIVE STEPS AS A CITY TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO BELONGING AND INCLUSION, AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, INCLUDING TRANSGENDER RESIDENTS, KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS THEIR BACK.

SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR

[01:55:01]

LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS.

UM, MAYOR, HATE AND VIOLENCE HAVE NO PLACE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

WE ARE A CITY COMMITTED TO INCLUSIVITY AND TO BEING A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL TO WORK, LIVE, LOVE, AND PLAY.

I'M PLEASED TO BE A CO-SPONSOR FOR THIS ITEM.

AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR, VERY MUCH FOR, UM, INVITING ME TO SUPPORT THIS VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO DENOUNCE ANY HATE AND VOL VIOLENCE AGAINST THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

WE, AS A CITY, HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGING TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MANY YEARS.

AND EVERY YEAR, I PRAY THAT EACH YEAR WE HAVE LESS AND LESS INDIVIDUALS TO REMEMBER ON THAT DAY.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET, BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT EVERY YEAR WE CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

AND I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT EVERY YEAR WE WILL REMEMBER LESS AND LESS, UM, OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN, WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY DUE TO VIOLENCE AND HATE FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

UM, THIS YEAR, THAT IS MY PRAYER AGAIN AND AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO REMEMBERING ALL THOSE THAT HAVE PASSED.

UM, TOMORROW.

LET'S KEEP THEM IN OUR PRAYERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR THOUGHTS, AND LET'S CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW IMPORTANT THIS DAY IS, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BUT NATIONWIDE AS WELL.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, I'LL DEFER TO, UH, COUNCILMAN KER AS THE, THE CO-AUTHOR OF THE ITEM I'LL GO AFTER.

THANK YOU, DR.

SORROW.

UM, I WANNA THANK VICE MAYOR ALLEN, UM, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AGAIN, TO SOLIDIFY OUR TRADITIONS INTO OUR CITY LANGUAGE OFFICIALLY.

UM, AND I'M HONORED THAT YOU ASKED ME TO COME ON TO THIS WITH YOU.

MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN SO ELOQUENTLY ABOUT WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.

AND AGAIN, EACH YEAR WE READ NAMES AND, UM, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO READ THOSE NAMES AT THE EVENT SOMETIMES.

AND WE KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES THERE IN COUNTRIES FAR AWAY, UM, OR IN STATES FAR AWAY, AND WE KNOW, UM, THAT OUR TRANS COMMUNITY AND OUR NON-BINARY COMMUNITY ARE EXPERIENCING NEW LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND HATE, REALLY LOCALLY, RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN CITY.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THAT WE STAND FIRM IN OUR COMMITMENT, UM, TO UPLIFTING AND SUPPORTING ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SO THAT, NUMBER ONE, THEY DON'T LIVE IN FEAR, BUT THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE AND THRIVE AND LOVE AND PLAY AND WORK IN THIS CITY, UM, WITH OUR FULL SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME, UH, TO BE ON WITH YOU, VICE MAYOR ALLEN.

UM, I'M PLEASED TO SUPPORT, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

I, UH, TOO, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, VICE MAYOR ALLEN'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM AS WELL AS THOSE WHO CO-SPONSORED.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST DON'T, I THINK MARCH WAS ALREADY SAID AND THAT I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH.

AND I JUST WANNA ADD THAT MORE THAN EVER IN THIS TIME OF HATE AND, AND FEAR, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A CITY, UM, UPLIFT OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, AND THAT WE STAND FOR INCLUSION, LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE.

AND WE NEED TO SHOW THAT MORE THAN EVER, UM, VERY CLEARLY AND VISIBLY.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND SEE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

TANYA, COME ON DOWN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, UM, AND ALSO OUR CITY MANAGER AND STAFF.

UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM.

AND I WANNA THANK, UH, CINDY ALLEN, VICE MAYOR FOR ALWAYS COMING THROUGH AND BEING AN ALLY, AS WELL AS MARY , COUNCIL MEMBER, AND OF COURSE, MEGAN KERR, COUNCIL MEMBER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, THERE'S, I COME TO YOU TODAY NOT ONLY AS THE PRESIDENT OF LONG BEACH PRIDE, BUT THE NEWLY APPOINTED LA COUNTY, L-G-B-T-Q COMMISSIONER.

SO WE'RE GROWING AND WE'RE GROWING TOGETHER, WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD FEELING BECAUSE THAT IS THE POWER OF COMMUNITY, RIGHT? AS ADAMS LIKE THESE, THAT SHOW THE DIVERSITY THAT WE SHARE IN OUR

[02:00:01]

HEARTS.

AND WE KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

WE KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT.

UM, I LIKE TO SAY THAT RIGHT NOW, UH, THEY'RE HOLDING A WATCH PARTY IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SO I, NASHVILLE , UH, WHERE THEY'RE REALLY, UH, HAVING A HARD TIME.

UM, MANY OF YOU HAVE MET MY COUSIN SHAYNA, UH, WHO'S FROM NASHVILLE.

SHE LIVES THERE.

UH, SHE WAS IN INSTRUMENTAL IN, UH, GETTING, UH, THE FIRST TRANSGENDER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ELECTED IN NASHVILLE, MS. OLIVIA HILL.

UH, SO, UM, THE SAD PART IS, UM, YOU KNOW, SHAYNA, LIKE A LOT OF OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, HAVE SUFFERED WHAT I CALL ELECTION ANXIETY.

IT'S HIT US HARD, IT'S HIT US VERY HARD.

UH, IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN USED IN COMMERCIALS IN LONG TIME, AND IT'S CONTINUING ON INTO THIS NEXT, UM, PHASE OF, UM, OF THE, UM, ADMINISTRATION.

UH, SADLY ENOUGH, SHAYNA CALLED ME, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION, AND SHE WAS ON THE LEDGE, ON THE LEDGE LIKE A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE.

UH, SHE WANTED TO JUST NOT BE A PART OF THIS ANYMORE.

SO WE HAD TO TALK HER BACK IN.

WE HAD TO SHOW HER THE LIGHT, AND SHE DID.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF HER.

I KNOW SHE'S WATCHING.

SO, SO PROUD OF YOU, SHAYNA.

UM, THIS DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN WITH PEOPLE I KNOW THAT YOU MAY KNOW AS WELL, BUT IT'S ALSO, OUR YOUTH HAD A CALL FOR YOUTH COMMITTED SUICIDE RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION.

SO THIS IS REAL.

THIS IS REAL.

THIS IS, THIS IS US, AND THE CALLS FOR THE TREVOR PROJECT, THEY HAVE A NEW NUMBER OUT IS 700% MORE CALLS, 700%.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

YOUR WORDS MADE A DIFFERENCE TONIGHT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND THEY'RE LISTENING, AND LONG BEACH IS DIVERSE AND LONG BEACH SEES US.

UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THIS ACTION TONIGHT BEGINS OUR PROCESS OF TURNING OUR FOCUS TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION.

ITEM 28, ITEM 20 EIGHT'S REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION TO PROVE THE TEMPORARY INTERIM CONTINUATION OF THE CITY CHARTER AND CIVIL SERVICE

[28. 24-55474 Recommendation to adopt resolution requesting City Council to approve the temporary interim continuation of City Charter Article XI (Civil Service Department), with the exception of Sec. 1101 (f) and Civil Service Rules and Regulations Sec. 116, until the agreed upon meet and confer process with the City’s employee associations has concluded, before implementing the voter approved Measure JB, with the exception of providing City Manager administrative authority over Civil Service for the purpose of appointing an interim Executive Director, and applicable revisions to the Civil Service Rules and Regulations; Request Civil Service Commission continue to conduct regularly scheduled Civil Service Commission meetings to approve agendized items brought forth by Civil Service Staff; and Amend Resolution No. RES-24-0127, Attachment B, D15, to increase the maximum amount allowed for the 2024 calendar year for Civil Service Commissioners from $7,000 to $8,000. (Citywide) Office or Department: Human Resources Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

RULES AND REGULATION.

UNTIL THE AGREED UPON MEET AND CONFER PROCESS WITH THE CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION HAS CONDUCTED, CONCLUDED BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THE VOTER APPROVED MEASURE, JB WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF PROVIDING CITY MANAGER ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OVER CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPOINTING AN INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND APPLI APPLICABLE REVISIONS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS REQUEST CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS TO CONTINUE TO CONDUCT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS MEETING TO APPROVE AGENDAS, ITEMS BROUGHT FORTH BY CIVIL SERVICE STAFF, AND AMEND RESOLUTION TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED FOR THE 2024 CALENDAR YEAR FOR CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS FROM 7,000 TO $8,000 CITYWIDE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

WELL, UH, THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING.

UM, AND I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE BEGAN THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, ACHIEVING AND BEING ONE OF THE FIRST BIG CITIES IN CALIFORNIA TO ACHIEVE 90 DAY HIRING AS A GOAL.

SOME SMALL CITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA HAVE THAT GOAL.

UH, THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED THAT GOAL.

AND NOW, UH, WE'VE TAKEN STEPS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR, UH, TO PUT FORWARD THIS BALLOT MEASURE MEASURE.

JB UH, IT WAS, UH, THANKFUL TO, THANKFULLY TO THE VOTERS OF LONG BEACH.

IT WAS APPROVED IN NEARLY 62%.

AND NOW WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BEGIN OUR IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

UH, I WANT TO, UH, JUST HAVE FOLKS BE MINDFUL THAT, UH, WE STILL HAVE STEPS TO GO.

UH, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT.

WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH MEET AND CONFER.

THERE'S STILL, THE DETAILS WILL WORK OUT, BUT WE'RE IN A POSITION NOW TO FINALLY PUT OUR, PUT OUR PEOPLE IN PLACE, PUT OUR CITY IN PLACE TO ACHIEVE 90 DAY HIRING.

THAT IS A HUGE PRIORITY, AND WE CAN, WE'RE IN A POSITION TO DO THAT.

NOW, I ALSO, UH, JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, AND WE'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, BUT WE, THE VOTERS ADOPTED NEW PREFERENCES, A NEW COMMITMENT TO, UH, LOCAL HIRE, TO STUDENTS, TO INTERNS, TO, UH, APPRENTICES, TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A PREFERENCE IN THE CITY OF, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AND SO THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S TURNING A BIG CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE WITH HIRING INTO A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

AND SO NOW, UH, THAT WILL NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND THOUGHT THROUGH AND, AND SET UP AS WELL.

SO, UH, SO

[02:05:01]

UH, AGAIN, THERE ARE MORE STEPS, UH, TO, TO MAKE.

I WANNA THANK, UM, UH, THE CHAIR.

I WANNA THANK THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

I KNOW THAT THIS WAS, HAS BEEN DIFFICULT ON THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PAST YEAR.

UH, OUR JOB AS A CITY COUNCIL IS TO PUT FORWARD WHAT WE THINK IS, UH, FEEL IS BEST FOR THE CITY, FOR THE VOTERS, UH, TO VOTE ON.

BUT WE MAY NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS AGREE.

BUT, UH, I WILL SAY THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, WITH THE CHAIR, UH, CHAIR GORDON PETERSON, UH, HAVE BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE.

I WANNA THANK, UH, UH, ROBIN GORDON PETERSON, UH, THE CHAIR FOR ACCEPTING MY CALLS AND TAKING MY CALLS.

AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE, UH, UH, THE REST OF THE COMMISSION.

UH, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO AS A PART OF THIS COMMISSION, SO I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, UH, WHAT THE MEETING LOOKS LIKE TOMORROW.

THEY HAVE SCHEDULED THEIR NEXT MEETING, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.

UM, I SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU MY, MY MOST RECENT COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMISSION, KIND OF OUTLINING SOME EXPECTATIONS.

I SHARED THAT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THERE.

I ALSO WANNA THANK THE EMPLOYEES OF, UH, CIVIL SERVICE AND HR.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT OFTEN EVERY DEPARTMENT, UH, THE CITY PLACES A AN EYE ON THEM, UH, THROUGH AN ELECTION SEASON, BUT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT BEFORE WITH THE MERGE OF UTILITIES AND OTHERS.

UH, WE CAME TOGETHER TWO DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED AND TO GIVE THEM THE, YOU KNOW, REASSURE THEM OF OUR ORIGINAL COMMITMENT THAT EVERYONE HAS A PLACE IN THE NEW ORGANIZATION.

SO, UH, WE REAFFIRMED THAT COMMITMENT, UH, AND HAD A MEET AND GREET WITH THE EMPLOYEES ON THAT THURSDAY.

I WANNA THANK, UH, TOM AND JOE AND HR AND ALL THE STAFF FOR HELPING TO ORGANIZE THAT AND THE LEADERSHIP, UH, AND THE STAFF IN THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE ARE BEGINNING OUR IMPLEMENTATION, UM, AND WE, AND THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, UH, TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR HIRING CHALLENGES IN THE CITY.

THAT SAID, LET'S START WITH THE STAFF REPORT.

EDUCATIONAL PREFERENCES? WE HAVE NOT.

I THINK THAT WAS VERY WELL SAID.

SO, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU MANY, MANY TIMES TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

UH, THERE'S BEEN A, A HUGE PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH OVER THE PAST YEAR, UH, BUT NOW WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS AND, AND TRANSITION AND IMPLEMENTATION.

UH, SO I DID PASS, AS THE MAYOR SAID, BY, UH, ON NEARLY 62%.

AND SO WE STILL HAVE SOME STEPS TO DO BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GETS IMPLEMENTED, AND WE DO THE FULL MERGER.

UH, WE MADE A NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS TO OUR LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, UH, TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS IF IT PASSES, AND ALSO TO KEEP THINGS THE SAME AND KEEP, UH, HIRING AND KEEP THE PROCESSES IN PLACE WHILE WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

AND SO, UH, I DO WANNA SPEND SOME TIME KIND OF GOING THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO THE COUNCIL'S ALL AWARE.

UH, WE ALSO INVITED THE COMMISSION IF THEY WANTED TO COME AND, AND CHAT ABOUT ANY OF THESE THINGS AND CONCERNS.

UH, WE DID HAVE A CHANCE TO GO CHAT WITH EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

AND THEN, UH, WE'RE STARTING THE MEET AND CONFER WITH THE, UH, EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CHANGES, UH, THAT WE'LL GET THROUGH IN THE, IN THE COMMISSION OR IN THE ITEM TONIGHT, UH, BEFORE WE ASK FOR YOU TO MOVE FORWARD AS WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT MEET AND CONFER AND, UH, AND LISTENING TO SOME OF THE, THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BROUGHT FORWARD BY OUR LABOR ORGANIZATION.

SO, UH, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THOSE IN THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE SOME SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS, UH, TO THE RECOMMENDATION AT THE END.

SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JOE AMBROSINI AND HIS TEAM TO KIND OF GO THROUGH WHERE WE ARE.

THANK YOU, TOM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, EXCITED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE THINGS STAND WITH METRO, JB, AND, UM, OUR NEXT STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

UM, SO, UM, ENOUGH'S BEEN SAID ABOUT THE, UH, VOTER RESULTS AT OVER 60%.

AND JUST TO RECAP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS MEASURE IS, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU FORMALLY TO, UM, EXPLAIN, EXPLAIN THE MEASURE.

UM, SO REALLY THE VISION OF THIS IS, WAS REALLY TO CREATE A, A MORE EFFICIENT COMMUNITY CENTERED SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL, UM, FOR THE CITY CON TO CONDUCT CLASSIFIED, UH, AND REALLY UNCLASSIFIED RECRUITMENTS, UM, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH AND CANDIDATES SEEKING EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY.

AND REALLY, THE PURPOSE AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROPOSAL IS CENTERED AROUND A FEW PILLARS.

UM, ONE IS THAT THERE IS, UH, A, A PROCESS THAT'S INDEPENDENT FROM THE CITY MANAGER, UM, THAT WOULD ALLOW STAFF TO, UM, APPEAL EITHER DISCIPLINE OR, OR VARIOUS STEPS IN THE HIRING PROCESS.

UM, SO AN APPEALS PROCESS WAS AN IMPORTANT PILLAR, UH, INDEPENDENCE FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND MAINTAINING MERIT-BASED HIRING, BEING A VERY IMPORTANT PILLAR OF THIS ALL JUST UNIFIED UNDER ONE DEPARTMENT, UM, WITH ONE MISSION, UM, FOR HIRING AT THE CITY.

AND THEN OF, OF COURSE, THE PREFERENCES THAT THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS THE MO ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING FEATURES OF IT.

UM, THESE PREFERENCES ADD TO EXISTING VETERANS PREFERENCES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE FOR CLASSIFIED RECRUITMENTS.

UM, SO PREFERENCES, UH, AROUND, UM, LOCAL LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, UM, UH, APPLICANTS THAT, UM, HAVE GRADUATED FROM LOCAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, UM, WITH WITHIN THE, UH, CLOSE, UH, BOUNDARIES OF LONG BEACH.

UM, CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE TEMPORARY OR NON-CAREER EMPLOYEES, UM, RECEIVING, UH, PREFERENCES, UH, IN THE HIRING PROCESS, AND THEN THOSE THAT HAVE COMPLETED APPROVED INTERNSHIPS OR APPRENTICESHIPS.

UM, SO THAT IN A NUTSHELL IS THE, IS THE PROPOSAL OR WAS THE, UH, MAKEUP OF MEASURE.

JB UH, JUST REAL QUICK, JOE, SO I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CITIES THAT DO HAVE A LOCAL PREFERENCE, BUT HAVE YOU FOUND ANY CITIES THAT HAVE DONE

[02:10:01]

UM, IT'S NOT TO SAY IT DOESN'T EXIST, BUT WE DID A QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH, UM, FOR THIS PROJECT, AND IT DID NOT COME ACROSS THAT ANY HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL PREFERENCE, AND ONLY TWO CAME UP WITH LOCAL PREFERENCES.

SO, UM, I THINK WE'RE PRETTY THAT'S GREAT.

THIS IS PRETTY, PRETTY, PRETTY GROUNDBREAKING THEN.

ABSOLUTELY.

GREAT, THANKS.

AND THEN JUST A QUICK RECAP OF HOW WE GOT HERE.

THIS IS A LONG, LONG JOURNEY, UM, THAT STARTED, UM, ALMOST A YEAR AGO AT THIS POINT.

UM, UH, SO JUST TO RECAP, IN JANUARY OR EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE KNOW THE MAYOR, UM, UH, AT A STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, UM, ADDRESS THE HIRING CRISIS AND HIRING CHALLENGES AT THE CITY WITH HIGH VACANCY RATES AND REALLY LONG TIMELINES TO FILL VACANT POSITIONS HERE.

UM, THEN THE CITY MANAGER DID, UM, UH, PRESENT THE PROPOSAL TO ALL CITY STAFF, UH, IN JANUARY.

AND THAT REALLY KICKED OFF OUR PROCESS.

UM, THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS PRESENTED TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TWICE, AND THEN, UH, EACH OF THE OTHER TWO CHARTER COMMISSIONS, THE UTILITIES COMMISSION AND THE HARBOR COMMISSION IN EARLY 2024.

UM, THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD OUR SERIES OF MEETINGS, UM, BEGINNING IN MAY, UM, THAT, UH, WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL REFERRED THE ITEM TO THE CHARTER AMENDMENT COMMITTEE FOR CHARTER AMENDMENT COMMITTEE HEARINGS JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST.

AND THEN ON AUGUST 6TH, THAT'S WHEN THE ITEM WAS FORMALLY REFERRED, UM, FOR A BALLOT MEASURE, OF COURSE, THAT WHAT WAS KEY IN THAT PROCESS WAS THE MEET AND CONFER.

UH, YOU CANNOT, UH, PLACE AN ITEM ON A BALLOT FOR A CHARTER AMENDMENT IF IT AFFECTS, UM, EMPLOYEE WORKING CONDITIONS WITHOUT HAVING DONE A MEET AND CONFER PROCESS.

SO WE ENGAGED IN A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL, UM, PROCESS, UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR TO GET THIS ON THE BALLOT.

UM, WE MET WITH EACH OF OUR 11 LABOR ASSOCIATIONS.

UM, IN FACT, IT WAS A REALLY GOOD PROCESS.

THE, THE, UH, AMENDMENT WAS REVISED, UM, PRETTY DECENTLY BASED ON LABOR FEEDBACK AND THE PROCESS THAT WE THINK REALLY STRENGTHENED THE PROPOSAL AND MADE IT, MADE IT A LOT BETTER.

UM, THIS PROCESS CULMINATED IN LETTERS OF AGREEMENT WITH THE, WITH THE CONFIDENTIAL UNIT, THE ENGINEERS AND THE IEM.

UM, AND THEN WE DID COMMIT, ONE OF THE MAIN PARTS OF THIS IS WE DID COMMIT THAT IF THE AMENDMENT WERE TO PASS, WE WOULD SIT DOWN AGAIN WITH THE LABOR GROUPS AND TALK ABOUT SORT OF THE NEXT PHASE OF THE MEET AND CONFER, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY AT NOW.

SO THIS SLIDE IS REALLY A TIMELINE.

IT'S GOT A LOT GOING ON HERE, I KNOW, BUT THIS IS OUR OVERALL TIMELINE OF NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS.

UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE, UM, CALLING, UM, THIS, THE INTERIM PERIOD THAT WE'RE IN.

WE KNOW THE RESULTS, UM, HAVE NOT BEEN CERTIFIED.

UH, THE, THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION HAVE NOT YET BEEN CERTIFIED.

SO THE MAIN TAKEAWAY IS THAT THE STATUS QUO DOES REMAIN.

UM, AND THEN, UH, ONCE THEY ARE CERTIFIED, UM, THE RESULTS WILL STILL, OR THE CURRENT SYSTEM WILL STILL REMAIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHILE WE GO THROUGH THE MEET AND CONFER.

SO WE'RE IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT, UM, ASKING FOR APPROVAL ON A FEW ITEMS THAT WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THAT REALLY ALLOWS US TO MAKE, TO GO THROUGH THAT MEET AND CONFER PROCESS.

UM, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THE VOTE IS TO BE CERTIFIED AROUND DECEMBER 10TH.

UM, AT THAT POINT, UM, THERE COULD BE SOME SLIGHT CHANGES INTO HOW, UM, HR GAINS SOME STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT.

BUT OVERALL, THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT REMAINS THE SAME, WHERE WE HAVE A PLAN FOR MEET AND CONFER AND MEET AND CONFER MEETINGS ALREADY SCHEDULED ON THE BOOKS IN EARLY DECEMBER.

AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S REASONABLE FOR MEET AND CONFER TO CONCLUDE SOMEWHERE AROUND JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.

COULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE, COULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT LESS.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, UM, WE ARE GET A REALLY GEARED TOWARDS FULL INTEGRATION AND FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN.

SO I'LL GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THOSE STEPS, UH, IN DETAIL.

SO AGAIN, WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THE RESULTS ARE TO BE CERTIFIED AROUND DECEMBER 10TH, AND UPON THAT, UH, CERTIFICATION, THAT'S WHEN HR WILL GAIN WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT.

SO, UH, ALTHOUGH CIVIL SERVICE STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, HR STAFF WILL REALLY BEGIN OBSERVING AND TRAINING WITH CIVIL SERVICE STAFF, TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR FUNCTIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A PLAN FOR A SMOOTH INTEGRATION PROCESS.

AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

NORMALLY, ONCE ELECTION RESULTS ARE CERTIFIED, UM, THE NEW CHARTER LANGUAGE WOULD TYPICALLY BECOME EFFECTIVE RIGHT AWAY.

BUT OUR REQUEST TONIGHT TO THE COUNCIL IS TO DELAY THAT JUST SO THAT WE COULD CONCLUDE THAT PROCESS AND, AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AGREEMENTS WE MADE EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH LABOR.

AND THAT'S THAT SECOND MEET AND CONFER PROCESS.

UM, SO THIS REALLY WAS ONE OF THE KEY ITEMS TO GET THIS ITEM ON THE BALLOT, WAS AGREEING TO SIT DOWN AND MEET AGAIN IF THE MEASURE WERE TO PASS.

AND, UM, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THAT WITH THE LABOR GROUPS.

UM, SO, UH, STARTING ON DECEMBER, WE'RE HOLDING TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH THE LABOR GROUPS ON DECEMBER 3RD AND 10TH.

THESE ARE IDENTICAL MEETINGS THAT WE'RE INVITING ALL LABOR GROUPS TO.

UH, THEY'LL GET THE SAME PRESENTATION, IT'LL BE THE SAME, UH, CONTENT.

AND THEN FOLLOWING THOSE MEETINGS, WE'RE OFFERING INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH EACH LABOR GROUP THAT WOULD WANT TO, UH, PARTICIPATE WITH THAT.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT MOST PROBABLY WILL WANNA SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH US.

UM, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE AIMING FOR THAT JANUARY TO FEBRUARY COMPLETION SO WE CAN GET STARTED ON ALL THIS RIGHT AWAY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW IS THIS GOING TO, UH, WORK DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD? UM, REALLY THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO LAPSE IN SERVICES FROM THE HR DEPARTMENT AND THE CIVIL SERVICE STAFF, AND THAT EVERY, ALL THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS ARE GETTING THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY COULD EXPECT AND DESERVE.

[02:15:01]

SO, UH, THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE INDEPENDENT, THEY'RE STILL GONNA CONDUCT THEIR REGULAR BUSINESS MEETINGS.

THEY'LL STILL OVERSEE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS.

UM, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THAT, THAT WE'LL GET INTO SHORTLY AND SECTION, UH, 1, 1 1, 1 6.

BUT THEY'LL STILL OVERSEE THE CLASSIFIED RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

SO WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT CITY DEPARTMENTS WILL STILL WORK WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE STAFF.

THEY WON'T WORK DIRECTLY WITH HR YET ON CLASSIFIED RECRUITMENTS UNTIL THAT INTERIM PERIOD GOES AWAY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, UM, AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE SOME LITTLE OVERSIGHT INTO THAT PROCESS ONCE THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE CERTIFIED.

AND SO THE REAL GOAL HERE IS TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THE VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS, UM, THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE STAFF AND COMMISSION, UH, DOES THE, THAT THAT BUSINESS CONTINUES TO BE CONDUCTED, UM, AND, AND FULLY ALL UP UNTIL THE OFFICIAL TRANSITION PART.

SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNCIL REQUEST, THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO CONTINUE, UH, MEETING, TO CONDUCT THEIR NORMAL BUSINESS MEETINGS.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEMS THEY NEED TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT TO GET, UH, REGULAR AND ROUTINE CITY BUSINESS DONE.

UM, SO, UH, ONE CHANGE THAT WE ARE REQUESTING, UM, FROM THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENTS WE MADE WITH LABOR, UM, PERTAINS TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION.

SO, UM, THE CITY MANAGER WAS NOTIFIED, UM, ON NOVEMBER 11TH THAT THE, UH, CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS RETIRING EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 2ND.

SO THAT REALLY CREATES A NEED TO APPOINT AN INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS DURING THIS INTERIM PERIOD.

UM, THE CURRENT CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS GRANT THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

HOWEVER, UM, DUE TO THIS BRIEF TRANSITIONAL PERIOD BEFORE THE MEET AND CONFER, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT ABOUT A SIX TO EIGHT WEEK PERIOD OR SO.

UM, AND THE, AND, AND OUR DESIRE TO STABILIZE OPERATIONS, WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE AN INTERIM APPOINTMENT FOR THE POSITION.

AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE CANDIDATE, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES, UH, MANAGER OF ADMINISTRATION, OMAR RAMOS.

AND SO THAT IS A SLIGHT DEVIATION, UM, FROM THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO LABOR.

WE HAVE REGROUPED THE, WE HAVE, UH, CIRCLED BACK WITH ALL THE LABOR GROUPS, UM, LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK.

AND WE DO HAVE SUPPORT, UM, FROM ALL THE 11 LABOR ASSOCIATIONS TO MAKE THIS CHANGE TO THE PROCESS AND ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.

ANOTHER ITEM, UM, WE'RE REQUESTING FOR TONIGHT IS TO HELP, UM, TO CONTINUE TO HELP STABILIZE THE CIVIL SERVICE OPERATIONS.

RELATES TO COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION, UM, COMMISSIONERS, UH, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS ARE SUBJECT IN THE SALARY RESOLUTION TO AN ANNUAL MAXIMUM OF $7,000.

UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A UNIQUE YEAR.

THERE WAS A LOT OF MEETINGS THAT THE COMMISSION HAD PERTAINING TO THE CHARTER AMENDMENT AND JUST REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.

IT WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR ACROSS THE CITY.

SO MANY, SO SOME COMMISSIONERS ARE AT OR NEAR THE MAX OF COMPENSATION.

SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER INCREASING THAT CAP TO FROM 7,000 TO 8,000 JUST FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.

SO THE HANDFUL OF MEETINGS THAT ARE LEFT CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE, AND THE COMMISSIONERS CAN STILL BE INVOLVED, UM, IN THAT BUSINESS.

UM, FOLLOWING, UM, ONCE WE GET TO 2025, IT WOULD RE, THE CAP WOULD, UH, REVERT BACK TO 7,000.

SO WE'VE DONE REALLY, UM, A, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PREP FOR, UH, NEW MEASURE OR FOR MEASURE JB.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW OF WHAT, UM, HR IS DOING, UM, TO PREPARE FOR THIS.

SO WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF, OF MEETINGS, PLANNING SESSIONS.

UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT AND, UM, REALLY HAVE PUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK WITH STAFF, UM, BOTH INTERNAL STAFF INTO THE HR DEPARTMENT AND WORKING WITH CITY STAFF ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS TO PREPARE FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION.

WE'VE CREATED A TRANSITIONAL ORG CHART, WHICH WE'LL SHARE IN A MOMENT.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED A ROADMAP FOR SUCCESS.

UM, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH AGENCIES, UM, THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA LARGE AGENCIES TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

AND WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PLANNING SESSIONS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE LOCAL PREFERENCES, UM, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS.

UM, SO, AND WE'VE ALSO TAKEN A LOOK AT THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES.

UM, THOSE ARE REVISED AND ARE A, A PART OF THIS COUNCIL ITEM TONIGHT, UM, THAT THEY DO NEED TO BE, UM, REVISED TO REFLECT THE NEW CHARTER LANGUAGE.

SO, UM, WITH YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT, THOSE WOULD BE A, A EFFECTIVE ONCE THE MEET AND CONFER CONCLUDES.

UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ENGAGING, UH, DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY ABOUT THEIR SHORT AND LONG-TERM RECRUITMENT NEEDS AND PRIORITIES, BOTH FROM A SAFETY PERS FOR SAFETY POSITIONS AND NON-SAFETY POSITIONS, SO THAT ONCE THE TRANSITION IS FULLY COMPLETE, WE COULD HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH THEIR RECRUITMENT NEEDS.

AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, WE HAD A REALLY GOOD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 7TH WITH STAFF FROM THE H, HUMAN RESOURCES AND CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS THE TRANSITION AND INTEGRATION OF THE UNITS INTO ONE HIRING DEPARTMENT AND EXPRESS THEIR EXCITEMENT AND DESIRE TO, TO MERGE THE UNITS TOGETHER AND WORK FORWARD.

UM, STAFF WORK ASSIGNMENTS ARE STILL PENDING, UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT THAT WE'LL GIVE YOU ON A FOLLOWING SLIDE, BUT JUST WANTED TO RUN THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS, UM, AND AFTER THE MEET AND CONFER CONCLUDES.

UM, SO, UH, JUST TO RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE TECHNICAL DETAILS, UM, ONCE THE, ONCE THE MEET AND CONFER CONCLUDES, UM,

[02:20:01]

STAFF DO HAVE UP TO 15 DAYS TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO STAY IN HUMAN RESOURCES OR IF THEY WANNA WORK IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

THAT WAS PART OF THE COMMITMENT WE MADE WITH LABOR TO FIND SPOTS FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT WANNA WORK IN HR.

OUR HOPE AND OUR DESIRE IS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO WORK IN HUMAN RESOURCES, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE, AND WE WANT TO HONOR THOSE REQUESTS.

UM, THE NEW RULES WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE.

UM, THE NEW CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION WOULD BE, WILL BE ESTABLISHED, AND THEY COULD START FORMALLY HEARING APPEALS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY STAFF MEMBER SUPPORTING THAT COMMISSION.

UM, OUR NEW LOCAL PREFERENCES WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FOR CLASSIFIED RECRUITMENTS, AND, UM, THERE WOULD BE ONE FULL ONE DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD MANAGE ALL THE RECRUITMENT NEEDS MOVING FORWARD.

SO THAT'S JUST SORT OF A, A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ONCE MEET AND CONFER CONCLUDES.

WE'VE PUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THOUGHT IN WHAT OUR TRANSITIONAL ORG STRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE.

IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT GOING ON ON THIS SLIDE, BUT THE MAIN TAKEAWAY HERE IS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO CREATE A NEW TALENT MANAGEMENT BUREAU.

THIS WOULD BE A NEW BUREAU IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD FOCUS ON, UM, ALL THE HIRING CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED.

UM, THE, ONE OF THE MAIN TAKEAWAYS HERE IS THAT WE'RE REALLY SURGING MOST OF THE RESOURCES TO THE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PHASE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND THAT WE DELIVER ON OUR, ON OUR COMMITMENT TO HOPEFULLY MEET THE 90, UH, DAY TIMEFRAME SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

SO, UM, THIS IS ALL FINAL, UH, OR FINAL.

THE FINAL ORG CHART WILL BE PENDING, UM, MEET AND CONFER.

UM, BUT THIS IS, UH, A, A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT WE THINK IT'LL LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, EFFICIENCIES THAT WE, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER THE SUMMER WITH THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT HAVING, GOING FROM TWO DEPARTMENTS TO ONE WILL CREATE ALL SORTS OF EFFICIENCIES, AND WE'RE GONNA SEE IT IN OTHER AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR PERSONNEL OPERATIONS TEAM AND OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM.

THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES NOW WHERE ITEMS REALLY COULD JUST GO TO HUMAN RESOURCES AND GET APPROVED, AND THAT WILL IMPLEMENT THE ACTION.

SO NO MORE NEED, UH, TO GO TO A SECOND DEPARTMENT TO GET A SECOND LAYER OF APPROVAL OR SECOND LEVEL OF PROCESSING.

THIS IS REALLY PART OF THAT EFFICIENT, UM, UH, A GOVERNMENT, UM, BUSINESS MODEL THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ONCE THE ITEM, UH, IS OFFICIALLY IMPLEMENTED, OUR SIX MONTH OUTLOOK, UM, REALLY WE'RE, WE'RE AIMING TOWARDS ADV ADVANCING THE 90 DAY HIRING GOAL.

AND SO, UH, WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GONNA BE A WORK IN PROGRESS.

I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THAT IN SIX MONTHS WE'LL HAVE EVERYTHING RESOLVED, BUT I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION, WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS, UM, TO TACKLE THEIR RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES.

UM, MODERNIZING THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM, WHICH CAN MEAN LOOKING AT TESTING, LOOKING AT, LOOKING AT THE RULES.

UH, WE WANNA REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT OUR CIVIL SERVICE RULES.

SOME OF THEM ARE 30, 40 YEARS OLD, AND REALLY, UH, ASKING OURSELVES THAT THEY REALLY MEET THE CURRENT NEEDS OF THE WORKFORCE AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE DEPARTMENTS, UM, HIRE AND SELECT CANDIDATES, UH, IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO OUR COMMITMENT IS TO KEEP, UH, ALL STAKEHOLDERS INFORMED.

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS PLAN HERE, BOTH TO DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND LIKELY REPORT BACKS TO THIS COUNCIL AND OTHER, UM, NECESSARY STAKEHOLDERS.

THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING TIME.

THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF CHANGES GOING ON IN THE NEXT SIX TO 12 MONTHS IN PARTICULAR, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS, IS, IS ON BOARD AND UNDERSTANDS THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING.

AND THEN, UM, TOM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE, UM, RECOMMENDATION.

YEAH.

SO, UM, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE THE, UM, THE CURRENT, UH, SYSTEM AS, UH, JOE OUTLINED UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THAT MEET AND CONFER PROCESS.

UH, BUT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO, UM, APPROVE THE ABILITY TO SEND DOWN SOME, UH, ASSISTANCE TO OUR CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE STAFF THERE.

UH, WE'VE MET AND CONFERRED WITH ALL THE UNIONS AND ALL 11 AGREE.

UH, AND THEN, UH, WE DO, UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL IS, IS ALSO SUPPORTING THAT WE'RE REQUESTING THE CIVIL SERVICE TO, UH, TO MEET, UM, AND WE'RE ENCOURAGED THAT THEY'RE MEETING TOMORROW.

THERE'S IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO BE DONE.

UH, AND SO I THINK THE MAYOR FOR, UM, FOR ASSISTING WITH THAT AND, AND THAT, UM, GET A SENSE OF THE COUNCIL THAT WE WANT THEM TO MEET, AND WE WANT THEM TO CONTINUE TO, UH, TO SUPPORT, UH, GETTING ALL THIS IMPORTANT WORK DONE.

UH, WE DO WANNA INCREASE THAT MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE CIVIL SERVICE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT, UH, AT LEAST ONE OF THEIR COMMISSIONERS IS, IS, UH, AT THAT CAP.

I THINK THAT'S FAIR, SINCE WE DID ADD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS TO THEIR SCHEDULE THIS YEAR TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

SO IF THEY'RE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THAT, I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION.

AND THEN, UH, WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO, UH, REVISE THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS TONIGHT.

BUT ALL THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED, UM, WITH ALL THE, UH, THE LABOR UNIONS AS TO GET US IN FRONT, UH, OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND THEN, UH, ANY OTHER RULE CHANGES THAT GO THROUGH WILL COME TO THIS BODY AFTER MEET AND CONFER.

AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD DO IN 2025.

AND I THINK THAT'S IT.

SO AT THAT POINT, WE'D, UH, BE, UH, VERY OPEN TO ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS.

RIGHT.

SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

IT IS GREAT TO HEAR THE, THE PROGRESS ON THE, UH, THE INITIAL MEET AND CONFER CONVERSATIONS.

UH, WE WANNA THANK THE EMPLOYEE GROUP, EMPLOYEE GROUPS.

THERE ARE 11 THAT YOU'RE MEETING WITH, SO WE WANNA THANK ALL

[02:25:01]

11 FOR, UH, THEIR PROMPT ATTENTION.

UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT THAT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, THAT THE CREATION OF THE TALENT TALENT MANAGEMENT BUREAU AND THE ABILITY TO SURGE NOW THAT YOU, RATHER THAN HAVE TWO TEAMS FOCUSED ON, UM, HIRING NOW IN THIS NEW SINGLE HIRING DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE A TALENT MANAGEMENT BUREAU THAT CAN PLACE A BIGGER EMPHASIS ON RECRUITMENT AND BEING CREATIVE AND BEING INNOVATIVE IN HOW YOU DO IT.

SO I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

UH, I ALSO WANNA SAY, UM, I IMAGINE YOU CAN, ONCE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED, YOU CAN PLACE A FOCUS ON SOME OF THE INTERNAL PROMOTIONS.

THOSE I WOULD, I WOULD IMAGINE HAVE LIKELY HAVE LESS RED TAPE THAN, THAN THE HIRING PROCESS, JOE.

YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

AND, UM, WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM DEPARTMENTS THAT THERE IS AN, ESPECIALLY IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, THERE IS A, A, A A, UH, BIG PRIORITY FOR PROMOTIONAL EXAMS, UM, IN THE POLICE AND FIRE RANKS, UH, IN PARTICULAR.

SO THAT WILL BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOCUS ONCE, UM, THE INTEGRATION TAKES PLACE.

I DO WANNA REITERATE, MR. MAYOR, THAT WE'RE WELCOMING EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WANTS TO JOIN THE TEAM FROM CIVIL SERVICE LY.

WE NEED THEIR HELP, OR WE'VE SAID THAT TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES.

WE WANT YOU TO COME JOIN HR.

THERE ARE ABILITIES FOR THEM TO GO OTHER PLACES IF THEY FEEL THE NEED TO, BUT WE REALLY, AT PRIMARILY WOULD LOVE THEM TO JOIN THE TEAM.

WE'VE GOT A SPOT FOR EVERYONE, UH, WITHOUT LOSS OF PAY, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

WELL, THAT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO REITERATE THAT.

I MEAN, THERE WERE A LOT OF, LOT, THERE WAS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THIS WAS AND WHAT IT WASN'T.

BUT EVERYONE HAS A PLACE IN THE NEW ORGANIZATION WITHOUT LOSS OF PAY.

AND BECAUSE THIS IS A LARGER DEPARTMENT THAN A SMALL, SMALLER CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND ADVANCEMENT.

UH, WE LOVE TO SEE THAT.

BUT BACK TO THIS PROMOTION, UM, UM, UH, FOCUS, LIKE I NOTICED AT THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT PROMOTION CEREMONY, THERE WERE NO LIEUTENANTS.

UM, THAT'S, THAT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO PROMOTE A LIEUTENANT, YOU CAN'T OPEN UP THE NEXT POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED.

AND SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A, AN EMPHASIS ONCE WE GET AN IMPLEMENTATION, TAKE CARE OF THE LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT WE CAN MOVE NOW, GET THOSE TESTS GOING, NOW, SHOW SOME, SHOW SOME EARLY RESULTS.

ALSO WANNA SAY IN YOUR TIMETABLE, I, I, AND I GET IT, THAT, UH, YOU WANNA MANAGE EXPECTATIONS ON 90 DAY HIRING, BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR, I WANT YOU TO BRING ALL YOUR IMPLEMENTATION, ALL YOUR CHANGES, TRY TO GET THEM IN IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS SO THAT YOU HAVE SOME TIME THAT SECOND SIX MONTHS TO REALLY REFINE AND PUT A FOCUS ON THAT 90 DAY HIRING.

SO WHERE EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO EVERYTHING IN OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIRST YEAR, IF YOU CAN SAY OF THE RECRUITMENTS THAT YOU HAVE DONE, YOU'VE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT 90 DAY GOAL.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO GET TO, IN, IN THIS FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION, TRY TO GET TO THAT STRIVE FOR THAT 90 DAY, 90 BUSINESS DAYS.

RIGHT? JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT TALKING 90, YOU KNOW, 90 DAYS, 90 BUSINESS DAYS.

AND I, I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE RESIDENTS TO GIVE OUR BEST SHOT AT ACHIEVING THAT GOAL OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIRST YEAR.

UH, WE'LL GO TO THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR COMMENTS.

FIRST IS COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.

UH, RESIDENTS OUT THERE, THEY'RE STILL GONNA GO THROUGH THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS PROBABLY UNTIL ABOUT END OF JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY.

UM, AND THANK YOU, UH, TO THE TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT WAS, UM, REALLY THOROUGH.

AGAIN, I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN LOTS OF INFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION SWIRLING OUT THERE, SO FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PRESENTATION AND REALLY UNDERSTAND, UH, HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I WANNA THANK THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS PAST AND, AND PRESENT, UM, WHO HAVE BROUGHT US TO THIS PLACE.

THEY'VE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY HAS AMAZING TALENT, AND WE LOOK AROUND AND WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND THERE'S JUST WAYS WE NEED TO ADAPT TO MOVE INTO THE FUTURE.

UM, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE.

I ALSO APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OF BOTH DEPARTMENTS, SO FOLKS UP AND DOWN IN HR AND CIVIL SERVICE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WORK FOR US.

UM, I DON'T HAVE VERY MANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A THOROUGH PRESENTATION, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE MEET AND CONFERS AND THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU ARE KEEPING, UM, OUR EMPLOYEE GROUPS, UH, IN THE LOOP SO THAT THERE AREN'T SURPRISES FOR THEM AS WELL.

UM, SO MY ONLY QUESTION MIGHT BE FOR SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO'S WATCHING THIS AND SAID, SAYS, BUT I HAVE AN APPLICATION IN NOW WHAT HAPPENS TO ME? SO WE'VE GOT FOLKS OBVIOUSLY IN PROCESS IN BOTH DEPARTMENTS.

UH, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT FOLKS CAN EXPECT TO MAYBE WAITING TO HEAR FROM EITHER CIVIL SERVICE OR HR ABOUT A POSITION WE CURRENTLY HAVE OPEN? YEAH, EXCELLENT QUESTION.

SO FOR NOW, BUSINESS REMAINS AS USUAL.

SO, UM, CIVIL SERVICE IS STILL REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS.

THEY'RE STILL SCREENING THEM, THEY'RE STILL CONDUCTING THE EXAMS AND THE TEST.

AND, AND, AND THAT'S PART OF THAT BUSINESS THAT THE CITY MANAGER TALKED ABOUT THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE WANT THE COM URGING THE COMMISSION TO CONTINUE MEETING BECAUSE, UM, THEY'RE THE ONE UNDER THE CURRENT RULES.

THEY STILL CERTIFY THE LIST, THEY'LL STILL CERTIFY THE ELIGIBILITY LIST AND, AND MAKE CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE FOR HIRE.

SO I WOULD TELL,

[02:30:01]

UM, AND SO THEY SHOULD STILL HOPEFULLY CONTINUE TO GET THE SERVICE THAT THEY'VE BEEN GETTING, UM, THIS WHOLE TIME.

AND, AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE COMMISSION CON, UH, YOU KNOW, MEETING TOMORROW AND CONTINUING TO MEET, UM, THERE WON'T BE ANY DELAYS IN THAT PROCESS.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

AND JUST ONE LAST QUESTION.

WE KNOW THAT, UH, FOLKS DO HIRING WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENTS, AND ONCE SOMETIMES IT'S PASSED FROM CIVIL SERVICE TO A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE THOSE PRACTICES.

UM, I ASSUME THIS IS TRUE, BUT JUST WANT TO, TO ASK THE QUESTION OF ALL OF THE IMPLEMENTATIONS, ALL THE EFFICIENCIES, ALL OF THE WAYS THAT WE ARE, UM, MODERNIZING SOME OF THESE PRACTICES.

I ASSUME THERE WILL BE A RIGOROUS TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE DOING OR HAVING ANY KIND OF IMPACT ON HIRING AND ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS HR AND CIVIL SERVICE AND ALL OF THAT.

PART, PART OF THE, UH, PREPARATION PROCESS IS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON FIGURING OUT ALL THE NEEDS THAT, THAT THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE, INCLUDING TRAINING NEEDS AND MAKING SURE THAT'S ROLLED OUT APPROPRIATELY.

IT REALLY IS GONNA BE A CITYWIDE SOLUTION.

UM, HR AND CIVIL SERVICE COULD DO SO MUCH, BUT WE NEED OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE EQUIPPED AND TRAINED, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

GREAT.

THANK YOU, YOU SO MUCH.

NO MORE QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA.

AND, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KERR FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID, AND I'M, I'M LINE MYSELF WITH YOUR COMMENTS FOR ME AT THE MIDDLE, SWEET, UH, MOMENT.

UH, I STARTED MY CAREER WITH CITY OF LONG BEACH IN THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

I WENT FROM ASSISTANT DALLAS TO PERSONNEL DALLAS AND RECRUITMENT OFFICER.

AND THEN FROM THERE, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE ON, USE MY OTHER SKILLS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND I AM VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT OFFERED ME.

I ALSO LEARNED A LOT, I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HR, I LEARNED ABOUT TESTING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE VERY PRIDEFUL OF, AND I HOPE THEY STILL ARE, IS THE OPPORTUNITY, THE ABILITY TO DEPEND EVERY EXAM THAT WE GAVE WITH, WITH POLICE, BUT THAT IN CHIEF, LIEUTENANT, CAPTAIN, WHATEVER CLASSIFIED POSITION THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED, WE HAD TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS MERIT BASED AND THAT IT WAS FAIR AND EQUITABLE TO EVERYONE WHO APPLIED ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE, WE EARLIER TODAY IS THAT THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT PEOPLE WERE MISLED, UH, MISGUIDED AMONG ON ONE.

THE, THE, UM, THE CHARTERING OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL MEAN FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

I HOPE THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF STANDARDS TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS HIRED FROM THE AMI BEACH, AND IT'S ALL MERIT BASED.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST, UH, POINTS THAT I EMPHASIZED WITH THE SENIOR MANAGER, CITY MANAGER, AND WITH THE MAYOR WHEN THIS ISSUE CAME UP.

WE MIGHT HAVE A GOAL OF 90 DAYS, BUT NOT AT THE POINT A SECOND FIGHT SHE BARR OR TALE.

SO THERE'S A CAUTIONARY TALE, AND THAT WOULD BE IT FOR ME, IS THAT MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE, WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE MERIT SYSTEM, THAT WE DON'T LOSE SETTLEMENT, AND THEN WE CONTINUE FORWARD WITH IT.

SO, LIKE I SAY, IT'S A, IT'S SOMEWHAT OF A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR ME, BUT I THINK IT IS A FUN TIME TO MOVING FORWARD.

SO NOT TO, UH, SECOND.

YES, SIR.

AND YOU CERTAINLY HAVE OUR COMMITMENT ON THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT.

COMMISSION STAYS THE SAME AND DOES THAT IMPORTANT WORK AND THE STAFF STAY THE SAME? UH, BUT WE DID HAVE A CHANGE LAST WEEK WHERE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UM, HAS LET US KNOW THAT SHE WILL BE RETIRING.

ALRIGHT.

UH, TOM, I SEE YOU'RE, YOU'RE QUEUED UP.

YEAH, THE CITY ATTORNEY TEAM WANTED ME JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR.

THERE'S A LOT THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.

UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, ONE, ONE MODIFICATION THAT WAS MADE.

SO WE HAD A SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM COME OUT ON FRIDAY.

WE COVERED IT IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I JUST WANNA BE CRYSTAL, CRYSTAL CLEAR.

SO DURING THIS INTERIM TIME PERIOD, THE

[02:35:01]

UH, AND THAT'LL HAPPEN FAIRLY SOON ON DECEMBER 2ND.

AND SO, IN ORDER TO LET THE TEAM HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, UH, AND RECOGNIZING THIS IS JUST FOR AN INTERIM PERIOD OF TIME, I AM ASKING YOU TO GIVE ME THE AUTHORITY, UH, BECAUSE TECHNICALLY THE WHOLE SYSTEM ENDS ON WHENEVER THE, UM, THE, THE BALLOT IS CERTIFIED SO IT GOES AWAY.

SO YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO ADD IN WHAT WE WANT THIS TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

SO WE'RE GONNA, UH, REACTIVATE THE COMMISSION AND, AND ALL THE RULES, BUT THEN HAVE THE CITY MANAGER SEND DOWN AN, UM, INTERIM, UM, UH, INTERIM APPOINTMENT.

BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR, DURING THAT TIME, THAT PERSON SERVES INDEPENDENTLY, THEY'RE FUNCTIONING, UH, TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION, TO SUPPORT THE STAFF.

THEY'LL BE BRINGING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSION AND TAKING DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION.

UH, BUT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY LOANING THEM A PERSON.

SO, UM, UH, WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM, BUT THEY WILL BE INDEPENDENT FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND, UH, EXPECT THEM TO, TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTION AND, AND HELP THE TEAM, UH, DO EVERYTHING UNTIL WE GET TO THAT POINT OF TRANSITION.

WELL, UH, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR DISCUSSION.

AND, AND AGAIN, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.

THIS ISN'T, UH, THIS SHOULD BE SEEN AS WE'RE TAKING TWO GOOD THINGS.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, COMBINE IT AND PUTTING FORWARD SOMETHING BRAND NEW THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

AND WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO THE MERIT SYSTEM.

THAT IS STATE LAW, THAT IS FEDERAL LAW.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR COMMITMENTS.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 90 DAY HIRING, THE URGENCY COMES FROM THE NEED TO DELIVER SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

SO THE MORE, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO FOCUS ON HIRING THE BETTER RESPONSE TIMES WE HAVE WITH WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS, IT MEANS, UH, HAVING PUBLIC WORKS RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND CLEAN UP OUR CITY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO DELIVERING QUALITY CITY SERVICES DELIVERED BY CITY WORKERS.

SO, THANKS SO MUCH.

UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, CORRECT.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

UH, NEXT 27 PLEASE.

ITEM 27 IS REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO PROVE THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA ANNUAL REPORT, AND EXTEND THE AGREEMENT WITH THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE FOR A ONE YEAR TERM DISTRICT ONE.

[27. 24-55473 Recommendation to approve the Downtown Long Beach Parking and Business Improvement Area Annual Report; continue the annual business license assessment for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, and authorize City Manager, or designee, to extend the agreement with the Downtown Long Beach Alliance for a one-year term. (District 1) Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

ALRIGHT.

STAFF REPORT? YES, I TURN IT OVER TO JULIAN NU THAT TO GET THE REPORT.

GOOD EVENING, ARVILLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH PARK AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 1973.

THIS ALLOWED FOR THE LEVY OF AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT PAID BY BUSINESSES LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT, THE CITY CONTRACT WITH THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE, DTLP ALLIANCE TO MANAGE THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

AND THE ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SERVES AS THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE DISTRICT.

THE CITY AGREEMENTS WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR D-L-B-A-P-B-I-A FUNDING REQUIREMENTS THAT AN ANNUAL REPORT BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY THE ADVISORY BOARD.

UM, THE D-L-B-A-P-B-I-A BOARD AND DIRECTORS VOTED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE 2024 TO 2025 ANNUAL REPORT.

THIS REPORT DESCRIBES BOUNDARIES, PROPOSED ACTIVITIES, BUDGETARY INFORMATION, AND THE METHOD AND BASIS OF THE CONTINUATION OF THE ASSESSMENT.

IN THE REPORT, THE ADVISORY BOARD APPROVED THE ADJUSTMENT OF A 4.5% CPI, UH, INCREASE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2025.

UM, THERE ARE NO, UH, PROPOSED CHANGES FOR THE, UH, TO THE ASSESSMENT, UH, METHODOLOGY FOR THAT, UM, FOR THIS YEAR.

THIS CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

ALRIGHT, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, AUSTIN MATOYA.

WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE ASSISTED OVER 67 BUSINESSES WITH SUPPORT OF CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO ACCESS THE VIP GRANT PROGRAM.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS AUSTIN MORTOYA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU THIS EVENING FOR HAVING THANK YOU THIS EVENING FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

UH, AND TONIGHT, I WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT AND HIGHLIGHT WHY THE CONTINUATION OF THE DOWNTOWN PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK, UH, FOR THE DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS THE HEART OF THE CITY.

THROUGH OUR WORK IN MARKETING PLACEMAKING AND ENSURING CLEAN AND SAFE SPACES AND DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE NOT JUST MAINTAINING DOWNTOWN'S APPEAL, BUT WE'RE ALSO ACTIVELY ENRICHING DOWNTOWN'S ENVIRONMENT WITH YOUR SUPPORT.

WE CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THE MOMENTUM WE PREPARE, WE CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THE MOMENTUM TO PREPARE FOR INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD, SUCH AS THE WORLD CUP IN 2026, AS WELL AS THE OLYMPICS IN 2028.

AND JUST A BRIEF RECAP OF THE WORK THAT

[02:40:01]

WE'VE ALSO WELCOMED OVER 128 NEW BUSINESSES WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 24.

OUR CLEAN AND SAFE TEAM HAS REMOVED OVER 10,000, UH, POUNDS OF TRASH, UM, AS WELL AS ASSISTED WITH THE REMOVAL OF GRAFFITI, UH, STICKERS ALONG WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR MARKETING COMMUNICATION.

I ASSUME I'M OKAY.

I'M, WE'RE GOOD.

WE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE BUILDING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DEVICES BEHIND THIS DICE.

YEP.

SORRY, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A FEW MORE SECONDS.

GO AHEAD.

APPRECIATE IT.

UH, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR MARKETING CONNECTIONS TEAM OVER THE LAST YEAR HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE WORK TO, UH, COLLABORATE WITH A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE CITY VISIT LONG BEACH AND THE CONVENTION CENTERS TO LAUNCH OUR NEW DESTINATION CAMPAIGN OPPOSITE OF ORDINARY, AS WELL AS TO HELP SUPPORT OVER 500 DIFFERENT STORIES OF DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

OUR, OUR STORIES ARE SHARED ACROSS MANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, WHICH HAS ABOUT 120,000 FOLLOWERS.

AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW THAT CONNECTS WITH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE VISIT LONG BEACH, AS WELL AS WITH THE CITY, OUR REACH AND OUR GROWTH IS INCREDIBLE.

UH, IN 2025, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ACTIVATE THE DOWNTOWN THROUGH OUR ART AND DESIGN WALK.

OUR FIRST ONE COMING UP, WE'LL BE IN FEBRUARY 8TH AND LOOKING AT NEW AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS SIP SHOP AND STROLL, WHICH IS AN ACTIVITY THAT BRINGS FOOD AND RESTAURANTS INTO RETAIL STOREFRONTS, AS WELL AS OUR, OUR ONGOING GREAT EVENT TASTE OF DOWNTOWN.

UH, IN CLOSING, I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT THE DOWNTOWN PROPERTY BUS, DOWNTOWN PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA IS NOT JUST A PROGRAM, IT'S A PROMISE.

IT'S A PROMISE TO OUR BUSINESS OWNERS AND OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR DOWNTOWN SUCCESS.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH OUR COUNCILWOMAN COUNCIL IN ZENDEJAS, AS WELL AS THE CITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RESOURCES THAT OUR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS NEED, AND TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO HOW WE WE MAKE DOWNTOWN THRIVE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL THIS DAY.

WELL, AUSTIN, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

LET'S CONTINUE THE FOCUS.

UH, IT WAS GREAT DOING, HAVING SOME TIME TO GO GO OUT WITH YOU AND, UM, AND MEET WITH MATT HANEY LAST WEEK.

AND YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS MANY OF THESE DOWNTOWNS, THEY'RE ALL DEALING WITH THE SAME CHALLENGES.

WE GOT A HEAD START ON DIVERSIFYING OUR DOWNTOWN BECAUSE WE PUT A FOCUS THIS PAST DECADE ON BUILDING HOUSING AND DIVERSIFYING THE MIX DOWN THERE.

WE WE'RE RECOVERING BETTER AND FASTER THAN THE OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO ARE JUST GETTING STARTED WITH DENSIFYING AND ADDING MORE HOUSING TO THEIR DOWNTOWNS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S BIG.

AND THEN, UH, YOUR INSIGHT AROUND THE SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION RESTAURANTS THAT ARE COMING IN AND SEEING OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S HUGE.

AND I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, MORE DIVERSITY IN OUR DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT, 24 HOUR ECONOMY, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.

SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND, AND, UM, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, PLEASE SEND OUR, OUR SUPPORT IN REGARDS TO YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ON YOUR BOARD.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS.

THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AUSTIN FOR BEING HERE.

UM, I AM PLEASED THAT OUR CITY HAS A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS.

OUR BIDS ARE OUR MAIN SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND KEY DRIVERS OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

I CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH D-T-L-B-A ALLI ALLIANCE IN, UM, ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.

I AM PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR, UM, DTLB ALLIANCE FOR WORKING TO CREATIVELY ADDRESS THE VACANCIES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO ATTRACT GOODS AND SERVICES THAT UPLIFT, UM, A COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY VISION FOR A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN FOR ALL.

D-T-L-B-A ALLIANCE GO DOES A FANTASTIC JOB IN ACTIVATING OUR STREETS WITH EVENTS LIKE TASTE OF DOWNTOWN AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

UM, DATE NIGHT ON PINE.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A ARRAY OF EVENTS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND I THINK THAT YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, DO SUCH AN AMAZING JOB, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS, UM, GET WHAT THEY, UM, SO MUCH WANT OUT OF A COMMUNITY EVENTS, BUT ALSO TO BRING A BUSINESS INTO OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE DOWNTOWN THAT ARE IN SO MUCH NEED OF INCREASED FOOT TRAFFIC AND, UM, TO FILL ALL OF THEIR TABLES.

SO YOUR COMMITMENT TO, UM, TO DOWNTOWN SHOWS IN THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN.

AND AS THE MAYOR SAYS, UM, KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND LET'S CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP.

[02:45:01]

ARE, UM, REALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF WHAT THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH CAN BE AND IT'S THANKS TO OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.

SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU VICE MAYOR ALLEN.

YES, I THANK YOU.

JUST HAPPY TO SUPPORT.

CONGRATS.

ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

REFINING THE OVERALL PARK, IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS TWO CONCEPT DESIGNS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

29 PLEASE.

29 IS REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATIONS, AND MARINE RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE SHEAR PARK VISION PLAN DISTRICT EIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, STAFF REPORT.

[29. 24-55475 Recommendation to receive and file the Scherer Park Vision Plan. (District 8) Office or Department: Parks, Recreation and Marine Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

SO THIS IS EXCITING.

UH, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO BRENT DENNIS TO GO THROUGH YET ANOTHER ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANS, UH, AND BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT'LL BE COMING TO SHERA PARK.

YEAH, THANK YOU TOM.

UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, AS YOUR PARKS DIRECTOR, NOTHING PLEASED US MORE THAN TO BRING THE VISION OF, UH, IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.

SO, UM, TONIGHT, UM, I'M JOINED IN THE SPIRIT OF RECOGNITION AND HONOR TO THIS YOUNG LADY WHO'S BEEN SERVING AS OUR, UH, ACTING PARK PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIPS BUREAU MANAGER FOR QUITE A FEW MONTHS.

SO I'M GONNA ASK SHERLY BEATTY TO LEAD YOU THROUGH, UM, OUR SHEER PARK VISION PLAN.

SO, OVER TO YOU SHERLYN.

THANK YOU, BRIAN, AND GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE SHEAR PARK VISION PLAN.

SO, THE VISION PLAN PROVIDES A STRATEGIC STRATEGIC GUIDANCE FOR FUTURE PARK INVESTMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL PLAN WITH POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE SITE.

THE VISION PLAN WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND MARINE AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LONG BEACH AND CITY FABRIC.

SO, A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB FOR PROVIDING MEETING SPACE AND PARTICIPANTS FOR WORKSHOPS AND OUR POP-UP EVENTS AND THE CITY FABRIC WHO LED THE ENTIRE VISION PLAN PROCESS BY FACILITATING THE NUMEROUS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, COMPILING ALL THE DATA AND CREATING THE ACTUAL VISION PLAN THAT YOU SEE.

SO, SHEER PARK IS LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT, BETWEEN THE BIXBY KNOWS AND LOS CERRITOS NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT COVERS AN EXPANSIVE 25 POINT 18 ACRES AND IS BORDER BY STREETS INCLUDING LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, ATLANTIC AVENUE, 46TH STREET, AND EAST ELMO BOULEVARD.

THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE PARK BLOCK INCLUDES THE EXISTING NORTH DIVISION, LONG BEACH POLICE STATION.

IT'S NESTLED BETWEEN A VARIETY OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

SHEER PARK SERVES AS AN OPEN SPACE WHERE RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY NATURE, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY BONDING, SERVING AS A FOCAL POINT FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION AND ENGAGEMENT.

AMENITIES AT SHEAR PARK CURRENTLY INCLUDE A DUCK POND, A RECENTLY RENOVATED COMMUNITY CENTER, BASKETBALL COURTS, PICNIC AREA, PLAYGROUND, TENNIS COURTS, VOLLEYBALL COURTS, AND RESTROOMS. SHEAR PARK IS ALSO SITUATED ADJACENT TO A TRIBUTARY, LEADING TO THE LA RIVER POSITIONED DIRECTLY SOUTH OF A SIGNIFICANT FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL.

WHILE THIS CAN BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE, IT ALSO PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DESIGN ELEMENTS, WHICH CAN HELP STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SERVE AS AMENITIES FOR THE PARK.

SO, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE PARTICIPATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A TOTAL OF 720 PARTICIPANTS OVER THREE PHASES OF THE PARTICIPATION.

SO, PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR THE VISION PLAN INVOLVED HOSTING A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AT THE PARK AND NEARBY COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN THE EVENINGS, WEEKENDS, AND DURING STANDING COMMUNITY EVENTS, PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO ADVERTISE THE WORKSHOPS WERE TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH, KAMAI AND TAGAL, AND WORKSHOPS INCLUDED LIVE INTERPRETATION BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE CITY'S LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM.

THE WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES WERE DESIGNED TO BUILD FROM ONE ANOTHER AND FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ALLOW PARTICIPATION AT ANY STEP.

SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO ALL THREE OF THE WORKSHOPS, BUT YOU COULD JUMP IN AT ANY POINT.

THE ACTIVITIES WERE KEPT VISUALLY ENGAGING AND FUN SO THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES COULD PARTICIPATE AND RELATE TO THE INFORMATION QUICKLY.

SO IF WE LOOK AT WORKSHOP ONE, WHICH IS KIND OF THE DISCOVERY PHASE FOR THIS, THE TOTAL OF 390 PARTICIPANTS WORKSHOP ONE ALLOWED PARTICIPANTS TO IDENTIFY A VARIETY OF STRENGTHS AND DEF DEFICIENCIES, DEFICIENCIES OF THE PARK, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE.

SO THEY ANSWERED QUESTIONS, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOES NOT WORK, WHAT COULD USE IMPROVEMENT.

THE PRIORITIZATION PHASE, WHICH WAS WORKSHOP TWO, BEGAN WITH IDENTIFYING AND PRIORITIZING AMENITIES AND PROGRAMMING, BOTH NEW ONES AND POTENTIAL AND THE EXISTING ONES.

THOSE PRIORITIES WERE, UH, USED TO ADDRESS THE PARKS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.

SO, THROUGH A BOARD GAME STYLE MAPPING ACTIVITY, PARTICIPANTS PROVIDED SUGGESTIONS ON FEATURES AND AMENITIES WHILE CONSIDERING OTHER USERS' NEEDS, AS WELL AS THE CONSTRAINT OF A BUDGET.

THE FINAL ROUND OF ENGAGEMENT FOCUSED ON TESTING AND

[02:50:01]

THE FEEDBACK SESSIONS TOOK THE FORM OF A SERIES OF POPUP EVENTS WHERE THE PROJECT TEAM PRESENTED CONCEPTUAL PLANS AND DESIGNS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PARK.

THE POPUP EVENTS WERE HELD AT MULTIPLE COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS AT SHEER PARK AND MOVIES, AT THE PARK EVENTS IN THE SUMMER.

AND TO GAIN FEEDBACK FROM SPECIFIC USER GROUPS LIKE SENIORS AND YOUTH.

THE TEAM ALSO BROUGHT THE POP-UP EVENTS TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

SO FROM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAME FOR PARTICULAR THEMES THAT STARTED TO EMERGE.

SO LOOKING AT THE PROGRAMMING OF IT.

SO THE PARKS VIBRANT PROGRAMMING PRIMARILY CENTERED AROUND THE, THE CLUBHOUSE OR THE COMMUNITY CENTER, DEPENDING ON HOW, WHICH YOU, HOW YOU WANNA CALL IT, THE ADJOINING, OPENING LAWN AREA AND THE SPORTS COURTS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE EXPANSIVE LAWN HOSTS A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SOCCER MATCHES, OUTDOOR MOVIE SCREENINGS AND PICNICS.

THERE'S A DESIRE TO EXPAND THE, THE COMMUNITY CENTER SIZE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE PROGRAMS AND TO CREATE GATHERING SPACES LIKE AN AMPHITHEATER FOR EVENTS.

THERE'S ALSO A CONSENSUS FOR PARK REDESIGN AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT SHOULD PRIORITIZE FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND ANIMALS.

NATURAL ELEMENTS ACROSS THE PARK SERVE AS VITAL HABITATS FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE, ENRICHING THE ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF THE AREA.

THE PARK'S MOST PROMINENT FEATURE IS ITS DUCK POND.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE VOICED THEIR DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE DUCK POND, PRIORITIZING, ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT AND INCREASING SEATING AND OTHER SURROUNDING AMENITIES, LEVERAGING THE DISTINCTIVE WATER FEATURES IN TOPOGRAPHY.

ENHANCING SAFETY SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER REDUCING THE NUMBER OF HIDING SPOTS WITHIN THE PARK AND INCREASE VISIBILITY.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, RELOCATING VEHICLE PARKING AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK COULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HIDING SPOTS WITHIN THE PARK.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE A LARGER BIKE PATH AND PEDESTRIAN PATH THAT CAN SERVE AS A ROAD FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND CITY MAINTENANCE VEHICLES TO DRIVE THROUGH THE PARK WITH.

THIS CAME SOME VERY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES.

SO WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON PROMOTING HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLES AND FOSTERING SOCIAL INTERACTION, THE PROPOSED DESIGN AIMS TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL, SUSTAINABLE GREEN SPACE UTILIZING STRATEGIES OF CONNECTING ZONING AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE VISION CONNECTS VARIOUS PARK AMENITIES TO INTEGRATE FEATURES SUCH AS A POND CROSSING, BRIDGE, AND SCENIC PATHWAYS TO ENRICH THE RECREATIONAL AND AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE.

THE VISION LOOKS TO CREATE COMPLEMENTARY ZONES THROUGHOUT THE PARK, SUCH AS DEVELOPING THE NORTHEAST SIDE FOR ACTIVE PROGRAMMING, FEATURING MULTI SPORT SPORTS COURTS AND FITNESS STATIONS, WHILE ALLOCATING THE SOUTHWEST SIDE FOR PASSIVE RECREATION, INCLUDING TRANQUIL SPACE, THE COMMUNITY GUARDED AND SHADED PICNIC AREAS.

SO REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE DESIGNED THE PARK AND WHERE WE PLACE THINGS TO PUT COMPLIMENTARY ACTIVITIES TOGETHER.

THE STRATEGY SUGGESTED ALSO INCLUDED IMPLEMENTING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS TO EFFECTIVELY COLLECT, FILTER AND TREAT STORM WATER, MITIGATING FLOODING RISK AND IMPROVING WATER QUALITY, PROMOTING GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AND POLLUTANT REMOVAL THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF FEATURES, THE INTEGRATION OF FEATURES SUCH AS VEGETATED BIOSWELLS, AND STORMWATER RETENTION PONDS.

SO THIS IS THE OVERALL PICTURE OF WHAT THE PARK WOULD LOOK LIKE UPON COMPLETION.

SO THE SHEARER PARK VISION PLAN REVOLVES AROUND AN INCLUSIVE SITE PLAN AIMING TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT CATER TO BOTH PEACEFUL RELAXATION AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

SO THINGS THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE ARE KIND OF, IT'S HARD TO READ, I KNOW, ON THE SMALL, BUT IF YOU GO FROM THE LEFT AROUND, YOU'LL SEE AREAS SUCH AS A CENTRALIZED SPORTS GROUND ZONE, A SIGNATURE PLAYGROUND, SOME HILL PLAY, AN AMPHITHEATER FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.

THERE'S STORMWATER RETENTION, POND, COMMUNITY GARDENS, THE DOG PARK, FLEXIBLE FIELDS FOR SOCCER, FOOTBALL, OTHER ACTIVITIES, AND A DOC DECK, POND VIEWING DECK, AND OF COURSE, A COMMUNITY CENTER.

UM, WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS POND IS THAT THE EXISTING RECENTLY RENOVATED COMMUNITY CENTER IS STILL THERE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A DESIRE TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL SPACE COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO WE'RE GONNA LOOK A LITTLE BIT CLOSER AT SOME OF THE FOCUS AREAS AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT TIME HERE.

SO HERE WE HAVE THE EXPANDED DUCK POND SITUATED AT ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION.

IT FEATURES A HILLSIDE PLAY AREA AND SCENIC VIEWING DECKS, BRIDGES ACROSS THE POND AND VIEWING AREAS ENHANCE THE VISITORS' CONNECTION WITH THE WATER, PROVIDING AN ENJOYABLE WALKING AND BIKING EXPERIENCE.

A HILLSIDE PLAYGROUND WITH UNIVERSAL PLAY ELEMENTS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNIQUE SLOPE TOPOGRAPHY.

AND AT THE WEST END, ACROSS FROM THE POND YOU'LL SEE THERE, UM, THERE ARE SOME LITTLE AMPHITHEATER AREA FOR SLOPE THAT WILL BE PLENTY OF SPACE FOR EVENTS, MOVIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GATHERINGS.

LOOKING HERE AT THE GARDEN AND THE PICNIC AREA.

SO THIS WILL CONSOLIDATE THE PARKING.

BY CONSOLIDATING THE PARKING IN THE SPORTS COURT AREAS.

IT'S GOING TO CREATE OVER TWO ACRES OF NEW PLANTING AREA IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK TO EXPAND THE EXISTING MATURE TREE CANOPY WHILE ESTABLISHING THE NEW COMMUNITY GARDEN.

THE NEW COMMUNITY GARDEN WILL BUILD ON THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND MARINE DEPARTMENTS GOAL OF ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY GARDENS IN ALL PARKS LARGER THAN FIVE ACRES.

TAKING A

[02:55:01]

LOOK AT THE PICNIC AND DOG PARK AREAS, THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THIS PARK WOULD REMAIN OPEN FOR STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED PROGRAMMING.

SO YOU'LL SEE OPEN FIELDS THERE.

UM, THERE'LL BE A AMENDMENT PATHWAYS AND CONSOLIDATION OF PICNIC TABLES WILL CREATE THAT LARGE AREA WHERE YOU'LL SEE A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT COULD BE EXPANDED IN THERE.

AND THEN THE DOG PARK WILL STAY THERE AND WILL BENEFIT FROM ENHANCEMENTS OF THE PARK, UM, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL TREES, SEEDING, AND THE OTHER LANDSCAPE THAT ARE GONNA BE PLANTED ALONG THE PATHWAYS AND THE RECREATION AND FITNESS STATION.

SO THIS WILL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR MULTIPLE SPORTS ZONES, BUT IT'S GOING TO CENTRALIZE ALL THE SPORTS ZONES IN THE PARK.

UM, SO WE'LL HAVE PLACES FOR TENNIS, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, AND EVEN THE FAVORITE PICKLEBALL.

UM, THE CLUSTERED HARD TOP SPORTS COURTS CAN ALSO BE USED FOR PROGRAMMING.

SO WE CAN DO COMMUNITY FAIRS OR EVEN FOOD TRUCK FESTIVALS.

THERE'S JUST A VARIETY OF USES IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA WITH, OF COURSE, AMPLE FENCING TO GO AHEAD AND BLOCK OFF THOSE AREAS.

OKAY, SO IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN IS INTENDED TO LEVERAGE UNIQUE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAXIMIZE THEIR RESPECTIVE AND COMBINE FINANCIAL BENEFITS.

SO THESE PROJECTS WILL FIT INTO SHORT, MEDIUM, AND LONG-TERM, PERIODS OF TWO TO FIVE YEARS, SIX TO NINE YEARS, OR, AND 10 TO 15 YEARS RESPECTIVELY.

THE, THOSE TIMEFRAMES WILL BE DETERMINED BY AVAILABLE FUNDING.

AND THEN COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS CAN ALSO BE IMPLEMENTED ON AN INCREMENTAL BASIS, DEPENDING ON THE PRIORITIES.

AND OF COURSE, TIMING AND RESOURCES THAT'S AVAILABLE AND BACKBONE PROJECTS WILL BE, WILL HELP RESTRUCTURE SHEAR PARK, WHICH WOULD CREATE THE CANVAS FOR MORE INCREMENTAL INVESTMENTS TO MEDIATE AS WE RESOURCES DO BECOME AVAILABLE.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE'S A LIST OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS, BUT SOME OF THE SHORT TERM AND BACKBONE PROJECTS WOULD BE THINGS SUCH AS IMPROVING THE PARKING BY REDISTRIBUTING THAT 46TH STREET PARKING LOT TO THE ATLANTIC AVENUE DEL LAMA BOULEVARD IN LA ATLANTIC AVENUE, PARKING LOTS, MAKING THEM MORE EFFICIENT WITH DOUBLE LOADED AISLES.

MEDIUM TERM PROJECTS COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE WATERSHED INTEGRATION, THE AMPHITHEATER, AND THE SOUTH ENTRY, THE GARDENS DOWN THERE.

LONG TERM PROJECTS, WHICH WOULD THEN TAKE THAT 10 TO 15 YEARS COULD BE INCLUDE THE WEST LAWN AND THAT WEST ENTRY PLAZA CONSISTING OF THE DOG PARK IMPROVEMENTS, AND INCLUDING THAT ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER THAT I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

SO THAT HAS THE TWO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ARE THERE.

SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE MORE SPACE, UM, FOR PROGRAMMING.

SO UTILIZING THE BEAUTIFULLY RE RENOVATED COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT THEN ALSO EVEN LARGER SPACE.

THAT BEING SAID, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SHEAR PARK VISION PLAN WILL ALSO INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING TOGETHER PARK ADVOCATES, LOCAL RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO COLLABORATE ON A VARIETY OF PROJECTS, PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.

SO OUR NEXT STEPS TOWARDS MAKING THIS VISION PLAN A REALITY WILL INCLUDE DEVELOPING THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, ADDRESSING OUR MAINTENANCE NEEDS, AND ALSO PURSUING GRANT FUNDING AND FUNDING TO BRING THIS VISION FOR SHEARER PARK TO FRUITION.

SO WE WANNA THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE APPROVAL OF THIS VISION PLAN FOR SHEARER PARK AND SEEING IT TO BECOME A REALITY IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.

YEAH, THANK YOU SHERLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING OUT ACROSS THE CIVIC CHAMBERS, UM, I DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT A, A MA MAJORITY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IN OUR OUTREACH HAPPENED TO BE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUNG FAMILIES WITH KIDS, WHICH I REALLY LOVED, BUT I THINK BECAUSE IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT, UM, THEY JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE.

BUT I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF 'EM OTHER THAN TO JUST SHARE, UH, THE JOY THAT WAS IN ALL THE WORKSHOPS.

AND I DO WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN AUSTIN.

I THINK HE JOINED ME IN WELCOMING THE COMMUNITY AT EVERY WORKSHOP THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

SO IT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE BEAUTY OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE VISION PLAN CERTAINLY REFLECTS THAT.

SO, AGAIN, WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

COUNCIL, BUT ALSO OUR COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL, UH, OFFICIALS TO HELP IDENTIFY THE FUNDING TO MAKE IT A REALITY.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN.

WELL, I WANT TO THANK, UH, STAFF FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION.

AND, UM, IT REALLY, REALLY, I THINK, SHOWS A VERY AMBITIOUS VISION THAT WAS, UH, REALLY REFLECTS THE, THE, UM, THE THOUGHTS, THE VISION, THE INPUT OF, UH, MANY, MANY RESIDENTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR SOME TIME, SEEN A LOT OF, UH, PROCESSES, SURVEYS, ENGAGEMENT.

UM, DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN TOO MANY, UH, ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES THAT, THAT HAVE BROUGHT, BROUGHT IN AS MANY PEOPLE THAT THIS BROUGHT IN.

UH, SO THERE MAY NOT BE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS, UH, THIS VISION PLAN, UH, THE STRATEGIC PLAN HAS A GREAT DEAL OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, THE INPUT.

UH, I WANNA THANK THOSE RESIDENTS, THE OVER 720 RESIDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS.

THIS IS, THIS IS YOUR VISION, THIS IS YOUR PLAN.

UH, THIS PLAN WILL TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF, UH, FOCUS, COMMITMENT, UM, AND, AND SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.

UM, NOT JUST THE CITY

[03:00:01]

UH, A LITTLE STORY WE CELEBRATED JUST LAST WEEK OF THE GRAND OPENING OF, UH, THE NEWLY, UM, EXPANDED DAVENPORT PARK.

WE DID VISITING ON THAT MAYBE 10, 11 YEARS AGO.

UM, AND TODAY WE FINALLY, UH, HAVE A REAL PARK TANGIBLE WITH TANGIBLE RESULTS.

THIS CAN BE THAT, UM, IN, IN HOPEFULLY SHORTER TIME.

UH, BUT IT SHOWS THAT THE VISIONING PROCESS WORKS AND THAT, THAT WE CAN DELIVER RESULTS, UM, IF WE ACTUALLY COMMIT TO, TO, TO, UM, WORKING WITH OUR, OUR RESIDENTS, DEVELOPING GREAT OUTREACH, UM, AND, UH, INCORPORATING THEIR THOUGHTS ON, ON PAPER.

THIS IS A GREAT PLAN AND ONE THAT I SUPPORT AND ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JUST WANT TO JUST, UH, OFFER MY, MY CONGRATULATIONS.

I LOVE A GOOD PLAN.

I LOVE THIS PARTICULAR PARK.

UM, AND, AND, UH, I MENTIONED IT COUNCILMAN, WHEN WE HAD THE COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE THAT, AND YOU REMEMBER THIS, MY FIRST DAUGHTER, ALINA, WE HAD HER FIRST BIRTHDAY RIGHT THERE, SHEER PARK.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PARK.

UH, ONE OF THE MORE BEAUTIFUL PARKS IN UPTOWN.

AND WITH THIS VISION, IT, I, I THINK IT'S GONNA HAVE JUST A, A GREAT AND BRIGHT FUTURE.

AND THAT DOG PARK I FREQUENTED, UH, FOR MANY YEARS.

SO, SO YEAH, THIS IS GREAT.

SO, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, YOU ALREADY HAVE A GREAT, UH, OPEN SPACE LEGACY, BUT YOU'RE LEAVING SOMETHING IN PLACE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN TIME.

SO I THINK THAT THAT SAYS A LOT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO, UH, PARKS AND RECREATIONS TEAM.

COUNCILMAN KERR.

UM, CONGRATULATIONS COUNCILMAN AUSTIN FOR, FOR CONTINUING TO HAVE THE VISION FOR OPEN SPACE IN NORTH LONG BEACH.

AND THANK YOU, UM, DIRECTOR DENNIS AND TEAM FOR ENGAGING SO THOUGHTFULLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS ISN'T THE ONLY PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU HAVE BROUGHT OUT MORE THAN EXPECTED NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OR MORE FOLKS THAT HAVE COME OUT IN THE PAST.

AND I REALLY WANNA COMMEND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR, UM, THE WAY THAT THAT CONTINUES TO BE HOW YOU OPERATE.

UM, IT, IT REALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE INTENTIONALITY OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

UM, IT IS AMAZING TO DREAM BIG AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE A WAY FORWARD, I THINK FOR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS, UM, THOSE OF US WHO FREQUENT THE PARK ARE NEAR THE PARK.

UM, I JUST WALKED THROUGH IT ON SATURDAY.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF GEESE IN THAT PARK AND TWO PELICANS, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THERE ARE PELICANS THAT HANG OUT IN THAT POND.

UM, BUT HAVING A WAY TO SEE FORWARD IS REALLY CRITICAL.

UM, THE FUNDING PART WE KNOW IS THE HARD PART THAT COMES NEXT, BUT WITH A, SUCH A CLEAR VISION, UM, AND DIRECTIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY, I THINK IT HELPS MAKE THAT PROCESS EASIER.

SO, UH, THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM FOR THAT.

UM, THIS IS SUPER EXCITING FOR NORTH LONG BEACH.

MORE REASON WHY IT'LL BE IMPORTANT TO BE IMPROVED.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? OH, WAIT, HANG ON.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, CONGRATULATE SHERLY FOR, UM, HER WORK AS WELL.

UM, I THINK THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME SHE'S COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL, BIG DEAL FOR, UM, OUR GREAT EIGHTH DISTRICT, OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, AND, UH, AGAIN, I WANTED TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR WORK, BUT ALSO WANTED TO COMMEND, UH, CITY FABRIC.

THE CONSULTANT THAT, UH, WAS REALLY, I THINK, UM, MASTERFUL IN THEIR ENGAGEMENT, UM, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR, UH, FACILITATION OF A VERY, VERY THOUGHTFUL PROCESS AS WELL.

SO, UH, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THEM PUBLICLY AS WELL.

SO, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

YES, I ALSO WANNA CONGRATULATE COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN AND HIS CONSTITUENTS ON FINISHING THE, AND AS WELL AS PARKS AND REC WITH CITY FABRIC ON FINISHING THIS PLAN.

UM, I TOO HAD FINISHED ONE, I THINK LIKE A, I THINK A MONTH AGO.

IT'S BEEN THAT, IT FEELS A LONG TIME AGO, BUT IT WAS JUST LAST MONTH ACTUALLY, .

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN A PARK HAS A VISION PLAN, IT'S REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THAT PROCESS TO FIND FUNDING AND ENGAGE, UM, IN A WAY WHERE OTHER PEOPLE KNOWS ABOUT IT.

I ACTUALLY GO TO THIS PARK TOO REGULARLY ONCE WHEN MY SON WAS IN BOY SCOUT, THEY WOULD DO THEIR MEETINGS THERE A LOT.

BUT ALSO I PLAY AT THE TENNIS COURTS THERE, .

AND SO I THINK, SO I'M EXCITED TOO AS SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT A RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT, BUT I AM A LONG BEACH RESIDENT.

UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO CONTINUE TO GO TO IT RIGHT NOW, BUT, AND SEEING IT ACTUALLY IMPROVE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER THING TOO IS EVERY TIME I'M AT THE PARK, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY DOING WEDDING PHOTOS, GIN RA PHOTOS, SOME KIND OF SPECIAL EVENT PHOTO.

SO IT'S LIKE A VERY SPECIAL LIKE EVENTS PARK WHERE PEOPLE DO MEMORABLE EVENTS THERE.

SO THAT'S EVEN ALL THE

[03:05:01]

SO JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU AGAIN.

YEAH, IT'S A NICE PARK.

YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S THE CLOSEST PLACE YOU CAN GO TO SEE SOME DUCKS.

NOW WE GOT THE WETLANDS AT THE FOREST, BUT THE FOREST PARK AND SHEAR PARK, THAT'S WHERE WE GO IN NORTH LONG BEACH.

ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS.

I JUST WANTED TO ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN ON THIS END DIRECTOR, UM, DENNIS ON THIS STRATEGIC PLAN.

I THINK, LIKE, UM, COUNCILMAN BURRO SAID, HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN IS SO IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS HAVING COMMUNITY INPUT.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF YOU.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THE COMMUNITY THAT'S GOING TO BE ENJOYING THIS, ESPECIALLY ALL THE WEDDINGS AND THE QUINCEANERAS, UM, THAT WILL BE CONTINUE TO GO THERE.

SO THANK YOU.

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

CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, AND OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES TO INVESTIGATE THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS RELATED TO ELEVATED LEVELS OF METHYL BROMINE.

36.

ITEM 36 IS A COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ORANGA RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER AND LONG BEACH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO WORK WITH SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT,

[36. 24-55646 Recommendation to request City Manager and Long Beach Health and Human Services to work with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), California Air Resources Board (CARB), and other relevant agencies to investigate the public health, safety, and environmental impacts related to elevated levels of methyl bromide detected near Hudson Elementary School and nearby residential areas. Determine what is being done to decrease levels of methyl bromide; and report back findings and recommendations to City Council promptly. Office or Department: Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

COUNCILMAN URANGA.

UM, A FEW WEEKS AGO WE RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION THROUGH MY OFFICE OF HIGH LEVELS OF METHYL BROMIDE WITH ISLAM BEACH COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS VERIFIED BY ISLAM BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND ONE OF THE ERS INDICATED THAT YES, INDEED THERE WERE HIGH LEVELS OF METH BROMIDE.

SO OBVIOUSLY BEING IN THE WEST PALM BEACH AREA, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR QUALITY THERE AND THE EFFECT THAT IT HAS ON CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HUDSON EVIDENCE GOES RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT.

SO WE WANTED, WE, UH, THE PURPOSE OF MY, UH, MY, UH, MOTION HERE IS, IS TO HAVE STAFF WORK WITH THE, UH, THE, UH, CALIFORNIA RESOURCE BOARD, THE, UH, SOUTH COAST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, BIG QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO DETERMINE NOT ONLY WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, BUT WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CONTROL THE HIGH LEVELS, UM, ROLLED BY THAT ARE BEING DETECTED IN THAT AREA SO THAT WE CAN BE BETTER PREPARED TO DEAL WITH OTHER INCIDENTS SUCH AS THIS IN THE FUTURE.

SO I, UH, I MOVE THAT WAY, MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, AND I, I GET THE, MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.

UM, THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO SIGN ON TO THIS COUNCIL MEMBER ORANGA.

UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR DEEP CARE AND CONCERN, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF YOUR DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY THOSE, UM, AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE.

UM, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT AND ASK MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.

I'LL JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, OFFER MY VOICE OF SUPPORT.

I CAN REMEMBER CIRCUMSTANCE LIKE THIS IN, IN, UH, NORTH LONG BEACH A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN IT WASN'T OUR, OUR, OUR REGULATORY AUTHORITY, BUT WE WE'RE A BIG CITY AND PEOPLE COME TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR CITY FOR ANSWERS.

SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR SHOWING LEADERSHIP AND ASKING THE HARD QUESTIONS OF A QMD.

UH, COUNCILMAN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? YEAH, JUST ONE MORE THING IS THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ORDERS LIKE THIS AND, UH, THESE KINDS OF THINGS DON'T HAVE ORDERS.

SO IN ADDRESSING AN AREA IN, UM, WEST PALM BEACH, WE ADDRESS THE WHOLE CITY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL AFFECTED BY IT.

MM-HMM, .

SO, UH, YOU JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE EVERYTHING, WE HAVE ONE LITTLE AREA, IT AFFECTS US ALL.

YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF, BROTHER.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? SEEING NONE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

OH, WE HAVE ONE.

COME ON DOWN.

YOU'VE BEEN HERE ALL NIGHT PATIENTLY.

SORRY.

I JUST WANT TO ASK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ANG GOT TO, OR MAYBE TO RESTATE THE LAST QUOTE, WE ACTUALLY REMEMBER THAT MOMENTS LIKE THIS DON'T, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID? ARE YOU REPRESENTING THE PRESS SOMEWHERE? OH, NO.

THIS IS FROM OUR

[03:10:01]

SCHOOL.

THESE A STUDENT, HE JUST WANTS TO GET YOUR QUOTE RIGHT.

COME ON LIKE THIS.

WHY NOT ISOLATED? THEY GONNA DRAW THE CITY.

THANKS FRIEND.

THEY'RE NOT ASININE.

THEY DON'T HAVE NO BORDERS.

NO MORTAR DON'T HAVE BORDERS.

IMPACT.

THE WHOLE CITY DOESN'T HAVE BORDERS.

UM, THE SAFETY OF OUR LONG BEACH STUDENTS, UH, AND CHILDREN IS THE UTMOST, UM, I IMPORTANCE TO US HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE LIFELONG IMPACTS THAT CAN RESULT FROM EXPOSURE TO TOXIC AIR AND CONTAMINANTS.

I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS BE LOOKED INTO, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE MUNICIPAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT CAN RESPOND IN SUPPORT IN SUCH CASES.

I RECEIVED MANY INQUIRIES ABOUT PESTICIDE USAGE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE REPORT INFORMATION ON THE GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR, UM, PESTICIDE USAGE IN OUR PARKS, INCLUDING THOSE NOT ADJACENT TO SCHOOLS.

ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THIS REPORT, INFORMATION ON GUIDELINES FOR CONTRACT USAGE.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE USE OF PESTICIDES BY PARKWOOD, IF POSSIBLE.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ORANGA, THE MOTION IS CARRIED.

ITEM 30.

REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATIONS, AND MARINE AND PUBLIC WORKS.

RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATION BY $120,000 FOR THE WEEKLY GREEN BELT RESTORATION PROJECT, DISTRICT SEVEN.

[30. 24-55476 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation & Marine Department by $120,000, offset by grant revenue from the California Natural Resources Agency for the Wrigley Greenbelt Restoration Project; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation & Marine Department by $120,000, offset by a transfer of California Natural Resources Agency grant funds from the Capital Grants Fund for the Wrigley Greenbelt Restoration Project; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,080,000, offset by grant revenue from the California Natural Resources Agency for the Wrigley Greenbelt Restoration Project; and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,080,000, offset by a transfer of California Natural Resources Agency grant funds from the Capital Grants Fund for the Wrigley Greenbelt Restoration Project. (District 7) Office or Department: Parks, Recreation and Marine; Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

IT'S BEEN, UH, DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE UP MOTIONS? IS EVERYBODY GOOD? IT'S ALREADY BEEN CHANGED.

MOVE BY COUNCILMAN URANGA.

UH, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? OKAY.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

NOT TO EXCEED 1.7 MILLION CDY.

31 30 ONE'S REPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RECOMMENDATION TO WORK CONTRACTS TO VARIOUS CONTRACTORS FOR AS NEEDED DIGITAL INCLUSION SERVICES IN A TOTAL ANNUAL AGGREGATED AMOUNT,

[31. 24-55477 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP TI-24-412 and award contracts to Braven Agency of Long Beach, CA; Centro CHA Inc. of Long Beach, CA; ORALE, c/o Community Partners of Long Beach, CA; The Heart of Ida of Long Beach, CA; Homeboy Electronics Recycling of Commerce, CA; Human-I-T of Bell, CA; HR&A Advisors of Los Angeles, CA; Long Beach Bar Foundation of Long Beach, CA; Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion of Long Beach, CA; Long Beach Residents Empowered (LiBRE), c/o Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), Inc. of Calabasas, CA; Nine27 of Long Beach, CA; the United Cambodian Community of Long Beach, CA; and YMCA Community Development of Long Beach, CA for as-needed digital inclusion services, in a total annual aggregate amount not to exceed $1,725,000 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, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide) Office or Department: Technology and Innovation Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

READ AND ADOPTED AS READ CITYWIDE.

MOVING ON TO OUR ORDINANCES AND WE'RE ALMOST DONE.

32 ITEM 30 TWO'S REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY.

RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MONEY PER CODE RELATING TO CLASSIFICATION TITLES ASSIGNED TO MARINE OPERATION,

[32. 24-55422 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Sections 6.16.210, 16.08.340, and 16.08.341 relating to classification titles assigned to marine operations, read and adopted as read. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

IT'S BEEN MOVED IN.

SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? NO.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

MOTIONS CARRY.

33 30 THREE'S REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED 82 VILLE ALTO CANAL AS A

[33. 24-55423 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Section 16.52.2510, relating to the designation of the property located at 82 Rivo Alto Canal, as a historic landmark, read and adopted as read. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

HISTORIC LANDMARK READ AND ADOPTED AS READ CITYWIDE MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

ITEM 34 IS REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY.

RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF THE

[34. 24-55425 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Section 16.52.2520, relating to the designation of the property located at 4210 California Avenue, as a historic landmark, read and adopted as read. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

PROPERTY.

LOCATED AT 4 2 1 0 CALIFORNIA AVENUE AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK RED AND ADOPTED AS RED CITYWIDE MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER KER MOTION IS CARRIED.

35 ITEM 30 FIVE'S REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY.

RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATIONS OF THE PROPERTY.

LOCATED AT 4 4 0 1 MURDER AVENUE AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK,

[35. 24-55427 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Section 16.52.2530, relating to the designation of the property located at 4401 Myrtle Avenue, as a historic landmark, read and adopted as read. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

RED AND ADOPTED AS RED CITYWIDE MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC PHONES AVAILABLE FOR, UM, FEMALES OR VICTIMS ON THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH.

OKAY, NOW WE'LL GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO FOR CLOSING.

ANYONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? LET'S SEE.

JOSEPH DEMETRIUS LYLES.

[ 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. ]

HELLO.

I'M LIKE A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOMELESS AND, UM, UNQUALIFIED WORKERS OF LONG BEACH AND LA AND BASICALLY, UM, THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT

[03:15:01]

UM, THEN ALSO AS FAR AS, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF FEMALES THAT BE VICTIMS OF THE NIGHT AND THERE'S REALLY NO LOCATION THAT THEY COULD GO TO HELP PROTECT THEM.

MY SHIELD THEM.

UM, I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF INCIDENTS AND HAD MY NOSE BROKE AND STUFF, TRYING TO PROTECT WOMEN.

JUST THE ISSUE I JUST WANNA BRING AND PRESENT AND ALSO START A GROUP CALLED, UM, VETS, NON VETS WHERE IT'D BE LIKE NON VETS AND PEOPLE PATROL THE AREA AND IT COULD BE LIKE A STIPEND THAT WE PROVIDE TO 'EM.

UM, BUT I'M A VETERAN MYSELF AND NAVY, SO IT'S JUST THAT DIFFERENT FEMALES AND VICTIMS AND CRIMES NEED HELP AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

ALL RIGHT, WELL THAT CONCLUDES, UH, OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, WE'LL NOW GO TO OUR CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT.

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ENCOURAGING ANY RESIDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE ORANGE AVENUE BACKBONE, BIKEWAY AND TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECT TO ATTEND A COMMUNITY MEETING HOSTED BY PUBLIC WORK STAFF AT THE EXPO CENTER, UH, AT 43 21 ATLANTIC TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 20TH FROM SIX TO 7:30 PM THERE YOU CAN HEAR FROM AND SPEAK WITH PUBLIC WORK STAFF AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR THE ORANGE AVENUE CORRIDOR.

UM, KICKING OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO AT SAVE THE DATE, UH, FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL CAL HEIGHTS COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTING ON DECEMBER 5TH FROM FOUR 30 TO SEVEN 30.

JOIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THE CELEBRATION AND LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON.

AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT MY OFFICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LONG BEACH VETERANS AREA VETERANS COLLABORATIVE IS HOLDING A VETERANS DONATION DRIVE.

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 27TH, YOU CAN FIND A DONATION BENNETT PARTICIPATING CD FIVE LOCATIONS AND HELP US GIVE BACK TO OUR LOCAL HEROES BY DONATING USEFUL ITEMS SUCH AS NEW CLOTHES, TOILETRIES, AND HOME SUPPLIES TO OUR LONG BEACH VETERANS IN NEED.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR MORE DETAILS ON DONATION LOCATIONS AND REQUESTED ITEMS. THANKS SO MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS.

I WOULD FIRST OF ALL LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING, UM, AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, UM, 20TH, 2024, THE SOUTH DIVISION COMMANDER COMMUNITY FORUM AT SIX 30 TO 8:00 PM AT 400 WEST BROADWAY ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 2024, THE FOURTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY, UM, FROM SIX 30 TO 8:00 PM AT THE WESTIN AT 3 3 3 EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD, UM, ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14TH, 2024.

ANNUAL TAMALES ON TODO FROM 5:00 PM TO 9:00 PM AT TOTO WALK ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, UM, 2024 WINTER IN WILMORE FROM 3:00 PM TO 7:00 PM AT THE BENBRIDGE HOUSE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO SHOP SMALL ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH, AND REMEMBER TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.