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I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS THE APPEAL AND CONDEMNATION MEETING TO ORDER FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 21ST, 2024.MS. ETHEL POWERS, MR. FRANK ESPARZA.
UM, LET'S RISE FOR BLACK LOOP.
ANGEL, CAN YOU PLEASE LAY IT IN THE, EVERYONE PLEASE PLACE YOUR HAND ON YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND I JUSTICE.
THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS APPEALS IN CONDEMNATION IS ESTABLISHED BY LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 18 POINT 10.020 TO PROVIDE A FORM TO REVIEW FINDINGS OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL AND MAKE DETERMINATIONS TO ABATE SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS CONSTITUTING PUBLIC NUISANCES.
THE BOARD ALSO ACTS AS HEARING OFFICERS AND CONDUCTS ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS FOR APPEALS OF ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS, ASSESS LEVIES AND APPEALS OF DISABLED ACCESS CASES.
THE BOARD CONDUCTS THE HEARING ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER FOR EACH ITEM, THE COURT WILL READ THE CASE NUMBER AND PROPERTY ADDRESS.
THE PROPERTY OWNER OR OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE MAY THEN COME TO THE PODIUM.
STAFF WILL REPRESENT THE CASE REPORT AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AT THAT TIME, THE OWNER OR OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD.
SHOULD YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROPERTY AT ISSUE.
ALL STAFF, APPELLANTS, WITNESSES, AND OTHERS PRESENT WISHING TO TESTIFY ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO RISE.
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE EVIDENCE YOU SHALL GIVE IN THIS HEARING SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? I DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE'LL START WITH THE FIRST, UM, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MINUTES.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? I, SO I SECOND, UM, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MINUTES? NO.
WE'LL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MINUTES MINUTE.
UM, I WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
UM, SO THE MOTION IS MADE BY, UM, LIPSON AND SECOND BY ESPARZA.
THE MOTION PASSES, UM, FOR THE MINUTES.
UH, NEXT ITEM IS RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MANAGER'S REPORT.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE? I'LL MOVE.
UM, IS THERE A MANAGER'S REPORT? YES, THERE'S A MANAGER'S REPORT.
UH, BOARD MEMBERS, GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, HE TOOK ART SAN'S PLACE, UH, NICK ERO.
UM, SO I'LL LET HIM TAKE MIKE FROM HERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE, HOWEVER THAT I CAN.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.
PRIOR TO THAT, I'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOING PRIMARILY LITIGATION WORK.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO KNOW YOU AND THE, AND THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON HERE AND, AND BE, UH, HELPFUL AND, AND PROVIDE QUALITY ADVICE FOR ALL YOUR LEGAL QUESTIONS.
AND I, I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE MEGAN SORENSON.
SHE'S FROM HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, AND SHE'LL BE DOING A PRESENTATION, UH, THIS AFTERNOON FOR YOU.
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INTRODUCE OUR NEW BOARD MEMBER? SORRY,AND WE ALSO HAVE A NEW BOARD MEMBER, AARON HOOPS.
APPRECIATE YOU, UH, COMING UNDER THE BOARD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU COMMISSIONERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MANAGER'S REPORT? I WILL NOW TAKE ANY PUBLIC CALL ME.
UM, I WILL NOW CALL FOR A MOTION, UM, MR. FRANK BARZA.
UM, OUR NEXT ITEM IS WE'D LIKE THE, THE RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES BUREAU.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM PLEASE? UM, I'LL SECOND.
I'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO MEGAN SOZA.
SO EXCUSE ME, UM, FOR YOUR STUFF, YOUR REPORT.
UM, I'M THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER, AND I HAVE QUITE A LOT OF SLIDES TO GET THROUGH TODAY.
WHEN, UM, MY STAFF AND I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT WE DO, WE GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I DO THOUGH THIS IS A SMALL, INFORMAL GROUP, SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS.
UM, IN BETWEEN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE END AND HOPEFULLY IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTERACTIVE THAT WAY.
AND, UM, YOU CAN REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD QUESTIONS YOU WANNA ASK.
UM, THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES BUREAU IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE HOUSING, REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PROMOTING LIVABILITY, ALL WHICH MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, MORE ATTRACTIVE AND VIABLE.
OUR BUREAU HAS THREE DIVISIONS.
THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT DIVISION ASSISTS WITH THE PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS OPERATIONS.
ADMINISTRA ADMINISTERS THE CITY'S HUD ENTITLEMENT FUNDING, WHICH IS USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND ITS DEPARTMENTS, AND IT SUPPORTS WITH THE NON HUD GRANT ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO STRATEGY, FINANCE, COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT, UH, DIVISION, WHICH OFFERS A VARIETY OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY, UH, IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS. HOUSING STAFF WORKS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMPANY OR THE L-B-C-I-C, AS WE CALL IT.
IT'S THE CITY'S NONPROFIT ARM.
WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE CITY'S MANY PARTNERS AND DEVELOPERS TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY IN LONG BEACH.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE BOARD ADMINISTERS THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, AND IS AUTHORED, AUTHORIZED TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS UTILIZING THE CITY'S HOUSING FUNDS.
STAFF PRESENTS PROJECTS TO THE BOARD TO RECOMMEND FUNDING AWARDS TO PROMISING PROJECTS AFTER A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION PROCESS.
USUALLY A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR NOTICES OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY WITH BOARD APPROVAL AND AGREEMENT TO NEGOTIATE EXCLUSIVELY IS EXECUTED, WHICH GIVES THE DEVELOPER AND CITY TIME TO DETERMINE IF PROPOSED PROJECTS ARE FEASIBLE, BOTH FI FINANCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY FOR THE SITE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, DISCUSSING.
EXCEPT IN THE RARE CASE THAT THE L-B-C-I-C ALREADY OWNS THE SITE.
SELECTING GOOD PROJECTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REHABILITATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEGINS WITH THE RELEASE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY OR NOFA.
BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS ARE AWARDED TO THE CITY, AND THEN DEVELOPERS COMPETE FOR THE FUNDS AFTER THE CITY HAS ISSUED THE NOFA.
WE TYPICALLY RELEASE THE NOFA S TWICE A YEAR IN JANUARY AND JULY, AND THE NOFA S ARE PUBLISHED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND IN THE NEWSPAPER.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A PRETTY LENGTHY LIST, UH, INTEREST LIST OF DEVELOPERS WHO LIKE TO RECEIVE OUR NOTICES SO THAT THEY CAN, UH, BE READY TO PARTICIPATE.
FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES, SUCH AS NEW CONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION OR ACQUISITION.
AND THE FUNDS MAY ALSO BE OFFERED ONLY FOR SPECIFIC UNDERSERVED GROUPS SUCH AS SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OR HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE A VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS ARE PRODUCED FOR OUR DIVERSITY.
PROPOSALS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO OUR NOFA ARE SCORED AND RANKED BASED ON DEVELOPER EXPERIENCE, THE BUDGET, LEVERAGING OF OTHER FUNDS, THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, THE READINESS OF THE PROJECT, AND OVERALL SCOPE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE, UH, THE HIGHEST RANKED ONE OR TWO PROPOSALS ARE THEN PRESENTED TO THE L-B-C-I-C FOR THEIR, THEIR APPROVAL.
TYPICALLY, OUR FUNDS ARE THE FIRST TO BE COMMITTED
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TO A PROPOSED PROJECT BECAUSE IT HELPS TO STRENGTHEN THE DEVELOPER'S OTHER FUNDING APPLICATIONS BY SHOWING A LOCAL SUPPORT.ONCE DEVELOPER HAS A FUNDING COMMITMENT FROM A LOCAL SOURCE, THEY'LL TYPICALLY APPLY FOR FEDERAL, STATE, AND OR COUNTY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN TAX CREDITS TO FINANCE THE BULK OF THE COST OF THE PROJECT.
THERE ARE ALSO OPERATIONAL SUBSIDIES OCCASIONALLY OFFERED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF LONG BEACH OR THE COUNTY, AND THEY'RE OFFERED, UH, THROUGH A SIMILAR PROCESS AS OURS, A COMPETITIVE, UH, A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
THESE FUNDS ALSO CALLED PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS HELP DEMONSTRATE THE PROJECT'S LONG-TERM FEASIBILITY AFTER CONSTRUCTION BY SUBSIDIZING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AFFORDABLE RENTS AND THE MARKET RATE RENTS.
ONCE THERE'S A COMMITMENT FOR ALL FUNDING SOURCES, A FINANCIAL GAP ANALYSIS IS CONDUCTED TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS WE ORIGINALLY ORDERED AWARDED ARE TRULY NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT, UM, TO MAKE IT FEASIBLE.
THIS ANALYSIS ALSO DETERMINES IF THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS BEING REQUESTED FOR THE PROJECT IS REASONABLE.
AND COMPARED TO OTHER PROJECTS OF LIKE TYPE, UH, OUR LOANS ARE STRUCTURED AS RESIDUAL RECEIPTS NOTES, AND THAT MEANS THAT THE DEVELOPERS ONLY MAKE PAYMENTS ON THE LOANS IF THERE IS, UH, ESSENTIALLY PROFIT LEFTOVER AFTER ALL OF THEIR MANDATORY DEBT PAYMENTS ARE MADE.
UH, THE, OUR, THE TERM OF OUR LOANS ARE ALWAYS 55 YEARS, AND THERE'S ALSO A, AN AFFORDABILITY COVENANT PLACED ON THE PROJECT FOR 55 YEARS AND LOANS ACCRUE INTEREST AT NO MORE THAN 3% PER YEAR.
SO THEY ARE, UH, CHEAP LOANS OFFERED THAT HELP TO SUBSIDIZE THE AFFORDABILITY ON THOSE PROJECTS.
LOANS DO BECOME IMMEDIATELY DUE UPON THE SALE, REFINANCING OR TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY.
UH, TO ENSURE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE PROJECT, WE REQUIRE REGULAR PAYMENTS TO BOTH A REPLACEMENT RESERVE ACCOUNT AND AN OPERATING RESERVE ACCOUNT, UH, FOR ANY KIND OF SHORTFALLS THAT MAY COME UP DURING THE 55 YEARS.
ALL OF OUR LOANS REQUIRE AFFORDABILITY COVENANTS, AGAIN, THAT'S RECORDED ON THE PROPERTY.
AND THESE COVENANTS DETAIL THE INCOME AND RENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPECIFIC UNITS IN THE PROPERTY.
UH, MOST ALL OF OUR PROJECTS ARE A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE TO LOW, VERY LOW AND EXTREMELY LOW RESIDENTS, UM, EARNING VARIOUS INCOME LEVELS BELOW 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THIS YEAR WE COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR HOUSING PRO PROJECTS, CREATING 325 NEW UNITS OF AFFORDABLE UH, HOUSING.
THIS SLIDE IS OUR WELLSPRING PROJECT LOCATED AT 1500 ANAHEIM.
THAT'S A NEW 88 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WITH A COMMUNITY AND WELLNESS CENTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
WELLSPRING OFFERS 67 AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 20 TO 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME, AND THE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL 20 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
FOR THOSE WHO WERE AT HIGH RISK OR HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS.
THOSE UNITS IN PARTICULAR, UH, INCLUDE ACCESS TO FULL-TIME INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AND THE CITY PROVIDED 4 MILLION IN ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROJECT.
IT'S A FIVE STORY 77 UNIT AFFORDABLE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX AT 35 90 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY.
IT OFFERS 77 AFFORDABLE HOMES, ALL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, AND THE CITY ALSO PROVIDED $4 MILLION IN SUBSIDY.
AND THIS MAP DETAILS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS IN LONG BEACH.
BLUE INDICATES COMPLETED PROJECT AND PINK INDICATES PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE SOMEWHERE IN THE PIPELINE.
EITHER THEY'RE JUST BEING COMPLETED THIS YEAR OR THEY'RE PREPARING TO START CONSTRUCTION IN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 MONTHS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS HAVE BEEN, UH, HIGHLY CONCENTRATED IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH.
AND IT IS A BIG MOVEMENT BY US, BY THE STATE, BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESOURCES ARE BEING EXPENDED AND NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS BEING DEVELOPED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY HIGH RESOURCE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE THE BEST SCHOOLS AND PARK SPACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR THOSE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES TO THRIVE.
UM, AFTER CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE ON THE PROJECTS, PROJECT OVERSIGHT IS TRANSFERRED TO OUR COMPLIANCE MONITORS WHO ENSURE THAT PROPERTIES FUNDED BY THE CITY CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE VARIOUS FEDERAL, STATE, UM, AND LOCAL REGULATIONS INCLUDING AFFORDABILITY COVENANTS REQUIRED BY ALL OF THESE FUNDING SOURCES.
OUR MONITORS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE OWNER AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT UPON INITIAL LEASE UP OF THE PROJECT TO ENSURE SPECIFIC INCOME AND RENT REQUIREMENTS ARE IMPLEMENTED AFTER INITIAL LEASE UP.
PROJECTS ARE THEN MONITORED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR TENANT INCOME AND RENT COMPLIANCE,
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AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT THE REQUIRED RESIDUAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS ARE MADE, IF ANY, ARE DUE TO THE CITY.AND WE CURRENTLY MONITOR ALMOST 4,000 UNITS ANNUALLY.
SO IT IS A BIG JOB ACROSS 124 PROPERTIES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OF THAT NUMBER, UH, 1,150 UNITS ACROSS 72 PROPERTIES ARE ASSISTED WITH FEDERAL HOME DOLLARS.
AND FOR THESE UNITS, STAFF MUST ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE STANDARDS BY CONDUCTING ONSITE INSPECTIONS, GUARANTEEING THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND HABITABLE FOR OCCUPANCY.
WHAT IS THE MONITORING INVOLVED? WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES IS THAT? UM, SO WE HAVE FULL-TIME MONITORING STAFF THAT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND THEY REQUEST ALL OF THE MARKETING MATERIALS FOR THE YEAR.
IF THERE WAS ANY VACANCIES, WE, UH, KEEP A WAIT LIST AND WE GO THROUGH AND ACTUALLY SAMPLE, UM, SPECIFIC TENANTS FILES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, INCOME DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THAT YEAR AND THAT THEY STILL REMAIN INCOME ELIGIBLE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT THE, UM, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS CHARGING THE CORRECT YEAR, THE CORRECT RENTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR YEAR.
CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? MM-HMM
UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE MONITORING 3,925 UNITS MM-HMM
ARE THERE ANY ESTIMATES, AND THIS MIGHT BE A VERY BIG NUMBER ON HOW MANY UNITS WE WOULD NEED TO CONSTRUCT TO MEET THE HOUSING NEEDS OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS UNDER 80% OF MEDIA INCOME, IF THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE METRIC.
I DON'T HAVE IT MEMORIZED, SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS LOOK IT UP WHILE MEGAN KEEPS TALKING.
I, HI, I'M CHRISTOPHER EVERYONE,
UM, IT IS FOUND IN OUR HOUSING ELEMENT, THE NUMBER INCLUDING MARKET RATE UNITS IS 26,000, BUT THE NUMBER FOR 80% AND BELOW, UM, LET ME LOOK IT UP AND, UH, KEEP GOING AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.
AND IS THAT THE REALLY THE RIGHT QUESTION TO ASK TO UNDERSTAND THE SHORTFALL OF HOUSING FOR OUR LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS? YES.
I WOULD SAY WE HAVE HOUSING CHALLENGES IN THE CITY, UH, AT ALL INCOME LEVELS.
EVEN AT LIKE HIGH INCOME, IT'S VERY HARD TO BUY A HOUSE RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE THERE'S JUST A SHORTAGE OF, UM, UNITS AVAILABLE AND, AND NOT A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.
SO, UM, WE HAVE KIND OF AN ALL OF THE ABOVE HOUSING STRATEGY.
UM, SO THERE'S THE WORK, UM, MACON DOES TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF, UM, LOWER INCOME HOUSING, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE WORK THAT PLANNING DOES TO, UM, PRODUCE HOUSING ON THE MARKET RIGHT SIDE.
SO LET ME FIND THE NUMBERS AND KEEP GOING.
I'LL ALSO ADD TO THAT, UM, THAT WE, ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, WHICH ARE USUALLY BETWEEN 40 AND 90 UNITS EACH WILL HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 1200 TO 5,000 PEOPLE ON THE INITIAL WAIT LIST.
UH, SO MANY, MANY MORE PEOPLE APPLYING THAN WE CAN EVER SERVE.
OUR, UM, STAFF TAKES CALLS EVERY DAY FOR PEOPLE NEED.
AND LIKE CHRISTOPHER SAID, IT CAN BE THE VERY, VERY LOW, BUT ALSO WHAT WE WOULD CALL MORE MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WORKING AND THEY HAVE A COUPLE KIDS, THERE MIGHT BE TWO WORKING PEOPLE IN THEIR FAMILY.
AND JUST THE, THE COST OF HOUSING ARE, IS VERY HARD TO ACCOMPLISH FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH.
SO, UH, WE GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR PROJECTS AND WE HAVE A COUPLE GOOD DAYS A YEAR WHERE WE HAVE THE BIG GRAND OPENINGS, BUT THEN WE GO BACK TO WORK KNOWING THAT THERE'S MORE WORK TO DO THAN WE CAN EVER QUITE QUITE ACCOMPLISH.
SO THE TOTAL NEED IS ABOUT 15,000.
SO I WAS PRETTY CLOSE DOING IT IN MY HEAD.
IT'S 7,100, UM, EXTREMELY LOW OR VERY LOW UNITS, UH, 4,000 LOW UNITS AND ABOUT 4,000 MODERATE UNITS.
UM, AND THEN A NEED FOR ABOUT 11,000, UM, MARKET RATE UNITS.
SO WE'VE DONE A COUPLE HUNDRED A YEAR, SO THAT'S NOT GIVING CREDIT FOR, UM, WHAT WE'VE PRODUCED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S A HUGE NEED OUT THERE.
AND WHAT IS THE DEFINITION FOR LOW AND FOR MODERATE? UM, SO IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS COMPLICATED, BUT, UM, IT'S BASICALLY 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
SO YOU'RE MAKING A BIT BELOW THE, THE MEDIAN FOR THE AREA, AND MODERATE IS 120%.
UH, SO YOU'RE JUST ABOVE THE AREA MEETING INCOME RIGHT NOW.
I'M GONNA DIVE INTO SOME PROGRAMS AND POLICY WORK THAT WE DO.
UM, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT WE HAVE A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER GRANT.
IT PROVIDES $25,000 TO FIRST TIME FIRST GENERATION HOME BUYERS.
THIS IS CONSIDERED A MODERATE INCOME, UH, GRANT PROGRAM AS IT IS FOR PEOPLE MAKING UP TO ACTUALLY 200% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME BECAUSE OF THE, THE LARGE NEED AND TROUBLE FOR PEOPLE, UM, TO PURCHASE HOMES IN LONG BEACH.
UM, GRANTS CAN BE USED TOWARDS DOWN PAYMENT
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AND CLOSING COSTS.SOMETIMES THESE HAVE BEEN USED TO BUY DOWN THE INTEREST RATES THESE DAYS.
SO THE FIRST YEAR WE HAD THE PROGRAM THERE WAS LOWER INTEREST RATES AND THEN THEY ROSE.
AND SO OFTENTIMES OUR MONEY IS BEING USED TO BUY DOWN THOSE INTEREST RATES.
UM, TOTAL FUNDING WAS A MADE AVAILABLE FOR JUST OVER 50, UH, 50 HOME BUYERS, AND WE'VE PROVIDED 34 GRANTS SO FAR.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT ANY OF YOU WHO KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED TO BE IN THE HOUSING MARKET IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S VERY HARD AND THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE BUILT BIDDING ON A VERY SMALL, UM, AMOUNT OF INVENTORY.
NEXT WE HAVE THE HOME IMPROVEMENT ROOF GRANT PROGRAM, AND THIS GRANT PAYS FOR THE FULL COST TO REPLACE THE ROOF, GENERALLY AROUND $20,000.
IT IS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE BELOW 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND GENERALLY APPLICANTS ARE, UH, SENIORS ON FIXED INCOME WHO ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ROOF ON THEIR OWN.
UH, AND WE HAVE BEEN SEEING MANY APPLICANTS LATELY WHO HAVE LETTERS FROM THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES REQUIRING THEM TO REPLACE THE ROOFS OR THEY WOULD BE LOSING THEIR INSURANCE.
SO WE FEEL LIKE THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY OVERSUBSCRIBED, BUT WE'RE, UM, PUTTING MORE MONEY AND GOING TO BE CONTINUING THE PROGRAM FOR THE LONG RUN.
WE DO WORK WITH HOMEOWNERS TO FIND CONTRACTORS, AND THEN WE MAKE PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE SELECTED, UM, CONTRACTORS AND ACTUALLY CODE ENFORCEMENT, UM, INSPECTION SERVES AS, AS, UH, THE INSPECTOR TO EVAL, EVALUATE ALL THE PAYMENTS AND CHANGE ORDER REQUESTS ONCE WE HAVE OUR NEWEST PROGRAM, BACKYARD BUILDERS, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE HOMEOWNERS TO BUILD AN AFFORDABLE RENTAL ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ON THEIR PROPERTY.
LONG BEACH IS THE PER CAPITA LEADER IN A DU DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE, AND ADUS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING HOUSING TYPE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO, UH, GET FINANCING TO BUILD AN A DU IN THE BACKYARD.
SO WE'RE PROVIDING LOANS UP TO THE FULL AMOUNT, UM, OF $250,000, WHICH IS WHAT WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH OUR ADU IS COSTING.
AND DEFINITELY TO HAVE A DETACHED PEOPLE CAN NEED UP TO TWO 50 AND EVEN, UM, ATTACHED ADUS, UM, OR A GARAGE, CONVERSIONS CAN BE CLOSED TO $200,000 IN SOME CASES.
UM, SO WITH OUR PROGRAM, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PROVIDES RENTAL VOUCHERS TO PEOPLE COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS OR ON THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS.
UM, AND, BUT VOUCHER HOLDERS HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE.
SO WE'VE PARTNERED UP ON THIS PROGRAM AND IT'S DESIGNED TO HELP A HOME OR BUILD AN A DU, UH, GET RENTAL REVENUE ON THEIR PROPERTY WHILE AL ALSO HOUSING SOMEONE WHO WAS AT RISK OR WAS PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS OR JUST LIVES, UM, VERY BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND, AND, UM, IS STRUGGLING TO HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.
UM, THE LOANS COME WITH A FIVE YEAR AFFORDABILITY TERM AND, UH, IF THEY HOUSE A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER HOLDER AND SEVEN YEARS FOR JUST A GENERAL LOW INCOME TENANT MAKING UNDER 80% OF AREA MEETING INCOME.
SO FAR, UH, APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN OPEN ON THIS PROGRAM FOR ABOUT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.
WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR 10, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 350 APPLICANTS.
AND CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT ADUS? MM-HMM
THIS IS A POTENTIAL ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
HAVE YOU HAD PROBLEMS? MAYBE IT'S TOO, NO.
WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING THIS FUNDING, BUT MIGHT IN FACT WANT TO USE IT FOR AN INAPPROPRIATE PURPOSE, WHETHER IT'S RENTING AT A HIGHER RATE OR USING IT AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
WELL, IT IS TOO EARLY FOR US, UM, TO KNOW THAT, BUT WE, AGAIN, LIKE WITH OUR ROOF PROGRAM, WE'LL BE PAYING THE CONTRACTOR DIRECTLY.
SO, AND WE HAVE A CONSULTANT ALSO THAT WILL BE HELPING TO DO FEASIBILITY STUDIES ON THE SITE, HELPING TO GET THE PERMITS THERE, THERE, IT, OUR MONEY WILL NOT BE DISPERSED UNLESS THERE'S AN APPROVED PERMIT AND BUILDING IS LEGAL.
AND THEN THERE WILL ALSO BE A COVENANT PLACED ON THE LAND SO THAT IF WE FIND OUT THAT, UM, THEY ARE VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THE COVENANT AND NOT RENTING TO A LOW INCOME PERSON, OUR LOAN WILL INSTANTLY BECOME DUE AND PAYABLE.
AND I SHOULD SAY I RAISED THIS FOR A SPECIFIC REASON THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO CODE ENFORCEMENT IN THE FUTURE.
I HAPPEN TO OPERATE A LICENSED AIRBNB, BUT I HAVE SEEN CHATTER AMONG AIRBNB HOSTS ABOUT THE NOTION OF USING, UM, ADUS AS AIRBNBS.
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AS AN ISSUE OF POTENTIAL FUTURE CONCERN TO WATCH OUT FOR.I'M SURE YOU, YOU'RE ALREADY THINKING OF THAT, BUT DOESN'T HURT TO MENTION IT.
AFTER FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS, CAN THEY BOOT THE TENANT OUT? MM-HMM
THE, THE HOUSE IS SOLD FROM FOUR OR FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS, WHAT HAPPENS? SO THE COVENANT IS, UH, PLACED ON THE LAND.
SO THE NEW OWNER WOULD HAVE TO BE, UM, ACCEPTING THE COVENANT IN ORDER TO PURCHASE AS FAR AS BOOTING THEM OUT.
IT'S AN UGLY WORD,
THE WAY WE'RE HOPING TO INCENTIVIZE THAT IS THAT THE, UM, ZERO, THE 0%.
I THINK I MISSED TALKING ABOUT THE TERMS, BUT, UH, ON THE NEXT SLIDE, ANGEL, THERE'S TERMS, SO IT'S 0% INTEREST DURING CONSTRUCTION, 0% DURING AN AFFORDABILITY TERM.
WE ARE GOING UP TO ONLY 3% AFTER THAT.
BUT AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A LOW INCOME QUALIFIED LOW INCOME TENANT IN THE A DU, THEY WILL PAY 0% THROUGH THE ENTIRE TERM OF THE, OF THE LOAN.
AND THE, THE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY ADVERTISE A LOT ABOUT TAKING A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER HOLDER IS THAT HOUSING AUTHORITY DOES PAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AFFORDABLE RENT AND THE MARKET RATE RENT.
SO WE FIGURED OUT THAT A LOAN PAYMENT FOR THE TWO FULL TWO 50 IS ABOUT A HUN $800 A MONTH TO US.
UM, AND A VOUCHER HOLDER RENT, UH, WOULD BE ABOUT $2,000 COMING FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE WOULD BE A $1,200 PROFIT IF YOU RENT TO, UM, SOMEONE WHO'S JUST LOW INCOME, THE AFFORDABLE RENT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ABOUT $800.
AND ONE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM, UM, TWO PART QUESTION MM-HMM
IS $250,000 SUFFICIENT TO CREATE A USABLE A DU? AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD BE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OR THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS IN THAT KIND OF UNIT? UM, I DON'T HAVE MY PROGRAM EXPERT PEOPLE HERE, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT AS FAR AS THE $250,000 AMOUNT AFTER, WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH FOR ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS AND TALKED TO OTHER CITIES RUNNING THESE PROGRAMS, AND WE FEEL LIKE TWO 50 IS SUFFICIENT.
IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, SO GONNA BE HONEST, WE MIGHT FIND THAT COSTS, I MEAN, COSTS ARE GOING UP EVERY MONTH.
I DON'T THINK THEY'VE, THEY'VE GONE THE OTHER DIRECTION IN QUITE A LONG TIME, SO WE COULD FIND OUT THAT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
WE'RE DOING 10 OF 'EM, WHICH IS VERY MANAGEABLE FOR OUR STAFF.
UM, BUT WE WILL FIND THAT OUT.
BUT FROM OUR RESEARCH, WE BELIEVE THAT IT CAN BE DONE FOR LESS AND THAT TWO 50 IS KIND OF THE HEIGHT OF IT.
AND IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS, IT WON'T BE MUCH, UM, MORE.
AND SO WE, THAT WOULD BE PART OF OUR VETTING PROCESS TOO, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOMEOWNER HAS SOME AVAILABLE FUNDS.
SHOULD COSTS GO OVER THE TWO 50 AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATH, OR POTENTIALLY SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT LARGER.
UH, WE'RE MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT STUDIOS OR ONE BEDROOMS, MAYBE A TWO BEDROOM.
UM, BUT WASN'T, WASN'T THE SQUARE FOOTAGE LIMITED BY THE, WHEN THEY DID THE LAW FOR THE A DU, CAN'T IT BE NO MORE THAN, WHAT IS IT, 800 TO A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET? YEAH, THERE'S, THERE IS A LIMIT ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR AN A DU.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT I WANT TO SAY, YEAH, I REMEMBERED 800 SOMEWHERE SIX, 600 TO 800 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE GONE TO THE HIGH END, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT.
UH, AND SO THEN NEXT WE HAVE OUR COMMERCIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT.
UH, THIS IS A BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE EXTERIOR STOREFRONT BUSINESSES LOCATED IN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT AND THE HIGHEST RATES OF POVERTY AND RACIAL SEGREGATION.
OUR GRANT PAYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS LIKE PAINT, SIGNAGE, NEW LIGHTING, AND TO ADDRESS BLIGHT AND, UH, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY.
THE PROGRAM PAYS FOR ARCHITECT FIRM TO DESIGN THE IMPROVEMENTS AT NO COST TO THE BUSINESS OR PROPERTY OWNER AND STAFF WORKS WITH THE OWNER'S DEFINED CONTRACTORS, AND AGAIN, WE MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE SELECTED CONTRACTORS.
HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE OF OUR PROGRAM, THE BEFORE ON THE LEFT AND AFTER ON THE RIGHT AND SOME, SOME POLICY, UH, WORK.
WE'RE DOING, STEVE, TO WORK ON GETTING THOSE NUMBERS TOWARDS WHAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY PRODUCE
UH, THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TEAM WORKS JOINTLY WITH THE PLANNING BUREAU TO DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER THE CITY'S INCLUSIONARY HOUSING POLICY.
AND THE GOAL OF THIS POLICY IS TO FACILITATE THE PRODUCTION OF MIXED INCOME HOUSING, WHICH ARE DEVELOPMENTS THAT INCLUDE
[00:30:01]
BOTH MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE UNITS.IT CURRENTLY REQUIRES DEVELOPERS TO SET ASIDE 11% OF RENTAL UNITS TO BE AFFORDABLE TO VERY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
AND FOR OWNERSHIP UNITS, 10% MUST BE AFFORDABLE TO MARKET, OR I'M SORRY, TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
THE INCLUSIONARY UNITS ARE RESTRICTED AS A, FOR 55 YEARS, JUST LIKE OUR AFFORDABLE PROJECTS, OR AS LONG AS THE, THE, UM, BUILDING SERVES AS A RE RESIDENTIAL USE.
CURRENTLY, INCLUSIONARY HOUSING APPLIES TO NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS WITH 10 OR MORE UNITS ONLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AND MIDTOWN AREAS OF LONG BEACH, AS SHOWN ON THE MAP IN RED AND YELLOW.
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE PLANNING TEAM TO UPDATE THE POLICY.
SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE, UH, OR SORRY, I'M SORRY.
SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES WE'RE RECOMMENDING INCLUDE A CITYWIDE EXPANSION, SO THAT ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT ANYWHERE IN LONG BEACH MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST SOME PROPORTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN OUR HIGH RESOURCE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE AREAS THAT I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THAT HAVE THE BEST SCHOOLS, THE PARKS, THE BEST ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, AND THESE ARE ALSO THE AREAS WHERE VERY LITTLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO DATE.
UH, WE'VE HELD HELD STUDY SESSIONS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS AND CITY COUNCIL AND THE HOMELESS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY CONDUCTING COMMITTEE OUTREACH AND WE'LL PRESENT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO BOTH PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL THIS WINTER.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON THE JUST CAUSE FOR TERMINATION OF TENANCIES ORDINANCE.
THIS PROVIDES TENANTS WITH PROTECTION AGAINST ARBITRARY EVICTION BY REQUIRING LANDLORDS TO HAVE JUST CAUSE FOR TERMINATING TENANCIES AND ESTABLISHING RELOCATION AND NOTICING REQUIREMENTS.
OUR STAFF AS ASSIST ASSISTS BOTH THE TENANTS AND THE LANDLORDS IN UNDERSTANDING THEIR RIGHTS AND RE RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND WE ALSO COLLECT SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL RELATED EVICTION DATA, AND WE CONNECT TENANTS WITH LEGAL RESOURCES THAT THEY MAY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM BEING WRONGFULLY EVICTED.
THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS A LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL RE RESIDENTS, UH, TO PROTECT RESIDENTS WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO EVICTION THE CITY.
OUR GROUP IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH STATE HOUSED LA FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES.
STATE HOUSED LA PROVIDES CRITICAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES TO HELP INCOME QUALIFIED TENANTS FACING EVICTION STAY HOUSED.
THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING POSITIVE INCOME OUTCOMES FOR DIVERSE CLIENTELE FROM FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN TO VETERANS, DEMONSTRATING ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS, PROMOTING, PROMOTING HOUSING STABILITY AND EMPOWERING TENANTS.
NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR HOUSING.
ALL THAT'S DONE IN OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT DI DIVISION.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION, WHICH ADMINISTERS OUR HUD FUNDING.
UM, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATING OUR HUD ENTITLEMENT GRANTS.
AND THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS MOST OF THE BUREAU'S, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AS WELL AS FUNDING TO OTHER BUREAUS, SUCH AS CODE ENFORCEMENT, AS WELL AS OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDING, THE CITY MUST DEVELOP A CONSOLIDATED PLAN EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THAT SETS OUR GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR THAT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
AFTER THAT, WE DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENT ANNUAL ACTION PLANS FOR EVERY YEAR OF THAT FIVE YEAR CYCLE.
UM, AND THEN EVERY YEAR WE ALSO SUBMIT A CAPER REPORT TO HUD TO EVALUATE OUR SPENDING AND PROGRAM PERFORMANCE FOR EACH OF THE ACTION PLANS.
OUR CURRENT CONSOLIDATED PLAN WENT INTO EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2022, AND WILL EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027, AND THEN THE CYCLE WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN.
UH, THE CYCLE RELATES TO THE THREE GRANTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM, AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS.
GRANT, CDBG FUNDS PROVIDE THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR ALL THREE OF THESE GRANTS, AND IS USED TO FUND THINGS LIKE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT SERVE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES, HOME FUNDS, NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND THE REHABILITATION TO CREATE AND ALSO PRESERVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
AND ESG FUNDS ARE SPECIFIC FOR SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE SUPPORT, UH, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THE SITE SHOWS JUST A FEW OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR.
UM, CDBG ALSO FUNDS MANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL OR HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN THIS PRESENTATION, INCLUDING LAND
[00:35:01]
ACQUISITION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THIS CITY.THE COMMERCIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE HOME IMPROVEMENT ROOF PROGRAM, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER, AND ALSO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT AREAS YOU CAN SEE IT FUNDS THINGS LIKE AFTER SCHOOL, RECREATION, FAIR HOUSING SERVICES, GRAFFITI REMOVAL, AND SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THEM, MANY, MANY SERVICES.
AND LAST WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DIVISION, WHICH HAS HOUSES, THE RESOURCE CENTER, THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 30 YEARS.
WE JUST HAD OUR 30TH GRADUATING CLASS CLEANUP ASSISTANCE, AND ALSO OUR MICRO MICRO GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH HAS FUNDED SO MANY GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES AS ASSISTANCE TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, AND HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS.
UH, THIS INCLUDES HELPING THEM WITH NEWSLETTERS, MEETING FLYERS, EVENT FLYERS, WRITING GRANTS TO GET MORE MONEY FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
WE PROVIDE WORKSHOPS TO THEM, NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEM SOLVING, AND ALSO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND GATHERING.
WE PROVIDE SUPPLIES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS ALSO TO HOST PROJECT AND EVENTS, INCLUDING FREE, NO DUMPING SIGNS FOR POSTING IN AREAS THAT HAVE FREQUENT ILLEGAL DUMPING.
LONG BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ARE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR THEIR INNOVATIVE WORK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SINCE 1998, NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER STAFF HAS HAVE ASSISTED 32 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE IN NEIGHBORHOODS USA NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR AWARDS.
AND THIS YEAR THERE WERE SEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FINALISTS, UH, IN, IN THE COMPETITIONS AND NAPLES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, ONE FIRST PLACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER HELPS A OC SEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION TO WIN NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR GRANT PRIZE IN 2019 FROM NEIGHBORHOODS USA FOR THEIR ANNUAL LITERACY FESTIVAL AT MACARTHUR PARK.
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER CAN ALSO ASSIST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO DO TRANSLATION TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE TO ALL OF THEIR RESIDENTS, UH, TRANSLATE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTERS AND EVENT FLYERS INTO SPANISH, KAMAI AND TAGALOG TO HELP REACH AND INCLUDE THEIR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS A FIVE MONTH EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO GIVE LONG BEACH GRASSROOTS RESIDENTS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS PROGRAM IS FREE AND OPEN TO LONG BEACH RESIDENTS WHO ARE 18 YEARS AND OLDER.
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS LEARN SPEAKING PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS, GRANT WRITING WHILE DELIVERING CLASS PRESENTATIONS AND PLANNING AND EXECUTING COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGH HANDS-ON EVENT PLANNING PROCESS.
THEY GET TO PRACTICE SKILLS LIKE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITHIN TEAMS AND PARTICIPANTS.
ALSO LEARN ABOUT RESOURCES OFFERED BY THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND BENEFIT FROM CONNECTING TO LIKE-MINDED RESIDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY OFTENTIMES DOING A LOT OUT THERE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND JUST NEED TO LEARN HOW TO FIND MORE RESEARCH RESOURCES AND BECOME MORE EMPOWERED BY CONNECTING WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS.
AND WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A VERY BUSY, IT HELPS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO HOST CLEANUPS TO ADDRESS CLEANLINESS.
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE INDUSTRIAL SIZED DUMPSTERS TOOLS AND SUPPLIES.
AND IN MAY, MAYOR RICHARDSON LAUNCHED A CITYWIDE SPRING CLEANING INITIATIVE AND HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES BUREAU STAFF HELPED TO, UM, HOST CLEANUPS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH.
IT WAS A VERY BUSY MONTH, AND WE SAW SOME DRAMATIC, UH, AMOUNTS OF TRASH DUMPED LAST FISCAL YEAR.
2200 VOLUNTEERS HOSTED 97 CLEANUPS AND REMOVED 810 TONS OF TRASH FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP EVENTS.
YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF MATTRESSES OUT THERE.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE,
LOTS AND LOTS OF MATTRESSES AND COUCHES THAT WOULD JUST BE SITTING ON CITY STREETS.
WE PROBABLY HAD THE, THE, UM, CLEANUP MONTH.
WE HAD AT LEAST FIVE A WEEK, BUT WE PROBABLY AVERAGE THREE TO FIVE A MONTH, UM, ON A, ON A PRETTY AVERAGE BASIS.
[00:40:01]
MICRO-GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS OF UP TO $5,000 TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO HOST EVENTS AND PROJECTS.VOLUNTEER, UM, HOURS ARE REQUIRED FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
THEY'VE DONE 4TH OF JULY BLOCK PARTIES, HALLOWEEN CARNIVALS, LITERACY FAIRS, FOOD PANTRIES.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE RIDGEWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, DOING A MURAL WITH THEIR MONEY.
AND THE ROOSEVELT LINDEN ASSOCIATION, UH, HOSTED A COATS FOR KIDS.
AND THE CAESAR CHAVEZ COMMUNITY TEAM HOSTED A D DE LOS MUTOS CELEBRATION LAST FALL AT CAESAR CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THEY PROVIDED PAINT KITS, PICTURE FRAMES FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS.
UM, JUST HAD A GREAT TIME COMING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN LAST WE HAVE THE COOLIDGE TRIANGLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HOSTED A DINNER, UH, TO HONOR DAVE SAN JOSE AND PAT LONG FOR THEIR LIFETIME SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT I THINK GIVES YOU A PRETTY THOROUGH, UH, REPRESENTATION OF ALL THAT HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DOES.
SO IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. ANDERSON, UM, UM, AND I WILL CALL FOR A MOTION ON HER PRESENTATION.
UM, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCESSES AND PROGRAMS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO STAFF FOR THE REPORT.
ANGEL REDONDO HERE, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BUREAU.
AND I'LL BE GOING OVER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, WHAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS.
IT'S GONNA BE A REFRESHER FOR A COUPLE OF YOU, BUT, UH, A COUPLE OF YOU'RE NEW STAFF, UH, BOARD MEMBERS.
SO WE WANNA KIND OF GO OVER WHAT WE DO AND, UH, HOW THIS CONNECTS TO WHAT YOUR ROLE IS WHEN YOU SEE PROPERTY OWNERS OR, OR PARTIES THAT COME IN ON BEHALF OF THE OWNERS WHEN THEY, UH, COME THROUGH US HERE AND THE BOARD.
AND, UM, SO QUITE ENFORCEMENT, WE DEAL PRIMARILY WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY.
UH, ALTHOUGH FOR THE MOST PART, SOMETIMES WE GET ALL KINDS OF CALLS FOR EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE.
UH, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.
UH, WE DO WORK ON CASE BY CASE WITH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE ISSUE IS EXISTING ON BOTH PRIVATE, UM, UM, PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS.
AND SO WE'LL WORK JOINTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ISSUES ARE RESOLVED FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR, OF OUR RESIDENTS.
WHILE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, WE DEAL MOSTLY WITH RESIDENTIAL.
SO THE MAJORITY OF OUR CASES OR REQUESTS THAT WE GET FROM THE PUBLIC DEAL WITH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, ON OCCASION WE'LL DEAL WITH COMMERCIAL OR BUSINESS AS WELL, BUT THE MAJORITY ARE RESIDENTIAL.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE DEAL WITH THAT YOU MIGHT SEE OR YOU'VE SEEN ALREADY? UH, ONE OF SOME OF THE CASES THAT YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN IS SUBSTANDARD BUILDINGS, AND THOSE ARE STRUCTURES THAT ARE SUBSTANDARD, THAT DON'T MEET CODE REQUIREMENTS THAT MIGHT BE IN SOME CASES, UM, SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS OR HAVE, UH, HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER TO IMMEDIATELY, UH, CORRECT THE VIOLATIONS OR MAKE REPAIRS.
AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE THOSE KIND OF CASES COME TO YOU AS THE BOARD TO MAKE A DECISION TO REINFORCE THAT THAT PROPERTY MIGHT BE SUBSTANDARD AND THAT THE OWNER NEEDS TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS, UH, FOR THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENCE, NOT JUST THAT MIGHT RESIDE ON THE PROPERTY, BUT ALSO THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES AS WELL.
OUR MAIN BUNDLE OF CASES THAT WE ADDRESS IS TYPICALLY FOR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? PROPERTY OWNERS, FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER ON OCCASION, MAY NOT BE CONDUCTING PROPER MAINTENANCE, UM, MAKING REPAIRS, UH, LIKE WATER LEAKS, FOR EXAMPLE, OR THE PIPES ELECTRICAL.
THE, THE PAINT THE ROOF, LIKE MEGAN MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WORK JOINTLY WITH HER GROUP WHEN WE IDENTIFY PROPERTIES THAT MAY BENEFIT.
SO WE WORK VERY JOINTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM OUR PROGRAMS. AND SO ONE OF OUR MAJOR BULK, UH, OF OUR CASES, IT'S GONNA BE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH THE OWNERS TO, UH, GO AND CONDUCT THE MAINTENANCE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE, UH, PROPERTIES ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CODES
[00:45:01]
ON.OCCASIONALLY WE DOVE INOPERABLE VEHICLES AS WELL.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE SOMETIMES, UH, PEOPLE HAVE INOPERABLE VEHICLES ON THEIR YARD, ON THEIR DRIVEWAYS, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO EDUCATE FOLKS ABOUT HOW TO KEEP AND STORE PROPERLY, STORE VEHICLES ON PROPERTY.
SO THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF OUR STAFF.
WHAT THEY DO IS THEY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON, YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP A CAR THERE.
AND BECAUSE TYPICALLY IT'S BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS.
SO MAJORITY OF OUR REQUESTS COME IN VIA COMPLAINT BECAUSE SOMEBODY DROVE BY A PROPERTY OR A NEIGHBOR, THEY DON'T LIKE THE CONDITIONS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE AFFECTING THEIR PROPERTY VALUES.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
UH, ANOTHER BIG ONE THAT WE DEAL WITH ON OCCASION IS, UH, WE ABATEMENT.
AND SO THESE ARE GONNA BE YOUR PROPERTIES THAT HAVE OVERGROWN BUSHES, WEEDS, DEBRIS, TRASH.
AND SO THIS IS A GREAT TOOL FOR US BECAUSE WE NOTIFY THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO GO AHEAD AND CLEAN THEIR PROPERTY OR INSPECTING STAFF OR STAFF WILL GO OUT THERE AND INSPECT.
AND WE GIVE THE PROPERTY OWNER A TIME TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS, TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY.
THE THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS IF THEY FAIL TO DO SO IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND AGAIN, DEPENDING CASE BY CASE, WE'LL GRANT THEM, UH, UM, TIME BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES MONETARILY THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY, BUT USUALLY IT'S A WELL AMOUNT OF TIME THAT ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS.
THE CITY WILL GO IN AND, AND WE'LL, WE'LL CLEAN IT UP AND THEN WE'LL BUILD THEM.
SO IT, IT ALLOWS US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TO, TO REACT A LITTLE BIT FASTER TO GET THOSE PROPERTIES CLEANED UP, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO ALLOW THE OWNER AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN THOSE PROPERTIES.
UM, LOOKS LIKE EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES ARE PROBLEMS THAT ARE VISIBLE FROM THE STREET THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, A NEIGHBOR MIGHT COMPLAIN ABOUT.
I'M CURIOUS WHERE ISSUES OF HABITABILITY FOR TENANTS FALL INTO THIS, AND WHAT ROUGHLY WHAT PROPORTION OF YOUR COMPLAINTS COME FROM TENANTS WITH HABITABILITY CONCERNS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT LOOKED TO ME LIKE NEIGHBORS WITH VISIBLE FROM THE STREET CONCERNS? WHEN IT COMES TO ABILITY, LIKE YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WILL FALL UNDER OUR, UM, AL RENTAL HOUSING INSPECTION PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS PREP.
AND SO THAT'S A DIFFERENT PROGRAM, WHICH I'LL COVER IN A, IN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT YES, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE'S CONCERNS ABOUT, HEY, MY HABITABILITY STANDARDS, I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE.
I I THE OWNER'S NOT FIXING SOMETHING OR REPAIRING SOMETHING THAT WE DO GET QUITE A BIT OF THAT AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE KIND OF FALL UNDER THE, UH, RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, THE LAND USE VIOLATION.
SO THAT MEANS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER, UH, KNOWINGLY OR UNKNOWINGLY MIGHT BE DOING SOMETHING ON THE PROPERTY THAT'S NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE OF THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO THEY ARE REQUIRED, UH, TO COME AND CHECK WITH THE CITY TO SEE IF, UH, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO SOMETHING IN THE BEFORE THEY START.
SO A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO THAT'S PART OF OUR TASK FOR OUR INSPECTING STAFF THAT GO OUT AND THEY EDUCATE THE, THE PUBLIC AGAIN, ON WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.
AND SO WE'LL REFER 'EM TYPICALLY TO OUR PLANNING STAFF, AND SO THEY'LL COME AND SEE A PLANNER AND THERE'S, THEY'LL EXPLAIN TO 'EM, HEY, BASED ON THE ZONE AND THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF YOUR PROPERTY, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.
AND THERE ARE AREAS SOMETIMES FOR A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM WHERE THEY CAN DO AN EXEMPTION, UH, BUT THEN THOSE, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON THE TYPE OF PROPERTY AND THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY AS WELL.
UM, BUT THOSE ARE A MAJOR BULK OF WHAT WE DEAL WITH.
UH, AND SOME OF THEM YOU MIGHT SEE HERE ON THE BOARD MEETINGS BECAUSE AGAIN, UH, WHEN PEOPLE DON'T COMPLY, UH, THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE, UH, ADDITIONAL ACTIONS.
BUT AGAIN, SOME OF THE MOST COMMON VIOLATIONS THAT WE'LL SEE THAT TAKE UP A LOT OF, UH, THE MAJORITY OF OUR BULK CALL TIME IS, IS PEOPLE LIKE TO STORE ITEMS IN AND AROUND THEIR PROPERTY.
AND LIKE MR. ASTON, YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN SEE.
THERE ARE SOMETIMES THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE JUST WALKING BY, DRIVING BY, OR THE NEIGHBOR LOOKS OUT THEIR WINDOW AND THEY LOOK AT THE BACKYARD AND GO, OH, I GOTTA LOOK AT THIS.
SO THEY'LL CALL US, UH, TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK.
UM, SO A LOT OF IT'S STILL WITH STORAGE.
AGAIN, OVERGROWN VEGETATION, DEAD LANDSCAPING, UN PERMITTED ALTERATIONS.
THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT MIGHT FALL UNDER WHAT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT MR. ASIN.
UH, SOMETIMES OWNERS, UH, MAKE ALTERATIONS THAT REQUIRE PERMITS BECAUSE THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE, UH, SAFE AGAIN WHEN THEY MODIFY ELECTRICAL LINES, GAS LINES, THOSE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR US BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE UP TO CODE, UH, SO THEY CAN BE SAFE.
UM, PERMITTED INTERIOR ALTERATIONS.
AGAIN, IT MIGHT NOT JUST BE THE EXTERIOR, IT CAN JUST BE THE INTERIOR.
AND HOW DO WE KNOW SOMETIMES BECAUSE SOMEBODY CALLS AND SAYS, HEY, MY NEIGHBOR'S DOING SOME, UH, ALTERATIONS INSIDE, YOU GUYS WANNA COME CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THERE.
UM, GARAGE CONVERSIONS, WE TAKE THOSE VERY SERIOUSLY, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE IS, WAS DESIGNED FOR A GARAGE USE, RIGHT? FOR VEHICLE STORAGE.
UH, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GO OUT TO THOSE AND, AND, UM, INSPECT THOSE.
[00:50:01]
QUITE A BIT OF THOSE.UH, AGAIN, WE TRY TO WORK WITH OUR OTHER SISTER BUREAUS WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL TO THE PROPERTY OWNER TO DO IT LEGALLY AND SAFELY.
UH, WE GET A LOT OF OVERFLOWING TRASH CONTAINER REQUESTS.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR AREAS THAT ARE HIGH DENSITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE MULTI-UNIT PROPERTIES, WE TEND TO HAVE THE, THE REFUSE CONTAINERS THAT GET FULL PRETTY FAST OR RANDOMLY, PEOPLE COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND DUMP.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE SOME OTHER OTHER CITY PROGRAMS COME, COME IN HANDY BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY IMPACTFUL WHERE THEY HELP US CLEAN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, AGAIN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON, SOMETIMES WE GET THE ILLEGAL DUMPING AND WE CAN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THAT BECAUSE THEY DO IT TYPICALLY BETWEEN ONE IN FOUR IN THE MORNING
AND THEN WE DEAL WITH UN PERMITTED SIGNAGE AS WELL FOR BUSINESSES.
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW OR THEY WANT TO ADVERTISE THEIR BUSINESS AND WE REFER 'EM BACK TO, UH, OTHER CITY STAFF TO GET THE PROPER APPROVALS.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DON'T COMPLY? SO ONE OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE IS WE USE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS.
UH, JUST GONNA HOLD ON FOR JUST A SECOND.
SO AS I, AS I WAS MENTIONING, THESE ARE SOME OF THE COMMON VIOLATIONS THAT WE, UH, ADDRESS OUT IN THE, UH, FIELD WHEN OUR STAFF IS OUT.
UM, SO I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE MAJORITY OF OUR ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE ARE BECAUSE WE GET A REQUEST FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO ON OCCASION, IF WE'RE OUT IN THE FIELD AND WE SEE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, THEY'LL ADDRESS IT.
BUT THE BULK OF EVERYTHING THAT WE ACTION IS BECAUSE SOMEBODY CALLED THAT WANTED US TO BE OUT THERE.
SO SOMETIMES, UH, FOLKS WILL CALL AND SAY, HEY, WHY DO YOU KEEP COMING OUT HERE? WELL, THERE'S, YOU KEEP HAVING VIOLATIONS, YOU KNOW, LET'S WORK ON THIS TOGETHER.
SO I JUST, I HAVE A, A QUESTION IF YOU DON'T MIND.
WHEN YOU GET A CALL, UH, TURN YOUR MIC ON MS. LISTEN, THANK YOU.
WHEN YOU GET A CALL FROM A NEIGHBOR, DO YOU LET THE PERSON, THE PERSON THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT KNOW WHO IT WAS? NO, THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL.
WE DON'T DISCLOSE THE REPORTING PARTY.
UH, THERE'S ONLY PROBABLY MAYBE ONE OR TWO EXEMPTIONS OF THAT, AND THAT'S IT IF WE WERE TO GO TO COURT TRIAL, WHICH RARELY HAPPENS AS A WITNESS, BUT THAT'S, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE.
UM, CARL MIGHT HAVE SEEN IT, BUT I, IT RARELY EVER HAPPENS BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNER COMPLIES AND THEY AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME TYPICALLY IT'S GONNA BE SOMEBODY THAT'S PROBABLY NEARBY.
SO THEY'LL AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THAT IT WAS SOME NEIGHBOR.
BUT SOMETIMES HONESTLY, IT'S BEEN SOMEBODY THAT'S JUST DRIVING BY AND THEY REPORTED SOMETHING, BUT THEY STILL BLAME THE NEIGHBOR.
AND WE'RE LIKE, NO, WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHO IT IS.
BUT, UH, THE ISSUE IS LET'S GET THIS FIXED, LET'S GET THIS CORRECTED, UH, FOR YOUR BENEFIT IN THE CITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DON'T COMPLY? UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTIONS, AND ONE OF THOSE IS UTILIZING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS.
SO ONE LANGUAGE THAT EVERYONE SPEAKS IS MONEY.
AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, UH, ON OCCASION WE DO HAVE TO ISSUE CITATIONS.
UH, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING THAT FOR YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE CASES HERE IS, UM, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY COMING TO APPEAL, UH, THEY WERE GIVEN PROPER DUE PROCESS ACCORDANCE WITH OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
UH, SO THEY DO HAVE TIME, WHICH WE CONSIDER SUFFICIENT, UH, WHICH IS ANNOTATED IN SOME OF THE BUILDING CODES THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE 'EM X AMOUNT OF TIME TO FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF CORRECTIONS OR VIOLATIONS.
SO WE GIVE THEM THAT TIME ON CASE BY CASE, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SITUATION IS, WE DO GIVE 'EM ADDITIONAL TIME AS WELL.
UH, ONCE THEY DON'T MEET THAT REQUIREMENT OR CONTINUOUSLY FAIL OR DON'T CONTACT US TO, FOR REINSPECTION, WE'LL GO OUT AND INSPECT AND THEN WE DON'T SEE CHANGE, THEN THE CITATION PROCESS STARTS.
SO IT'S A PROCESS THAT FOLLOWS A TIMELINE.
EACH CITATION THEY RECEIVE, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, APPEAL THE CITATION AND COME BEFORE YOU TO TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE GIVEN, UM, THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE MAKE OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT WE REACH OUT TO ALL, UH, PARTIES THAT HAVE INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY, WHETHER THE PROPERTY MIGHT BE OWNED BY A SINGLE PERSON, UH, A TRUST, UH, LLC, YOU NAME IT.
WE'LL MAKE OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH TO ALL PARTIES THAT, THAT HAVE AN INTEREST ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, WE ALSO POST US A, A CITATION ON THE PROPERTY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE THERE KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH THE PROPERTY.
AND THEN WE MAIL USPS, UH, POSTAL SERVICE, THE CITATIONS AS WELL, REGULAR MAIL AND CERTIFIED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY SIGNED FOR IT.
SO ON OCCASION, YOU MIGHT'VE SEEN ALREADY THAT THEY'LL SAY, I NEVER GOT, UH, NOTICE.
AND THEN WE'LL PULL OUT THE, UH, CERTIFIED MAIL
[00:55:01]
SOMEBODY SIGNED FOR IT,AND ON, ON ONE OF THE RECENT, UH, CASES, UM, IT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A FAMILY MEMBER THAT SIGNED FOR IT, BUT THEY NEVER KNEW THAT THEY SIGNED FOR IT.
SO THAT, AGAIN, THAT'S ALL PRIVATE, BUT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT WE NOTIFY THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY.
SO AGAIN, UH, EACH CITATION, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL TO YOU HERE, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, AND SO ON AND SO ON.
UH, SO WE USE THIS AS A TOOL TO TRY TO HELP GET PEOPLE TO VOLUNTARILY COMPLY IN THE EVENTS THAT THEY DON'T FOR WHATEVER REASON.
THEN WE HAVE THIS OPTION HERE IF I CAN ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
UM, IF IT WERE YOUR MIND, MR. AUSTIN, PLEASE.
IF IT WERE A HABITABILITY ISSUE, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF A P RIPP INSPECTION WHERE THERE WAS AN APPEAL, WOULD YOU BE NOTIFYING THE TENANT AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY OWNER? TYPICALLY, THE TENANT WILL KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S GOING ON BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO AND INSPECT THE PROPERTY.
SO WHAT IF, SAY IT'S A RENTAL UNIT FOR AN APARTMENT, FOR EXAMPLE.
UM, WE, WE HAVE A CASE BECAUSE WE WENT THERE AND WE SAW IT AND WE OBSERVED A AND VERIFIED THAT THERE'S A VIOLATION OR VIOLATIONS.
SO AS FAR AS THEM KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A A, A HEARING, NO, WE DON'T NOTIFY 'EM BECAUSE IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ENGAGING WITH, NOT THE TENANT.
UH, BUT AGAIN, IF THE TENANT HAPPENS TO ASK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE MAY OR MAY NOT DISCLOSE THAT, BUT AGAIN, DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO THAT SAY, HEY, TENANT, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE OUR MAIN FOCUS IS THE PROPERTY OWNER BECAUSE THEY'RE THE LEGAL RESPONSIBLE PARTY, UH, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
SO SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT, UH, YOU MIGHT COME ACROSS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE HERE, UH, MR. IAN, YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT, UH, THE HABITABILITY, UH, ISSUES OR CONCERNS IS THAT'S OUR PROACTIVE RENTAL HOUSING INSPECTION PROGRAM.
AND SO THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S STRICTLY FOCUSED, AND THE MAIN PURPOSE OF IT IS TO, TO PROTECT THE HOUSING STOCK IN THE CITY.
AS WE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, MEGAN COVERED THAT THERE'S A SHORTAGE.
WE ALL KNOW, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT IT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO ONE OF OUR MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROTECT THE HOUSING STOCK.
AND THAT MEANS THAT, UH, WE WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO CONDUCT THAT MAINTENANCE THAT'S REQUIRED, AS YOU KNOW, SOME PARTS OF THE CITY A LITTLE BIT OLDER.
AND SO THE OLDER THE PROPERTY AND STRUCTURE, THE MORE, UH, MAINTENANCE IT MIGHT NEED.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE WORK WITH OUR, OUR SISTER BUREAUS AND EVEN OTHER DEPARTMENTS ON UTILIZING THEIR PROGRAMS TO HELP THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO BRING UP THEIR PROPERTIES UP TO CODE OR MAYBE RENOVATE OR, OR IMPROVE OR THE POINT WHERE IT CAN, UH, PROLONG THE LIFE OF THAT, UH, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FOR, FOR IT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE USE.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM, UH, UH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS HANDLED BY ONE OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYSTS.
AND SO WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF THOSE UNITS AVAIL, UH, AVAILABLE FOR, FOR, FOR USE.
UM, WE HAVE A VACANT LOT MONITORING PROGRAM WHERE WE INSPECT THESE, UH, VACANT LOTS MONTHLY.
UH, THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY DON'T ATTRACT ANY NUISANCE OR THE PROPERTY BECOMES A NUISANCE FOR THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
AND SO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH IS, AS, LIKE MEGAN MENTIONED, IS, IS ILLEGAL DUMPING.
SO SOMETIMES THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE NOT, UH, NEARBY.
THERE MIGHT BE ABSENTEE BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN ANOTHER STATE.
AND SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GO THROUGH AND INSPECT THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T ATTRACT GRAFFITI, ILLEGAL DUMPING OR EVEN SQUATTING BY, BY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THAT'LL GO AND SET UP CAMP.
AND SOMETIMES THAT LEADS TO CRE CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT TEND TO SET START FIRES TO STAY WARM OR COOK, AND THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A BUNCH OF STORAGE ON, ON THINGS THAT ARE, MIGHT NOT BE SAFE.
SO WE ENGAGE, ENGAGED WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO GET THOSE PROPERTIES SECURED AND CLEANED.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS THE GARAGE RESALE.
SO WHAT THAT IS, IS WE GO AND INSPECT PROPERTIES WHEN THEY'RE FOR SALE, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THOSE HIGH IMPACT PARKING AREAS, MEANING THAT THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF PARKING IN THE STREET, UH, WE MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THE GARAGES ARE EXISTING ON THE PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY USED FOR, FOR PARKING.
SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE TEND TO USE GARAGES FOR STORAGE, AND YOU CAN, BUT ONLY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
BUT THE MAIN BASIC, UH, REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU CAN FIT A VEHICLE IN THERE AND THAT'S SO WE'LL GO OFF AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY'LL GET IS IT IS A NOTICE SAYING, HEY THERE, THIS GARAGE CAN BE USED FOR A VEHICLE, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
AND THEN THEY CAN SELL THAT PROPERTY.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S TO HELP THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE THAT EXTRA LITTLE SPACE THAT THEY CAN GET ON THE STREET.
BECAUSE AGAIN, SOMETIMES, UH, WITH THE ADDITIONAL UNITS THAT WE'RE BUILDING, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE PARKING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA, UH, CALIFORNIANS LOVE CARS AND WE LIKE TO HAVE THAT FREEDOM TO DRIVE AROUND.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE TRY TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF SLIGHT BALANCE.
UM, AND THEN I MENTIONED OUR ABATEMENT PROGRAM ALREADY, UH, WHERE WE GO AND CLEAN UP THE PROPERTIES AS IF THE OWNERS FAIL TO DO THEIR PART.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A GREAT TOOL FOR US BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT FASTER TO, TO GET OUT THERE AND DO IT.
SO IT REMOVES A BLIGHT BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW, PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THE BROKEN WINDOW THEORY.
SOMEBODY SEES A BROKEN WINDOW, THEN THEY'RE GONNA THROW TRASH, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA GRAFFITI IT AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA VANDALIZE
[01:00:01]
IT AND THIS GETS WORSE, RIGHT? SO WE TRY TO GO IN THERE AND DO THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.UH, BUT BEFORE THAT, WE GIVE THE OWNERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT THEMSELVES.
UH, A A COUPLE OTHER PROGRAMS I WANNA MENTION JUST BRIEFLY ARE YES, A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT
YOU DO NOT, I'M SURE YOU DON'T HAVE NEARLY THE STAFF THAT YOU NEED.
SO I'M CURIOUS FIRST HOW MANY, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO CYCLE THROUGH ALL THE RENTAL HOUSING IN THE CITY.
AND SECOND, WHAT HAPPENS IS, I'M SURE IS OFTEN THE CASE BECAUSE TENANTS MIGHT BE AT WORK.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TENANT IS NOT AROUND WHEN THE INSPECTOR, THE PR INSPECTOR COMES? SO YOU HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS THERE, SO LET ME BREAK THEM DOWN.
SO WHAT WE DO FIRST, UH, WE SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION, WE'LL SEND NOTIFICATION TO THE OWNER AND TO THE TENANT SAYING, ON X DATE END TIME, OUR INSPECTOR STAFF WILL BE OUT THERE INSPECTING.
IF YOU'D LIKE YOUR UNIT TO BE INSPECTED, NOTIFY US.
AND WE MAKE IT CLEAR ON THE NOTICE THAT IT'S NOT A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT, THAT IS, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THEIR UNITS INSPECTED AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO INSPECT, UH, 10, 10% OF THE PROPERTY UNITS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S A HUNDRED UNITS ON THIS PROPERTY, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH AT LEAST 10% OF THE RESIDENTS THERE.
SO 10 UNITS IS, WE'LL TRY TO DO A DOOR KNOCK.
UH, EVEN IF SOMEBODY DIDN'T SAY, CALL US TO REQUEST AN INSPECTION, WE'LL DO A DOOR KNOCK AND WE'LL SAY, WE, WE'LL IDENTIFY OURSELVES, TELL 'EM WHAT WE'RE DOING, A PREP INSPECTION.
IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN US, IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT OR ANY CONCERNS.
MAJORITY OF THE TIME THEY'LL TELL US THERE'S NO ISSUE.
UH, IF THEY DO, THEY'LL INVITE US IN AND THEN SAY, THE NEIGHBORS FIND OUT WE'RE THERE.
WE'LL JUST KEEP INSPECTING UNTIL EVERYBODY'S SATISFIED THAT WE INSPECTED THE UNIT.
SO IT CAN BE EVEN UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND SO IT ALL DEPENDS CASE BY CASE ON THE PROPERTY.
AND THEN YOU HAD A SECOND QUESTION, AND THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION WAS, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CYCLE THROUGH ALL OUR HOUSING STUFF? SO, SO THIS PROGRAM STARTED IN 2016 AND WE JUST RECENTLY FINISHED OUR FIRST CYCLE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
AND AGAIN, THAT THAT WAS BECAUSE OF A FEW FACTORS.
UM, WE LOST ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF DUE TO COVID.
SO ALL OUR STAFF HERE WAS TRANSITIONED OVER TO COVID ENFORCEMENT, WORKING WITH BUSINESSES, WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, INSPECTOR LIFE BUSINESS LICENSING FOR THE SAFETY, UH, OF THE AREAS WHERE WE HAD CONGREGATION OF, OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE OR BUSINESSES.
AND SO WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
SO WE LOST A YEAR AND A HALF OF THAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE RETIRE.
WE HAVE NEW STAFF, SO WE HAVE TO DO TRAIN, BUT UM, SO IT TOOK ABOUT THAT LONG, ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.
UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH.
SO WE HAVE OVER 8,000 PROPERTIES IN THE CITY THAT ARE FOUR UNITS OR MORE.
AND THAT EQU UH, A LITTLE OVER 81,000 UNITS THAT WE GO OUT TO GO OUT AND CHECK.
SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THE LARGE VOLUME THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
SO IT DID TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONG.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, EVERY TIME THAT WE, THAT WE, WE GO IN ENGAGE, WE REPLAN AND RETOOL AND TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE OUR TIME TRAIN STAFF TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO CLOSE THAT CYCLE TIME DOWN A LITTLE BIT FASTER.
NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT GET, NOT GET TO THE UNITS PROACTIVELY, ONE THING THAT WE DO DO IS OUR STAFF IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT HAVE NOT INSPECTED A PARTICULAR PROPERTY, WE MIGHT HAVE INSPECTED BECAUSE THE TENANT OR SOMEONE CALLED AND WE RESPONDED AND, AND ADDRESSED THOSE ISSUES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR, UH, PREP OR ANYTHING? UH, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS, IT'S NOT UP HERE, BUT ON OCCASION YOU MIGHT SEE, UH, OR HEAR THE TERM NUISANCE ABATEMENT.
AND SO FROM TIME TO TIME WE DEAL WITH NUISANCE ABATEMENT FOR PARTICULAR PROPERTIES.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE PROACTIVELY GO AND SET UP OR ESTABLISH OR GO OPEN UP OUR UP ON OUR OWN TERMS. UH, MAJORITY OF THOSE COME FROM A POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE, UH, THEY ARE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES OR CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEING EXPERIENCED AT LOCATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT MIGHT BE A LOCATION DEALING WITH GANG ACTIVITY, DRUG ACTIVITY, OR OTHER TYPES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ASSESS IT AND THEY'LL REACH OUT TO US AND THEN WE COORDINATE WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT IT MEETS THEIR CRITERIA FOR US TO PURSUE NUISANCE ABATEMENT.
SO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL CONFUSE THAT AND JUST SAY THAT THERE'S SOME ACTIVITY IN THE CALL.
AND WE'RE LIKE, I'M SORRY, IT DOESN'T MEET THE CRITERIA.
IT HAS TO MEET THIS CRITERIA FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE A LITTLE BIT MORE SERIOUS BECAUSE NOW IT INVOLVES PD AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE A MEASURE, A DIFFERENT PRO PROCESS AND OUR REGULAR PROCESS.
AND SO WHAT THAT SOMETIMES ENDS UP IS US HAVING A HEARING SIMILAR TO HOW WE DO BAC, BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S THROUGH A HEARING OFFICER AND THEY'LL GO THROUGH LIKE A MINI COURT TRIAL.
AND A LOT OF THE TIMES WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END, UM, WE'LL WORK WITH THE OWNER AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT IN THE END WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY PRETTY MUCH GET ORDERED TO
[01:05:01]
GO IN AND CLEAN UP OR ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.AND THEN WE BILL THEM FOR ALL OUR TIME BECAUSE IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING.
BUT THE ISSUES ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE RESOLVED BECAUSE THEY'RE AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY AROUND THAT PROPERTY.
AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
'CAUSE YOU'LL HEAR PEOPLE THROWING THE TERM AROUND NUISANCE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S TRASH AND THEY'LL SAY IT'S A NUISANCE OR, UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN LIKE, UM, I DOG FECES ON THE SIDEWALK OR SOMETHING.
AND IT'S LIKE IT'S, AND SO WE'LL GET THOSE KIND OF COMPLAINTS AND WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND SAY, THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT A NUISANCE, BUT THAT IS A VIOLATION.
UM, AND SO WE, WE, WE, WE, WE ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANNA KIND OF GO OVER THOSE PROGRAMS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE OR, OR DEAL WITH HERE.
AND AGAIN, WHAT DO WE DO? WE TAKE PICTURES.
SO YOU'LL S SEE PICTURES UP HERE SHOWING THE VIOLATIONS.
SO WE HAVE A CASE BECAUSE THE, THE VIOLATIONS EXISTED AND WE TOOK PICTURES, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE.
WE NOTIFIED THE PARTIES WE ARE IN WRITING, UH, IN US POSTAL SERVICE.
WE MAIL OUT THE NOTICES, WE POST THE PROPERTY WITH THE SIGNAGE AND WE TAKE PICTURES OF THE SIGNAGE.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'LL TEAR 'EM DOWN AND THEY'LL SAY, I NEVER SAW IT.
UM, WE TAKE, MAKE ALL ATTEMPTS TO NOTIFY ALL INTERESTED PARTIES, PHONE CALLS IN PERSONS DOOR KNOCKS MAILING OUT TO ALL KNOWN ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS, UH, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE SUBSTANDARD CASES FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND THEN, UH, ON OCCASION YOU MIGHT SEE SOMEBODY APPEALING BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH THE FEES THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. AND SO AGAIN, UM, WE TRY TO UTILIZE, UTILIZE THESE PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK NICE AND CLEAN.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND VALUE THE PLACE THAT THEY WORK AT, AND TO BE PROUD THAT THEY'RE FROM LONG BEACH.
SO WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
UH, OUR STAFF ARE, ARE, ARE PROFESSIONAL.
THEY'RE NOT JUST ANYONE OFF THE STREET CAN DO THIS JOB.
IT REQUIRES A CERTIFICATION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNT.
SO IT'S A, IT'S NOT, THOSE EXAMS ARE NOT EASY TO TAKE BECAUSE YOU GOTTA LEARN AND KNOW HOW THOSE CODES APPLY TO WHAT WE SEE OUT IN THE FIELD.
SO THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN WRITING AND WHAT IT REAL WORLD LOOKS LIKE.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE DUE PROCESS SIDE OF THINGS, MEANING THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T VIOLATE ANYBODY'S CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT AND ALL THE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS.
AND SO WE DO DO, UH, A LOT OF TRAINING FOR THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF ARE UPDATED BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR THE CALIFORNIA LAWS CHANGE.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT IN OUR FAVOR.
ONCE IN A WHILE WE GET LUCKY AND THEY ARE.
UH, BUT WE TRY TO NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL THOSE TO, TO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS.
AND FIRST AND FOREMOST IS FOR SAFETY AND ALSO FOR MAKING SURE THAT IT REMOVES THE BLIGHT BECAUSE IT AFFECTS PEOPLE'S PROPERTY VALUES.
AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO FEEL PROUD, JUST LIKE THE PROGRAMS THAT MEGAN MENTIONED EARLIER.
SO WE WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM.
THESE ARE SOME PICTURES HERE BEFORE AND AFTERS, JUST LIKE A FEW EXAMPLES THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DEAL WITH.
SO WE USE 'EM, UH, CLEANUPS THAT WE'VE DONE, UH, MIGHT HAVE BEEN THAT WE PAID FOR IT AND CLEANED IT UP, OR THE PROPERTY OWNER DID IT BECAUSE WE GOT INVOLVED AND WORKED WITH THEM ON HOW TO, HOW TO GIVE 'EM SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO CLEAN IT UP.
SOMEBODY'S BACKYARD, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A 20 FOOT CONTAINER.
YOU'LL BE SURPRISED, WE'VE DEALT WITH SOME PROPERTIES WHERE WE FILL UP THREE OR FOUR CONTAINERS, 20 FOOTERS OF JUST DEBRIS AND STORAGE BECAUSE MAYBE THEY'RE HAVING A LOT OF STORAGE OF, MAYBE THEY'RE KIND OF ON THE BORDER OF HOARDING.
UH, BUT AGAIN, IMAGINE YOU'RE THE NEIGHBOR AND YOU'RE HAVING A BARBECUE IN YOUR BACKYARD AND YOU CAN SEE OVER THEIR YARD AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT AND YOU HAVE YOUR FRIENDS ASKING YOU WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR? AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE LOOK AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO FROM THE NEIGHBORING, THE NEIGHBOR WHO HAS THIS, THESE ITEMS, WE LOOK AT IT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE AS A SAFETY ISSUE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S STORED THERE.
IS IT ATTRACTING, UH, VERMIN LIKE RODENTS AND MICE AND, UM, INSECTS AND WHATNOT? UM, IS THERE HAZARDOUS CON, YOU KNOW, MATERIALS IN THERE THAT CAN COMBUST IF THEY'RE MIXED TOGETHER? WE DON'T KNOW.
SO THAT'S, WE, WE LOOK AT THAT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE FOR THE SAFETY.
BUT AGAIN, IN THE END, UH, THEY, THEY DO FEEL A LOT BETTER.
AND THE NEIGHBORS ARE VERY HAPPY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN SEE THAT THIS IS AN INTERIOR OF THE UNIT.
THE CONDITIONS, AGAIN, VERY SUBSTANDARD.
UH, BUT YOU, BUT PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS.
WE ACTUALLY COME ACROSS THIS WHERE WE GO INSIDE IF THEY ALLOW US ACCESS, AND THIS IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY FIND SOMETIMES.
AND SO AGAIN, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THEN WE GET 'EM TO CLEAN IT UP, AND THEN IT'S SAFE AND HABITABLE, AND THEN THERE'S NO ISSUE FOR THEM.
AND AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT'S BECAUSE FRIENDS, FAMILY OR NEIGHBORS CALL US BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO BETTER THEMSELVES.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE GET INVOLVED.
AND, AND THEY DO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S, THEY'RE CHALLENGE WITH, UH, WITH ISSUES AND CHALLENGES.
SOMETIMES IT'S A MENTAL ISSUE AND WE HAVE TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP THEM
[01:10:01]
DEAL WITH THAT.BUT AGAIN, A LOT OF OUR STAFF ARE THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THIS.
AGAIN, YOU WERE MENTIONING, I'M DRIVING BY AND I SEE SOMETHING.
SOMETIMES THE HOUSE IS COVERED UP WITH JUST BUSHES AND TREES AND IT'S LIKE, IS THERE SOMETHING BACK THERE YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE? BUT ACTUALLY THERE'S A HOUSE AND THERE'S A GARAGE.
UM, AND AGAIN, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S WEEDS AND, AND, UH, ROOTS GROWING OUT.
AND THEN PEOPLE JUST START THROWING TRASH, RIGHT? THAT WINDOW.
UH, SO AGAIN, SOMETHING VERY MINOR CAN BE VERY IMPACTFUL.
AGAIN, NOT EXTREME CASE, BUT AGAIN, SOMETIMES THEY'LL HAVE THESE NATURAL, UM, PLANTS AND THEY'LL JUST LET 'EM GROW REALLY WILD.
AND THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S, YOU GOTTA TRIM 'EM DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND CLEAN IT UP.
BUT AGAIN, SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE THIS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? AGAIN, SAFETY, THE WALL, THAT, THAT, THAT FENCE IS FALLING OVER.
SO IMAGINE YOU'RE THE NEIGHBOR AND YOU'RE SCARED 'CAUSE NOW YOU GOTTA WALK THROUGH THERE.
WHAT IF THAT FENCE FALLS ON YOU? RIGHT? SO IT BECOMES KIND OF A SAFETY ISSUE THERE.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE OWNERS NOW.
NOW, IF YOU HAVE A BARBECUE IN YOUR BACKYARD, YOU HAVE A POOL BACK THERE.
NO, IT'S GREAT FOR YOU, RIGHT? YOU'RE HAPPY.
NOW AGAIN, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LOCATION THAT, THAT WAS ACTUALLY A NUISANCE BECAUSE IT BURNED DOWN.
I THINK IT BURNED DOWN THREE TIMES AND WE'RE WORKING, TRYING TO WORK WITH THE OWNER TO GET IT CLEANED UP.
AND BY THE THIRD TIME, I THINK WE'RE ABLE TO GET 'EM TO, TO GO AHEAD AND PULL A DEMO.
AND IT ACTUALLY ABLE IT AND, AND IT WAS A, A VACANT LOT.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD A NEW, UH, NEW, UH, PROJECT THERE.
SO, UM, AGAIN, THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF THAT WE DEAL WITH SOMETIMES.
AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE A CHALLENGE EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A HISTORICAL DISTRICT.
AND SO NOW WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE OF THE STATE REQUIREMENTS TO GO THROUGH IT.
SO SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE, TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
'CAUSE I, I, I COULD INSTANTLY SEE WHY THREE TIMES BURN DOWN THREE TIMES WHAT, UH, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW AS WELL TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AGAIN, EVEN SOMETIMES, UH, WE DO WHAT WE CALL A SUMMARY ABATEMENT, WHICH FOR EXAMPLE, THIS EVE WAS KIND OF FALLING OVER.
SO IMAGINE YOU'RE WALKING UNDER THIS THING AND IT FALLS DOWN AND IT SMASHES YOU.
UM, THE LIKELIHOOD OF YOU GETTING INJURED OR KILLED IS VERY HIGH.
AND SO ON OCCASION IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN.
UH, WE DO WHAT WE CALL A SUMMARY ABATEMENT WHERE WE GIVE 'EM LIKE 24, 48 HOURS TO, TO GO AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE OR THE HAZARD OR WE'LL DO IT.
AND SO THIS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THE PROPERTY OWNER HIRED A CONTRACTOR AND THEY DID IT WITHIN 40 HOURS, STARTED THE WORK TO CLEAN IT UP BECAUSE THIS THING WAS LITERALLY LE LED, YOU BREAKING OFF.
IT'S ABOUT TO FALL ONTO THE SIDEWALK, WHICH IS A PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO WITH QUITE OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY IS GRAFFITI.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE PROPERTY OWNER'S FAULT, IT'S JUST PEOPLE JUMP OVER THE FENCE, THEY CUT THROUGH THE FENCE AND THEY WANNA PUT THEIR NAME UP ON THE WALL.
UM, AND SO WE'LL WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO TRY TO CLEAN UP THAT GRAFFITI.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO A LOT IS WE WORK WITH THE OWNERS AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE THAT GRAFFITI.
AND SO AGAIN, WE, THIS IS ONE ITEM THAT TAKES A LOT OF OUR TIME AND EFFORT ON OCCASION BECAUSE IT JUST POPS UP AND THEN WE GO OUT THERE, REMOVE IT, THE OWNER GOES OUT THERE, REMOVE IT, AND THEN IT COMES UP BACK AGAIN.
SO WE JUST TRY TO WORK WITH THEM AND GET, KEEP THAT, UH, PROPERTY NICE AND CLEAN AGAIN.
ANOTHER PROPERTY THAT WAS A NUISANCE LOCATION WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY GOING ON.
IT WAS A, A, A, A COUPLE LOTS THAT WERE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
AND WE HAD A ABANDONED APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT WERE BEING USED FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND IT WAS A BIG, UH, REQUEST FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR US TO TAKE ACTION.
SO WE WORKED WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND EVENTUALLY THEY REMOVED ALL THE STRUCTURES.
THEY RAISED IT, AND NOW IT'S, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE NEW DEVELOPMENT THERE.
SO AGAIN, UH, IT, IT MADE AN IMPACT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THERE BECAUSE AGAIN, OF ALL THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT WAS GOING ON, WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT.
AND NOW THAT ALL THOSE PROBLEMS WENT AWAY SOMEWHERE ELSE, AGAIN, SAME ISSUE HERE.
I WAS AT THE, UH, HOSPITAL HERE NEARBY AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE STRUCTURE RAISED AND THEY REMOVED IT AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING THERE AS WELL.
SO IT WAS, IT WAS ATTRACTING A LOT OF NEGATIVE ACTIVITIES, CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO GET THAT ADDRESSED AS WELL.
SO THEN THEY REMOVED THAT STRUCTURE.
'CAUSE AGAIN, IT WAS, IT WAS SUBSTANDARD.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM.
WE'LL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION ON PRESENTATION.
[01:15:01]
THE NEXT AGENDA, UH, NEXT ITEM ITEMIZED AGENDA.ON ITEM ON HER AGENDA, EXCUSE ME, IS, UH, WE ARE GONNA DO ELECTIONS FOR CHAIR AND QUESTION.
UM, I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSACTIONS AND OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS APPEALS AND CONDEMNATION.
EACH MEMBER, UH, MAY NOMINATE ONE PERSON FOR CHAIR, INCLUDING YOURSELF.
THESE NOMINATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.
SO I WILL NOW ALLOW FOR NOMINATIONS.
ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, I NOMINATE FRANK FOR VICE CHAIR.
UM, THIS IS JUST FOR CHAIR NOW, BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY GET THERE.
ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, THERE BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS.
I DECLARE THE NOMINATION CLOSED FOR CHAIR.
UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING.
UM, I WILL ALLOW FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT COMMENTS, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THOSE.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR? UM, FOR JANET LIPSON TO BE OUR CHAIR FOR THE BOARD OF CABINET, THE EQUIVALENT CONDEMNATION, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
JUST TO CONFIRM, UM, MR. FRANK ESPARZA? YES.
CONGRATULATIONS CHAIRMAN LIPSON.
YOU SAY THAT I GONNA TELL MY THANK YOU.
I NOW DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS APPEALS AND CONDEMNATION.
UM, EACH MEMBER MAY NOMINATE ONE PERSON FOR VICE CHAIR, INCLUDING YOURSELF.
THESE NOMINATIONS NOW REQUIRE A SECOND.
I NOMINATE STEVE HASKIN FOR VICE CHAIR.
I WILL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION, I GUESS ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? OKAY.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS, I DECLARE MR. STEVE ASTON IS THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS APPEAL AND CONDEMNATION.
UM, AND I'LL ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK IF YOU'D LIKE.
UM, I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN TO SUPPORT THE IMPORTANT WORK OF CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT, UM, ALL IN BAYLOR FOR, UH, VICE CHAIR ASKING AYE AYE.
AND WE'LL GO DOWN ROLL CALL MR. F FRANK ESPARZA.
UH, MR. STEVE AKIN DO ARE VICE CHAIR STEVE ASKING FOR THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF BUILTIN FOUNDATION.
UM, AT THIS TIME ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON AGENDA ITEMS? AND ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? ARE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, 2024.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, I DECLARE THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 3:06 PM.