[00:04:59]
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IS NOT STAY WAITING FOR, OH, NO.ARE WE IN? IS EVERYBODY IN? CAN I GET SOMEONE TO COME UP AND CHECK HER SCREEN FOR ME, PLEASE? I'M SORRY.
SAYS WAITING FOR ITEMS. OH, YEAH.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, COMING TO THIS MEETING TODAY.
WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE SOMEONE ELSE SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO WE APPRECIATE IT WHEN YOU COME TO THE COMMISSION MEETING.
TODAY IS JANUARY 8TH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO ORDER.
CAN I GET A TIME, PLEASE? 9 0 6.
[CALL TO ORDER]
GO AHEAD WITH THE ROLL CALL, MR. OMAR.UH, PRESIDENT, UH, ROBIN GORDON PETERSON HERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER CHIEF COLEMAN.
[ROLL CALL]
VICTORIA.COMMISSIONER SHARON WEISMAN HERE.
MY FAVORITE PART OF THE MEETING IS ALWAYS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO I'LL ASK MR. WILLIAMS TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE TODAY OF YOUR MARK.
READY TO BEGIN, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WE EXPAND ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ON AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? GOOD MORNING, SIR.
GOOD MORNING, MR. GOOD MORNING.
[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Civil Service Commission on agenda items. ]
MY NAME'S JAIME GARCIA.I'M THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
PREVIOUSLY, AT LAST, UM, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING, YOU HAD ASKED THE DEPARTMENT TO DO SOME RESEARCH INTO A TRAINING PROGRAM AND THE USUAL TRAININGS FOR A WATER UTILITY MECHANIC IN THE SEWER DIVISION.
UH, SO MYSELF AND MY TEAM WENT IN AND WE MET WITH OUR MANAGERS FROM THE SEWER DIVISION.
WE GOT INFORMATION REGARDING THE, UH, GENTLEMAN WHOSE, UM, EXTENSION OF PROBATION THAT YOU APPROVED THE LA PREVIOUSLY, MR. CASRE.
UM, SO WE DID SOME IN, UH, YEAH, SO WE BASICALLY GOT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR YOU.
SO BASICALLY TRAINING CANNOT START FOR WATER UTILITY MECHANIC IN THE SEWER DIVISION UNTIL THEY OBTAIN A DRIVER'S LICENSE PERMIT.
UM, MR. CASRE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DELAYED IN HIS ABILITY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO OBTAIN SAID PERMIT.
UH, BUT ONCE A PERMIT IS OBTAINED, THE SEWER DIVISION DOES IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TRAINING, UH, WHICH IS CONDUCTED BY A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR CALLED CIT.
THE SUPERVISORS, UM, INFORMED HIM MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF HIS, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ONBOARDING, BUT DURING THE BEGINNING OF HIS, UH, PROBATIONARY PERIOD THAT HE IS REQUIRED TO DO THIS AND TO MEET THIS EXPECTATION AS PART OF HIS, UM, PROBATIONARY, YOU KNOW, STATUS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OR TO PASS PROBATION, AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVE PERMANENT CLASSIFIED STATUS.
UH, IT, HE WAS ALSO, THIS WAS INFORMATION WAS ALSO ADDED AND SHARED WITH HIM IN THE EPA.
SO IT WAS NOT, UM, NEW INFORMATION AT, YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME OF WHEN WE ASKED FOR A EXTENSION OF PROBATION, UH, THEY WERE, HE WAS GIVEN A TWO MONTH AND THEN A, THE FOUR MONTH EPA, AND THAT'S THE, UH, THE EMPLOYEE EVALUATION.
AND THEN ANYTIME IT TAKES TO GET A MONTH OR TO GET A PERMIT, OR THE ACTUAL USUAL AMOUNT IT TAKES TO GET THAT PERMIT IS USUALLY ABOUT A MONTH ON AVERAGE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE NORMALLY EXPECT WHEN WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO'S GOING THROUGH THE PERMIT PROCESS.
AND THEN WHO'S TRYING TO OBTAIN THEIR, UM, THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE PERMIT FOR, FOR THE CLASS A, UH, THIS, SO THE, AND THE, AND THEN WE ALSO FOUND OUT PER THEIR, YOU KNOW, PER THEIR, UH, FEEDBACK THAT THE EMPLOYEES CANNOT TAKE THE TEST WITHOUT HAVING DRIVING ON RECORD WITH A CERTIFIED DRIVER.
SO HE WAS DELAYED IN, YOU KNOW, EVEN HAVING THAT TRAINING MADE AVAILABLE TO HIM THROUGH THE, UH, THROUGH THE VENDOR BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT PERMIT.
SO ONCE HE DID OBTAIN THE PERMIT, THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED WORKING WITH THE, THE, THE VENDOR TO SCHEDULE HIM FOR, YOU KNOW, TRAINING WITH THAT CERTIFIED DRIVER.
AND THEN THAT IS NORMALLY WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF TRAINING FOR, FOR MOST AVERAGE WATER UTILITY MECHANICS IN THE SEWER DIVISION.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THE EMPLOYEES BY PROVIDING THE VENDOR SERVICE AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE SUPERVISORS HELPING SCHEDULE THEM FOR THAT TRAINING, UH, IMMEDIATELY.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY COACHING THEM TO THEN SUBSEQUENTLY PASS THEIR, THEIR EXAMINATION.
UM, SO THAT'S, UH, AND THEN, AND THEN ALSO WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYEES AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THEM THE ABILITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER GET TRAINING OR, UM, TAKE THAT TEST AT AN EARLIER TIME SO THAT WAY WE'RE NOT IN THAT SITUATION THAT WE WERE PREVIOUSLY.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COMMISSION PER
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YOUR REQUEST.I'M GLAD THAT YOU SHARED THAT.
UM, BUT DO KNOW, UM, IT'S QUITE APPARENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT CANNOT DO ANY TRAINING, UH, AS FAR AS, UH, THE CREDENTIALS FOR, UM, THAT PERMIT UNLESS THAT PERSON HAS THE PERMIT.
SO YOU'RE KIND OF HAMSTRUNG AND, AND I REALIZED THAT, AND I RECOGNIZED IT.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD.
WE ARE GOING ONTO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM FOUR, SO I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THAT.
CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE OTHER ITEMS?
[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 4.)]
EXCUSE ME.LET'S GO ON AND DISCUSS ITEM FOUR, COMMISSIONER.
UM, AND I'M SURE I WILL UNDERSTAND ALL THIS BY THE TIME MY, I, I LEAVE THE COMMISSION
SO MY QUESTION IS ON, ON ITEM FOUR, AND I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE THE PAGE NUMBER HANDY.
UH, THE MEMO SAYS, UH, TO EXTEND, UM, BY SIX MONTHS, BUT MOST OF THE ITEMS SAY THREE OR FOUR MONTHS.
AND SO I'M, I'M JUST WOULD LOVE AN EXPLANATION OF HOW THAT WORKS.
SO, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A CORRECTED COPY THAT HAS SAID THREE MONTHS.
UM, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT COPY YOU'RE MISSING YET.
I A APOLOGIZE REAL QUICK, UH, TO ENTER, UH, INTERRUPT.
[4. 25-54017 Recommendation to approve extension of expiring eligible lists. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
MARIA, CAN WE GET A, A MOTION AND A SECOND FIRST BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH FURTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU.SO I WILL DOUBLE CHECK WITH LIZ TO SEE WHAT, WHICH COPY WAS, UM, ATTACHED TO THE, UM, THE SYSTEM.
BUT I DO SHOW ON MY ATTACHMENT.
THE MEMO WAS, UH, REVISED TO SHOW THREE MONTHS, UH, AND THESE ELIGIBLE LISTS WERE SENT FOR APPROVAL ON DECEMBER 18TH.
WE DISCOVERED TWO ADDITIONAL ELIGIBLE LISTS THAT NEEDED TO BE PART OF THAT REPORT, SO WE HAD TO BRING IT TO THE COMMISSION THIS MORNING.
SORRY, YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AT THE AGENDA THAT WAS SENT TO US, BUT NOW WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT'S ONLINE, I SEE THAT IT DOES SAY THREE MONTHS, AND I HAD NOT, I HAD JUST LOOKED AT THE MATERIALS WE RECEIVED, SO THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? RUN IN THE MEETING? OKAY.
OKAY, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT ITEM.
THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE C COMMISSION MEETING OF DECEMBER 18TH.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ARE WE ALL GOOD?
[5. 25-54018 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Civil Service Commission Meeting of December 18, 2024. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.ITEM NUMBER SIX, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE REDUCTION OF THE ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR THE PETROLEUM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR.
I'LL NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND.
STAFF MEMBER, UH, BRYSON RIFT.
UM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 26 OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES
[6. 25-54020 Recommendation to approve reduction of eligible list – Petroleum Operations Coordinator. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
AND REGULATIONS, STAFF IS REQUESTING CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS' APPROVAL TO REDUCE THE PETROLEUM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR ELIGIBLE LIST IN COMPLIANCE WITH ARTICLE FOUR.SECTION 26, ELIGIBLE LISTS FROM OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS SHALL GENERALLY EXPIRE ONE YEAR FROM THEIR ESTABLISHED EFFECTIVE DATES.
THE RULE STATES THAT THE LIST MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED OR REDUCED UPON REVIEW BY THE COMMISSION.
SO SOME FACTS FOR CONSIDERATION.
STAFF CONDUCTED AN OPEN NON-COMPETITIVE RECRUITMENT FOR PETROLEUM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR ON MARCH 18TH, 2022, RESULTING IN THE CREATION OF ONE ELIGIBLE LIST.
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THE ELIGIBLE LIST WAS COMPRISED OF 20 CANDIDATES, AND OF THOSE 20 CANDIDATES, THREE SELECTIONS WERE MADE, UM, BY ENERGY RESOURCES.THE ELIGIBLE LIST WAS REFERRED TO FIVE REQUISITIONS IN TOTAL, AND THE FIRST TWO SELECTIONS WERE MADE FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST, UM, IN OCTOBER, 2020, 2022.
THE REMAINING 18 CANDIDATES ON THE ELIGIBLE LIST WERE REFERRED TO, UM, TWO OTHER REQUISITIONS, UM, ON AUGUST 2ND, 2024 AND OCTOBER 7TH, 2024.
AND ALL 18 OF THOSE CANDIDATES WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
AND OF THOSE 18 CANDIDATES, FIVE WERE INVITED TO A SECOND INTERVIEW, AND THEN THREE OFFERS WERE MADE.
ONE CANDIDATE ACCEPTED THE OFFER AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE ONBOARDING PROCESS, AND THEN THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES DECLINED THE OFFER.
SO THE ENERGY RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED DISPOSITIONS FOR THE REMAINING CANDIDATES, UM, AS REQUESTED BY CIVIL SERVICE CONFIRMING THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS EXHAUSTED THE LIST, A REDUCTION OF THE ELIGIBLE LIST IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AS THE NEW PETROLEUM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR.
UM, STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE UTILITY OF THE LIST AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
UM, ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 26, IT RECOMMENDS THE REDUCTION OF THE LIFE OF THE CURRENT ELIGIBLE LIST AND ALLOW IT TO EXPIRE IMMEDIATELY.
UH, THE ENERGY RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THIS REQUEST IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND IS PRESENT TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I DON'T HAVE DISCUSSION.
UH, WE'LL START WITH MS. LOVE, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE, MOVE TO OUR CHIEF.
THE TWO CANDIDATES THAT YOU INTERVIEWED AND THEY DECLINED.
CAN, DO YOU HAVE A RECORD OF WHY THEY DECLINED? THANK YOU, BRYSON.
AND YES, COMMISSIONER, LOVE, UH, THEY DECLINED DUE TO HAVING OBTAINED ALTERNATE EMPLOYMENT.
SO THE LIST, AS YOU KNOW, AS BRYSON JUST MENTIONED, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2022.
UH, WHEN WE CONDUCTED OUR FOLLOW-UP RECRUITMENTS THIS MOST RECENT TIME, UH, TWO OF, ONE OF 'EM, YOU KNOW, WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, TRYING TO SEE IF THE, THE POSITION WOULD BE TO THEIR TASTE, SO TO SPEAK MM-HMM
BUT THEN WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, GOT, UH, MORE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THE SALARY OFFER, THEY DECLINED.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS JUST A SIMPLE, UH, THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED ANYMORE.
WELL, I, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET JOBS, BUT I'M KIND OF SAD THAT THE GUY TURNED IT DOWN ON MONEY.
WELL, I SAY GUY COULD HAVE BEEN A GIRL FOR WHAT I KNOW
WE DID GET ONE THAT DID SAY YES THOUGH, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT ONE.
ONE OUT OF THREE
UH, CHIEF HAS A QUESTION, SO HE MAY, YOU JUST MAY HAVE TO RETURN.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, SEIZE, UH, JUST MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR THAT WHEN THERE'S A REDUCTION, THAT MEANS IT WOULD'VE BEEN OPEN FOR PERHAPS A LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME.
WE'RE VOTING ON ENDING THAT I SEE THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS CREATING A NEW EXAM.
UM, AND SO THE TWO THAT WE'RE INVITED TO THE SECOND INTERVIEW, UM, DID, WERE NOT OFFERED THE POSITION.
W SO, UH, TWO, TWO THINGS TO START WITH.
THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, CHIEF COLEMAN, UM, I BELIEVE WHAT DR.
BRYSON HAS BEEN PRESENTING IS THE REDUCTION OF THE ELIGIBILITY LIST IN TERMS OF LIKE THE LENGTH OF THE LIST IN TERMS OF LIKE ITS LIFESPAN.
SO IT WOULD ONLY BASICALLY BE ACTIVE FOR THE REST OF THE TIME FOR THE CURRENT CANDIDATE WHO IS IN ONBOARDING TO COMPLETE THEIR ONBOARDING.
UH, AND THEY DO START NEXT WEEK.
SO THERE IS, UH, THAT TO BE, TO SHARE.
UM, SECOND POINT, UH, THE QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, POSITION FOR THE TWO CANDIDATES.
SO TECHNICALLY YES, THEY WERE MADE OFFERS, LIKE THEY WERE EXTENDED OFFERS BY THE, BY THE DEPARTMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, MEANING LIKE THEY WERE OFFERED A, THE POSITION OFFERED A STARTING SALARY AND THEN THEY SUBSEQUENTLY DECLINED.
MY QUESTION WAS, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FIVE WERE INVITED BACK TO THE SECOND INTERVIEW.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REMAINING TWO? YES.
THEY WERE, UH, DISPOSITION JUST NOT HAVING PASSED THE INTERVIEW.
I, I JUST HAVE A, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO APPROVE A REDUCTION OF AN ELIGIBLE LIST.
UM, THE SPAN BETWEEN 2022 AND 24 IS QUITE LENGTHY, SO I UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT GOING THROUGH THE LIST, PEOPLE WOULD'VE TAKEN OTHER POSITIONS.
AND, UM, SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS.
DO IS THIS, DO, DOES THIS HAPPEN OFTEN? UH, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE NECESSARILY, BUT IT IS A TOOL THAT CIVIL SERVICE DOES OFFER TO DEPARTMENTS WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THIS.
AND COMMISSIONER CORDERO, TO YOUR POINT, UH, THE, THE, THE SPECIFIC NATURE OF THIS REQUEST HERE TODAY IS, I GUESS, MORE UNIQUE BECAUSE PETROLEUM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR IS A POSITION THAT IS UNIQUE TO ENERGY RESOURCES.
SO WE RUN INTO CHALLENGES WHEN, SAY, CIVIL SERVICES LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, REDUCING THIS KIND OF LIKE ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE
[00:20:01]
SHARED CITYWIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE CONSIDER ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYSTS, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT? EVERY DEPARTMENT USES THAT POSITION, RIGHT? SO IT'S IF ONE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS TO, YOU KNOW, REDUCE THE TIMELINE OR REDUCE THE EXPIRATION OF THE, OF THE ELIGIBILITY LIST, ANOTHER DEPARTMENT MAY SAY, NO, PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.WE HAVE AN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF CONDUCTING A, A, A RECRUITMENT WITH THIS ACTIVE ELIGIBILITY LIST.
YOU KNOW, OR DON'T REDUCE THE, THE LENGTH OF THAT, THAT, THAT LIST LIFESPAN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WONDERFUL.
I LOVE IT WHEN COMMISSIONERS ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT KEEPS YOU GUYS ON YOUR TOES.
MOTION CARRIES ITEM SEVEN RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE BULLETIN FOR THE PETROLEUM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR,
UH, THE EXAMINATION FOR PETROLEUM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, UH, WAS LAST AS ADMINISTERED AS AN OPEN NON-COMPETITIVE EXAM OPPORTUNITY IN FISCAL YEAR 2022.
AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE WERE 20 QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
UM, THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO VACANCIES
[7. 25-54019 Recommendation to approve bulletin – Petroleum Operations Coordinator. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
WITHIN ENERGY RESOURCES RECEIVED BY CIVIL SERVICE, UM, IN, UH, ON AUGUST 2ND, 2024 AND OCTOBER 4TH, 2024.AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE, THE BULLETIN ARE UPDATED FILING DATES AND SALARY INFORMATION, ADDITION OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION LANGUAGE, AND THE REMOVAL OF COVID-19 VACCINATION LANGUAGE STAFF RECOMMEND THAT THE EXAMINATION WAITS REMAIN THE SAME WITH APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION, UM, AS QUALIFYING IN AN INITIAL APPLICATION FILING PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS FROM, UH, JANUARY 10TH, 2025 TO JANUARY 24TH, 2025.
AND, UM, AGAIN, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ENERGY RESOURCES IS PRESENT TODAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
I, I NOTE THAT, UM, AND I, IT WASN'T AVAILABLE TO ME TO SEE THE SALARY ON THE PREVIOUS OPEN EXAM.
UM, BUT I DO WANT TO, UH, CLARIFY, SINCE WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS, YOU KNOW, GETTING ONBOARDED AS YOU, UM, ITERATED WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, WOULD, IF WE OPENED THIS EXAM AND UPDATED THE SALARY, WOULD THERE BE A LARGE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT THAT PERSON WILL BE RECEIVING AND PERHAPS THIS, THIS NEW, UH, ROLE? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
UH, SO THAT WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE WERE, UM, ALREADY GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO, UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS, UH, SOME INFORMATION AND SOME BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE IN REGARDS TO THE DEPARTMENT, IT IS A SMALLER DEPARTMENT.
UM, IT, SO WE DID HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE, WE WOULD BE EXPECTING SOME PO PORTFOLIO OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, VACANCIES.
UH, SO THE OFFER WAS MADE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF, OF THAT UPDATED, UH, SALARY INFORMATION.
SO THAT DID TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE, THE RANGE THAT YOU WILL SEE ON, ON THE BULLETIN MOVING FORWARD TODAY.
UH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WOULD BE EQUITABLE IN TERMS OF AN OFFER TO A CANDIDATE WHO WAS OFFERED FROM THE PREVIOUS LIST.
UH, BECAUSE YEAH, AS, AS YOU UNDERSTAND CHIEF, UM, LIKE COMMISSIONER CORDERO HAD MENTIONED THE OLD BULLETIN WAS, YOU KNOW, UNDER 2022 LANGUAGE.
SO THEY WERE, THE CANDIDATE WAS, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THE, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, SALARY INFORMATION HAD BEEN UPDATED SINCE THEN.
SO IT, IT IS, IT IS, THE OFFER TO THAT CANDIDATE IS CURRENT WITH THE SALARY RANGE THAT YOU'LL BE SEEING IN THE NEW PETROLEUM OPERATIONS COORDINATOR BULLETIN NOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GOOD QUESTION, CHIEF.
IF YOU CAST YOUR VOTE, PLEASE.
MOTION CARRIES ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND THE NON-CAREER HOURS FOR LESLIE ABREGO, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST, UH, INC STAFF MEMBER TIFFANY JAMES.
CAN YOU GET A SECOND? GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
HOLD ON FOR SECOND ON DECEMBER 13TH.
[8. 25-54021 Recommendation to extend non-career hours for Leslee Abrego, Administrative Analyst I-NC-Conf. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
NEED A SECOND, PLEASE.ON DECEMBER 13TH, 2024, THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED CORRESPONDENCE FROM SANDRA AGUILAR, ACTING MANAGER OF ADMINISTRATION, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, REQUESTING CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION APPROVAL TO EXTEND THE NON-CAREER HOURS FOR LESLIE ABREGO CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST, ONE NON-CAREER COMP WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE REQUEST AND RECOMMENDS APPROVAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 49 OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND CIVIL SERVICE POLICY SECTION 2.32 FACTS FOR CONSIDERATION.
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OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS ALLOWS AN APPOINTING AUTHORITY TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION OF A NON-CAREER EMPLOYEE'S APPOINTMENT IF THE EXTENSIONS ARE DEEMED NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR THE APPOINTING APPOINTING DEPARTMENT TO FUNCTION AND OR PROVIDE THAT PERMANENT APPOINTMENTS TO THOSE POSITIONS, WHICH ARE IN FACT PERMANENT ARE BEING PURSUED.LESLIE ABREGO WAS HIRED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST, ONE, NONE CAREER CONFIDENTIAL ON MARCH 19TH, 2024, TO JOIN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND HAS REMAINED IN THE CLASSIFICATION.
THE ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST ONE NON-CAREER CONFIDENTIAL IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING, COORDINATING AND STANDARDIZING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT WITH AN EMPHASIS ON INTRANET, THE CITY'S INTERNAL EMPLOYEE PORTAL AND EXTERNAL WEBSITE UPDATES, CITYWIDE COMMUNICATION AND BRAND EFFORTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S, OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENTAL SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHIC DESIGN, BRAND CREATION SYSTEM MAINTENANCE, AND CREATING, UPDATING AND DISTRIBUTING DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS.
THE CHART BELOW OUTLINES MS. ABREGO'S CURRENT HOURS EXPENDED AS OF DECEMBER 13TH, 2024, AND THE EXTENSION REQUESTED GRANTING THE ADDITIONAL HOURS TO MS. ABREGO WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE ITS ESSENTIAL WORK BY MAINTAINING NEWSLETTERS, UPDATING THE INTRANET, PROVIDING TIMELY MEASURE JB UPDATES AND ASSIST WITH MEET AND CONFER PRESENTATION MATERIALS.
THESE TASKS ARE CRITICAL FOR CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFICIENT OPERATION.
MS. ABREGO HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS REQUEST IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE, IS HERE TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
CAN WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT COME TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION? GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER SANDRA AGUILAR.
ACTING MANAGER OF ADMINISTRATION.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, IF I READ THIS CORRECTLY, THIS POSITION IS WE'RE NOT, UH, ADVERTISING FOR THIS POSITION AND NOT CREATING A PERMANENT POSITION.
SO WILL THESE DUTIES GO AWAY? I MEAN, WELL, NOT THE DUTIES, BUT WILL THE, THE NEED FOR THESE DUTIES GO AWAY ONCE THE, UM, MR. ABREGO IS NO LONGER WITH THE CITY IN THIS POSITION AT THIS TIME.
WHAT WE NEED IS AN EXTENSION OF HER HOURS BECAUSE SHE WILL REACH THE MAXIMUM LIMIT MM-HMM
THE 1600, UM, BEFORE HER ANNIVERSARY DATE.
ONCE HER ANNIVERSARY DATE IS REACHED IN MARCH, IT WILL RESET HER HOURS SO THAT SHE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK AS A NON-CAREER.
AND, AND THEN WE, WE WILL BE NEEDING TO ABIDE BY THAT LIMIT OF 1600 HOURS AS A NON-CAREER.
UM, AND SO HER, HER POSITION IS TEMPORARY AS OF RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE NEEDS OF, OF THE DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT WE ESTABLISH THAT WE HAD A NEED FOR, UM, SUPPORT AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COMMUNICATION ANALYST TO SUPPORT THE NEWSLETTERS, TO SUPPORT OUR, UM, OUR NEEDS FOR MEASURE JB TO HAVE COMMUNICATION.
UM, SO AT THIS TIME, UM, GETTING AN EXTENSION OF HER HOURS WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE NEEDS UNTIL HER HOURS RESET IN MARCH.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, AND THEN SHE CAN WORK AGAIN AS A NON-CAREER.
I GUESS MY CONCERN IS, I ALWAYS HOPE THAT NON-CAREER POSITIONS ARE JUST FOR A TEMPORARY NEED, BUT WE WILL NEED THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR OR ON HER ANNIVERSARY DATE THAT YEAR.
DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT AT THE END OF THAT TERM, THAT WE WILL NOT NEED SOMEONE TO FILL THIS NEED ON AN ONGOING BASIS? UM, GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK GIVEN THAT THIS IS A NEW POSITION THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS FULFILLED, WE NEED TO PUT TOGETHER THE INFORMATION TO JUSTIFY IF THERE IS, IF THERE IS A NEED AND IF THERE IS SUPPORT BUDGETARY, UM, FOR THAT RESOURCE IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE HOPING THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE.
BUT IN, IN THE MEANTIME, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, MAINTAIN THE NEED FOR THAT POSITION, WHICH IS PART-TIME AS OF THIS TIME, UM, TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BOTH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
UM, I'M GOING TO TAG ONTO WHAT COMMISSIONER WEISSMAN IS TRYING TO GET YOU TO, AND THAT IS, WHY ARE WE HAVING SOMEONE LANGUISH IN A NON-CAREER POSITION WHEN YOU KNOW YOU NEED A FULL-TIME POSITION, THIS WORK ISN'T GOING AWAY AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK NEXT YEAR, THE
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YEAR AFTER, AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT.WHEN ARE YOU GUYS GETTING A POSITION SO THAT THIS PERSON CAN HAVE A JOB WHERE THEY HAVE BENEFITS? NON-CAREER IS A LANGUISHING POSITION.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE, THAT'S THE ANSWER WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND WE, WE DEFINITELY HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE SUPPORT FOR IT.
AND WE, WE, UM, WE WILL BE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE MOVING FORWARD SINCE, OF COURSE, THIS WAS A NEW POSITION THAT WE, UM, FULFILLED.
AND WE'LL BE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THE ORGANIZATION NEEDS MOVING FORWARD.
AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SUPPORT AND FUNDING FOR, FOR THIS POSITION AS A FULL-TIME POSITION.
IT IS SO, SO BAD THAT YOU HAVE TO BE THE ONE AT THE PODIUM.
UM, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM EXTENDING THE HOURS BECAUSE WE WANT THE PERSON TO, UH, FULFILL THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.
BUT WE ALSO DO NOT WANT TO SIT HERE AND CONTINUE TO EXTEND HOURS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU NEED THAT POSITION.
AND WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THIS PERSON, UH, COULD USE THOSE BENEFITS IN WORKING, UH, WORKING A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE, UH, HOLIDAYS, UH, VACATION AND SICK LEAVE, IT'S, IT, IT'S NOT FAIR.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD SAY THAT I AGREE.
WE WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND THIS PERSON IS WORKING FOR YOU.
WE KNOW THAT THIS POSITION IS NEEDED.
AND THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONERS WEISSMAN IS SAYING, I'M JUST PUTTING A LITTLE MORE TEETH TO IT.
UM, WE NEED TO DO RIGHT BY THE EMPLOYEES AND NOT LET THEM LANGUISH IN NON-CAREER POSITIONS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? IF I COULD GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP CLARIFY? UM, OKAY.
THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, NON-CAREER EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SICK LEAVE.
SO THIS EMPLOYEE AND ANY NON-CAREER EMPLOYEE CURRENTLY IS ELIGIBLE FOR 40 HOURS OF SICK LEAVE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO THEY DO HAVE THAT, UM, THAT BENEFIT.
IN ADDITION, A NON-CAREER STATUS DOESN'T NECESSARILY PRECLUDE AN EMPLOYEE FROM HAVING ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY HOURS THEY'RE WORKING IN A FISCAL YEAR BASED ON FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR BASIS, IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR, UM, HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS.
I DON'T KNOW IF MS. ABREGO HAS MET THAT, UM, THRESHOLD, BUT NON-CAREER STATUS DOESN'T NECESSARILY PRECLUDE AN EMPLOYEE FROM, UM, HAVING AN ENTITLEMENT TO HEALTH INSURANCE.
AND I AGREE, BUT THE BENEFITS ARE, THEY ARE PALE IN COMPARISON TO A FULL-TIME POSITION.
AND THERE'S ALSO PENSION BENEFITS.
SO WE CAN GO INTO A MYRIAD OF BENEFITS THAT THIS PERSON DOES NOT RECEIVE AND TALK ABOUT THE GREAT BENEFITS THAT THEY DO, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOOD BENEFITS.
SO 40 HOURS OF SICK LEAVE A YEAR IS NOT ENOUGH SICK LEAVE.
UM, NOT GETTING PENSION BENEFITS WHEN YOUR COLLEAGUE SITTING NEXT TO YOU IN A FULL-TIME POSITION.
PENSION BENEFITS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THAT I'M 70, I NEED MY PENSION, SO I'M LOOKING FOR US TO TAKE THE NON-CAREER POSITIONS THAT WE CAN.
WE CAN'T DO IT FOR ALL POSITIONS.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A BUDGETARY, A BUDGET WE HAVE TO MEET.
AND GOD KNOWS, I DON'T WANT MY TAXES INCREASING ANYMORE.
WE KNOW THAT THIS POSITION'S NEEDED, UH, COMMISSIONER WEISMAN'S MADE IT CLEAR IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
LET'S DO RIGHT BY THE EMPLOYEE.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? WELL, YOU GUYS, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK THE QUESTIONS 'CAUSE YOU'VE ANSWERED THEM FOR ME, BUT I DO HAVE ONE SMALL ONE.
UM, I, I'M ALL FOR NON CAREERS GETTING PERMANENT.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DECIDE TO SAY, NO, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO, UM, WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT A PAUSE ON THE PROJECTS THAT MS. ABREGO IS WORKING ON BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CAPACITY FOR ANYBODY ELSE TO WORK ON THEM.
SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE, UM, INTERNAL NEWSLETTERS AND ANY SUPPORT FOR COMMUNICATION THAT, UM, WE ARE UTILIZING HER FOR.
UM, YOU SAID SHE STARTED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR? THAT WOULD BE MARCH OF LAST YEAR.
LA WELL, I'M SORRY, LAST YEAR.
SO WHO WAS DOING IT BEFORE? UM, I BELIEVE THERE WAS A TEMPORARY, UM, THERE WAS A NON-CAREER EMPLOYEE THAT, UM, STAFFED THAT POSITION FOR A VERY SHORT TERM BASIS, MAYBE A FEW MONTHS.
UM, I WASN'T IN THIS POSITION, SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE TIMEFRAME, BUT SHE'S, SHE'S THE INCUMBENT THAT HAS FULFILLED THE POSITION FOR, UM, FOR THE RECENT PAST, UM, IN A WAY THAT THE POSITION WAS NEEDING TO BE FULFILLED.
I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT, UM, THAT POSITION USED TO REPORT TO ME WHEN I WAS IN HR.
THE HOPE WAS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, MS. ABREGO JOINED US IN MARCH.
[00:35:01]
SHE KIND OF MISSED THE, THE DEADLINE TO TAKE THE DOUBLE EIGHT TEST.AND MY HOPE WAS WHEN I WAS IN HR WAS THAT NUMBER ONE, I WAS GONNA SUBMIT THE REQUEST THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND THIS EXTENSION WILL ALLOW HER TO TAKE THE TEST AND HOPEFULLY FIND A LANDING SPOT WITHIN HR AND OTHER DEPARTMENT.
I AGREE WITH YOU, WE SHOULDN'T BE PUNISHED EMPLOYEE.
SO THAT, THAT WAS THE HOPE OF THE EXTENSION, GETTING, GETTING HER TO THAT TEST AND, AND IF WE'RE UNABLE TO CREATE A POSITION FOR HER, FIND HER A DIFFERENT HOME WITHIN THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONERS FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS? YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT, THAT I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THE FAULT HERE DOES NOT LIE WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT.
IT'S, UH, I THINK WE HAVE TO GO A LITTLE HIGHER UP THE ORGANIZATION CHART, UH, TO FIND THE REASON THAT THIS EMPLOYEE IS IN A NON-CAREER POSITION RATHER THAN US HAVING THE ABILITY TO GO THROUGH THE HIRING PROCESS FOR A REGULAR EMPLOYEE.
AND CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE FORWARD.
AND I THINK WE'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.
'CAUSE I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, UM, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A STRONGER FAMILY OF, OF, OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE, UH, HERE AS, AS CAREER PEOPLE AND, UM, WHETHER THEY LIVE IN LONG BEACH OR NOT, BUT IT CREATES LOYALTY TO THE CITY, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK, UM, AND FOR WHAT YOU BROUGHT FOR US TODAY.
AND, UH, THIS DISCUSSION I THINK IS VERY GOOD.
AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONER WISEMAN, THAT IT DOES NEED TO GO TO A DIFFERENT PLACE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
UM, SOME DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR SUPPORT.
COMMISSIONERS, WOULD YOU CAST YOUR VOTE PLEASE? MOTION CARRIES.
THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE EXTENSION OF PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR EMANUEL BRUMFIELD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE.
CORRESPONDENCE HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM HYMAN.
[9. 25-54022 Recommendation to approve extension of probationary period for Emmanuel Brumfield, Mechanical Engineering Associate. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM JAIME G GARCIA, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR THE LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, REQUESTING CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION APPROVAL TO EXTEND THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD OF EMANUEL BRUMFIELD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE FOR THREE MONTHS.STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE REQUEST AND RECOMMENDS APPROVAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 41 2 OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND CIVIL SERVICE POLICY 1.01, SECTION B TWO AND SOME FACTS FOR CONSIDERATION.
ON JULY 13TH, 2024, MR. BRUMFIELD WAS HIRED AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES.
UM, THE POSITION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE REQUIRES COMPLETION OF THE GTI GAS DISTRIBUTION ENGINEERING COURSE, WHICH CONSISTS OF A ONE WEEK STRUCTURED CLASSROOM TRAINING THAT COVERS THE FOLLOWING TOPICS, PROPERTIES AND DESIGN OF PIPING SYSTEMS, INCIDENT INVESTIGATION, LEAKAGE CONTROL, REPAIR, PLACE DECISIONS, CORROSION AND CATHODIC PROTECTION AND ROOT SELECTION CRITERIA.
THE GTI GAS DISTRIBUTION ENGINEERING COURSE WAS NOT AVAILABLE WHEN MR. BRUMFIELD WAS APPOINTED.
UM, WHILE MR. BRUMFIELD HAS DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCE IN THIS POSITION, THE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THAT MR. BRUMFIELD BE GIVEN AN AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE THIS COURSE.
UM, AS HAS BEEN DONE BY PREVIOUS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES AND PROVEN BENEFICIAL, MR. BROWNFIELD'S SUPERVISOR WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING BIWEEKLY, ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS AND INSTRUCTION ON PROCEDURES UTILIZED BY OTHER MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES IN THE DEPARTMENT.
MR. BROWNFIELD'S SCHEDULED TO PASS PROBATION ON OR AROUND FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025.
AND AS OF THE LAST PAY PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 27TH, 2024, MR. REFIELD HAS APPROXIMATELY 229.5 HOURS REMAINING OF HIS PROBATIONARY PERIOD, HAVING ALREADY COMPLETED 814.5 PROBATIONARY HOURS.
UM, ON DECEMBER 4TH, 2024, AN EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL WAS COMPLETED FOR MR. BRUMFIELD AND IS ON FILE WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT GRANTING THE EXTENSION OF THE PROBATION, UH, WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND ALLOW MR. BRUMFIELD WITH ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THE REMAINDER OF HIS TRAINING FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
ASSOCIATE STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE REQUEST AND RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST TO EXTEND PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR THREE MONTHS OR 522 SCHEDULED WORK HOURS.
AND LONG BEACH UTILITIES AND MR. BROMFIELD HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS REQUEST IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
AND, UM, JAIME IS HERE TO PRESENT, UM, UH, TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
[00:40:01]
AND THANKS TO CIVIL SERVICE STAFF FOR ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE.UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON THIS AGENDA AS YOU CAN SEE, SO THAT WE'VE KEPT THEM BUSY.
COMMISSIONERS DO QUESTIONS, PLEASE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM.
UM, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT, UH, WITH THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAT SHOULD THERE BE ANY ADDITIONAL AREAS THAT REQUIRE IMPROVEMENT THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, IT IS HE YEAH.
UH, UM, MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS, ANY THAT WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY MET? UH, SO EXCELLENT QUESTION.
UH, COMMISSIONER WEISSMAN, UH, AFTER DISCUSSING WITH HIS CURRENT CHAIN OF COMMAND, HIS CURRENT SUPERVISOR, THE TRAINING SUPERVISOR IN GAS ENGINEERING, AND THEN ALSO THE MANAGER OF ENGINEERING, UH, IT IS OUR OPINION OR THE DEPARTMENT'S OPINION, UH, AND, AND STANCE THAT HE IS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
HE HAS SHOWN A TRACK RECORD OF, YOU KNOW, SUCCESSIVE IMPROVEMENT SINCE HIS FIRST TWO MONTH, UH, REVIEW, AND THEN NOW AFTER HIS FOUR MONTH, UH, EPA.
SO HE HAS SHOWN THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO LEARN, CONTINUE TO GRASP THE MATERIAL, UH, FAMILIARIZE HIMSELF WITH THE REQUIREMENTS THAT HE IS AND HI.
AND THOSE IN HIS POSITION ARE REQUIRED TO, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN.
UH, SO WE, WE DO BELIEVE THAT WITH THIS EXTENSION, AND THEN WITH HIS COMPLETION OF THE, OF THE GTI COURSE, HE WILL BE ABLE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL, UH, MECHANICAL ENGINEER ASSOCIATE WITHIN, UH, GAS ENGINEERING.
IS, IS, IS THERE, IS THIS COMMON THAT, UM, SOMEONE IN THIS THAT WAS HIRED AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WOULDN'T HAVE AVAILABILITY TO A CERTAIN COURSE? IS THAT, IS THERE A REASON WHY THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED? UM, SO THE REASON FOR THAT, UH, CHIEF COLEMAN IS BECAUSE WE, WE CURRENTLY HAD A MANAGERIAL VACANCY OCCUR WITHIN GAS ENGINEERING.
UH, THERE WAS A GAS COMPLIANCE OFFICER PREVIOUSLY.
UH, THAT GENTLEMAN HAS RETIRED AS OF MARCH OF THIS PAST YEAR.
SO THERE WAS DIFFICULTY FROM A DEPARTMENTAL PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF LIKE SCHEDULING THOSE MEA ASSOCIATES OR THE, UH, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES FOR THAT, THAT TRAINING COURSE.
UM, AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO TRY AND FILL THAT VACANCY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IN SHORT, NO, NORMALLY THAT, THAT DOESN'T, ISN'T THE CASE.
BUT WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE A VACANCY IN THIS, IN THAT MANAGERIAL LEVEL POSITION.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
UM, I'M, I KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT MET WITH MR. BRUMFIELD, BUT HE, HE AGREES WITH THIS, CORRECT? YES.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE OF, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, WILL YOU CAST YOUR VOTE PLEASE? THANK YOU.
THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE REPORTS FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS.
I'M SORRY, CIVIL SERVICE MANAGERS.
UM, FOR MY PART, I, UM, I THINK I MENTIONED LAST YEAR THAT I ENGAGE, UM,
[10. 25-54023 Recommendation to receive and file reports from the Civil Service Managers. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
HR AND, UH, COACH AND A VENDOR TO HAVE A, A TRANSITION MEETING FOR ALL CIVIL SERVICE STAFF TARGETED FOR JANUARY 31ST.RIGHT? RIGHT NOW IT'S PENDING THE MID AND CONFER PROCESS, SO DEPENDING HOW THAT GETS COMPLETED, THEN WE MEET WITH THE VENDOR AND COACH.
I'M ALSO WORKING ON SECURING ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR STAFF EAP ON THE VOLUNTARY S BASIS.
AND THEN, UM, I ALSO WENT TO RECOGNIZE, UH, DAMISHA, DAMISHA DAMISHA GRIFFIN.
SHE IS OUR VOLUNTEER INTERN THROUGH, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
SHE JUST COMPLETED HI, HER HIGH SCHOOL, UH, DIPLOMA THIS MORNING.
SO, UM, I'M HOPING THAT SHE CAN BECOME PART OF THIS, THE FAMILY THAT SHE GOES.
AND BESIDES THAT, NO ADDITIONAL REPORTS.
UM, YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE WORKING, UH, WITH THE EAP WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
I WANTED TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.
THE, THAT'S A FORWARD THINKER RIGHT THERE.
UH, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD ON MY MIND, UM, BUT, UH, THE FACT THAT I NEVER MENTIONED IT TO YOU AND YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT.
IT SHOWS A CARING AND CONCERN FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THE OTHER PART IS, I, I LIKE THE IDEA THAT YOU'VE PUT FORWARD WITH THE TRANSITION, UH, TEAM.
I'D LIKE YOU TO KEEP THE COMMISSIONERS UPDATED ON HOW THAT'S WORKING.
UM, UH, JUST TO GIVE US TIDBITS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE TRANSITION'S WORKING.
WE WANT TO BE KEPT ABREAST OF, OF ANY CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO OF, OF ANYTHING THAT'S THAT GREAT, UH, THAT HAPPENS, THE GOOD NEWS.
AND IF I, I DOUBT IF THERE'S BAD, BUT IT, IT GIVE US BOTH, GIVE US A CLEAR PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND, AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION FOR ALWAYS BEING SO SUPPORTIVE AND ENGAGING.
THAT'S, THAT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED, RIGHT? YOU TOOK AN HR PROFESSIONAL INTO A CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS, AND IT, IT'S BEEN A LEARNING CURVE, BUT WE HAVE AMAZING STAFF, TALENTED INDIVIDUALS
[00:45:01]
THAT ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP.SO IT'S, IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO BE IN.
WERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, OMAR? OKAY.
THERE'S STILL A REPORT FROM MY SIDE.
UH, THAT IS THAT GOING TO CONCLUDE OUR REPORTS IS, OH, HELLO MY FRIEND.
HI, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M PERSONAL ANALYST FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH DIVISION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
AND, UM, I JUST HAVE, UH, EXCITING NEWS.
UM, WE, WE DID A HOST OR WE ORGANIZED A, UM, A, AN INFORMATION SESSION FOR ALL THE LONG BEACH, UM, POLICE RECRUIT APPLICANTS.
UM, THAT WAS ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK,
UM, BUT WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEETING, UH, THERE.
WHAT THAT, THE PURPOSE OF THAT MEETING WAS FOR US TO OFFER, UM, A, A FORUM FOR THOSE APPLICANTS TO COME AND ASK QUESTIONS AND, AND SUBMIT, YOU KNOW, TEST RE RESULTS FOR, FOR THE PB AND THEIR NTN TEST.
AND ALSO TO HAVE CONNECTION WITH THE, THE PD RECRUITMENT TEAM AND JUST TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, KEEP THEM ENGAGED SINCE THIS IS A LONG PROCESS.
AND A LOT OF TIMES IT IS, IT'S VERY, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT THEY CANNOT BE ANSWERED OVER THE PHONE.
SO WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN, UH, GETTING A, A RECIPES FOR 121 PEOPLE.
OF COURSE, WE ONLY GOT 50 PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED, WHICH WAS A GREAT NUMBER.
I THINK IT WAS ENOUGH FOR US TO, UM, HAVE, UM, A FULL NIGHT THERE.
I THINK WE WERE THERE FOR LIKE, ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, TWO HOURS.
UH, OUR PARTNERS AT THE, UM, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT, UM, WORK, UM, THE WORKPLACE, THEY, UM, LET US USE THEIR, THEIR ROOM.
AND, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO, TO LEAVE THERE.
UM, VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAD A LOT OF, UH, THAT WE HAD THE ROOM FOR THE, FOR THE PEOPLE THERE.
UM, WE, WE DID A FOUR OR FIVE MINUTE TEAM INTRODUCTIONS AND INFORMATION, AND THEN THE REST OF THE TIME WAS FOR ALL OF THE APPLICANTS TO COME IN AND, AND ASK FOR, FOR WHAT THEY NEEDED.
AND WE HAD OUR RS, UM, RSD TEAM ISSUING THE VOUCHERS AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS IN GENERAL ABOUT THE, THE PROCESS AS, AS MUCH AS WE COULD.
AND ALSO WE HAD THE PD RECRUITMENT TEAM ANSWERING THOSE MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS AND THE ACADEMY AND ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WE DON'T KNOW.
SO WE, WE WERE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE SEPARATION THERE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THE QUESTION MIGHT BE.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO ISSUE 17 NTN VOUCHERS.
UH, THERE WOULD BE 16 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE PENALTY B EXAM FOR JANUARY 24TH.
AND SEVEN PEOPLE SUBMITTED THEIR, THEIR TEST SCORES.
SO WE LOVED IT SO MUCH THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING IT AGAIN.
UM, WE'RE GONNA DO IT, UH, WE'RE JUST CONFIRMING THE DATE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE ON.
UM, BUT THE INFORMATION SESSION IS, IS ALREADY CONFIRMED.
IT'S GOING TO BE ON, ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15TH.
SAME, SAME PROCESS, SAME TYPE OF, UH, INVITATIONS.
THE EMAIL IS GOING OUT TODAY FOR FOUR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP, AND WE'RE GOING TO UMC RECREATE THE FORMULA.
AND, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO SET UP ANOTHER, A SECOND DAY FOR THE PELVIC B EXAM FOR JANUARY 17TH, TWO, TWO DAYS AFTER THAT.
UH, AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN SECURE THE DATE FOR, FOR US TO HAVE A SECOND, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP SIGNING UP IF THEY CANNOT MAKE IT TO THE JANUARY 24TH, UM, DATE.
AND THIS IS ALL, UH, AT THE WORKFORCE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, THE, THE WORKPLACE.
UH, WE, AS, AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, SAL AND, AND, AND MYSELF WORK THERE.
SO WE HAVE GOOD CONNECTIONS WITH RELATIONSHIPS WITH, WITH THE PEOPLE THERE.
AND I THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE OKAY WITH US USING THE FACILITY.
AND IT'S, IT HAS A BIG ENOUGH ROLE FOR US TO, TO CONDUCT ALL THAT.
UM, WE, UM, WE CONTINUE TO DO WORKSHOPS FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL, NOT JUST FOR, FOR THE PD, UM, RECRUITMENT, BUT ALSO FOR OTHER, UM, OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE 9 1 1 DISPATCHERS.
WE DO THAT, UH, AT LEAST ONCE A QUARTER.
AND, UH, WE DO THIS ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC, FOR THEM TO COME AND, AND, AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR, OUR JOBS.
SO THOSE ARE, ARE PART OF OUR RECRUITMENT, UM, EFFORTS THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE, THE LAST TWO, YOU KNOW, THREE MONTHS IF YOU WILL, WHEN IT'S KIND OF DRY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, ANY EVENTS TO GO TO.
WE TRY TO GO OUT THERE AND, AND BRING THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
AND, UM, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, UM, UH, MY MANAGER SALVADOR, UH, HE'S ALWAYS TRYING TO, TO FIND WAYS AND, AND I THINK HIM AND I HAVE THE, THAT VISION.
[00:50:01]
HERE, SO, UM, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE.AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT IS THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
UM, WHEN I WOULD GO OUT AND SEE THE TABLE, I'D GO RUNNING OVER TO THE TABLE BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, I KNOW YOU, I KNOW YOU, BUT THE, BUT I KNOW YOU.
BUT THE PART OF IT IS, IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE GOING OUT TO THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS OR BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, IT'S WHAT'S SO VALUED AND WHAT'S NEEDED.
LET SAL KNOW FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I APPRECIATE THE OUTREACH THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES.
UM, AND, AND IT IS GREAT WHEN I'M OUT THERE AND I SEE THE TABLE, I ALWAYS SEE PEOPLE MILLING AROUND.
SO I KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE NOT JUST OUT THERE EATING, UH, THE GOODIES OR DRINKING WATER.
WE'RE, SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND PLEASE LET KNOW, UH, SAL KNOW I APPRECIATE HIM AS WELL.
ANY COMMISSIONERS? DID ANYONE WANT ANYTHING TO SAY? OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, I APPRECIATE IT.
SO THIS IS, UH, THE PART OF THE MEETING THAT I USUALLY, UH, MESS UP.
AND TODAY, I, I CAUGHT IT BECAUSE STAFF IS, THEY'RE JUST SO INCREDIBLE.
THEY GIVE ME A CHEAT SHEET TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT I DON'T FLUB IT TOO MUCH.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA GO ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS, UH, THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSION? UM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Civil Service Commission on non-agenda items. ]
COMMISSIONERS ELS, LAW PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.UM, I WANTED A, UH, SPEAK AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, BUT I HAD TO LEAVE.
I HAD A INTERVIEW FOR ONE OF OUR PPA POSITIONS.
CIVIL SERVICE FOR GETTING THAT LIST OUT,
UM, BUT I WANTED TO, I DIDN'T, AND I ALSO DIDN'T WANNA TAKE THE THUNDER AWAY FROM SAL'S TEAM ON THE OUTREACH EVENT THAT THEY DID FOR THE POLICE RECRUIT.
UM, I WANNA EXTEND MY, UH, SINCERE APPRECIATION OF THE INCREASED COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WE'VE SEEN OF LATE WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE 178 VACANCIES IN OUR SWARM POSITION.
SO THE DIRE NEED OF HAVING TO HAVE THAT MORE PERSONAL TOUCH WITH THE APPLICANT POOL, UM, OUTSIDE OF JUST ADMINISTERING A MORE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF OUR CONTACTS, EXPLAINING WHAT THE BULLETIN ACTUALLY MEANS.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THAT BULLETIN THAT COULD BE VERY DAUNTING, UM, FOR AN APPLICANT WHO'S TRYING TO MANEUVER OUR SOMETIMES COMPLEX AND BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM.
SO, SAL, HAVING SAL THERE, LAURA AND ANDREAS AND THE CYRUS THERE TO REPRESENT THE DEPARTMENT ANSWER QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, BASIC QUESTIONS OF LIKE, SHOULD I TAKE THE NTN, SHOULD I TAKE THE PATE B? WHAT ARE THOSE? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? MM-HMM
WHAT DOES, YOU KNOW, WHAT BENEFITS ME? AND, UM, HAVING OUR POLICE, UH, DEPARTMENT RECRUITMENT TEAM AND OUR BACKGROUNDS TEAM, AND OUR OWN PERSONNEL STAFF THERE TO REPRESENT.
WE HAD PROBABLY ABOUT 15 STAFF THERE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT SHOWING THAT INVESTMENT TO THESE APPLICANTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STAYING WITH, UM, THE PROCESS AND TRUSTING THE PROCESS.
UM, I, I FEEL LIKE IT, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMISSION WAS AWARE AND, UM, FORMALLY THANK THE DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR MAKING THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT IN THIS CRITICAL, UH, RECRUITMENT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I ALWAYS LIKE IT WHEN YOU REACH THE PODIUM, BECAUSE I KNOW WHATEVER YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME IS GENUINE.
WHEN I CAN TALK WITH YOU, UM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT, IT IT'S FELT PERSONALLY, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HUGE VACANCY IN, IN THAT AREA, AND IT DOES CONCERN ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND, UM, WE WANT TO DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO AS A COMMISSION TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, I, I HEARD YOU, I HEARD THE REPORT.
YES, WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED, BUT ESSENTIALLY 51 OR WHO, WHO WALKED INTO THE ROOM.
UM, SO IF WE, WHATEVER WE CAN DO ON THAT OUTREACH, IT, IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS DAUNTING AND IT, AND IT IS A BIT BUREAUCRATIC.
IT HAS TO BE FOR THE TYPE OF POSITION IT IS.
THERE HAS TO BE SOME BUREAUCRACY ATTACHED TO IT.
BUT WHEN WE HAVE HUMANS IN THE ROOM, NOT, NOT A PHONE, NOT A COMPUTER, NOT A KIOSK, BUT THAT HUMAN, UH, UM, BACK AND FORTH, IT HELPS.
UH, SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR WORKING, UH, WITH THE COMMISSION AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO OVERLOOK, UH, CERTAIN AREAS WHERE WE DID FALL SHORT OF THE MARK.
AND THEN TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'RE BOTH WORKING, UH, FOR THE SAME GOAL, WHICH IS TO SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY.
[00:55:01]
THOSE 178 VACANCIES FILLED, UH, BECAUSE I'M SITTING AT THAT TRAFFIC, LIKE WATCHING SOMEBODY SAIL THROUGH THAT RED LIGHT, AND I'M GOING, I NEED A POLICE OFFICER HERE.WHERE ARE THEY? BUT, UM, LET'S, LET'S FACE FACTS.
IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN HORRIBLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE US AS FAR AS FILLING THOSE POSITIONS.
BUT I THINK LONG BEACH IS DOING A HECK OF A JOB.
AND, UM, I'LL GIVE A SHOUT OUT, UH, TO REX FOR BRINGING IN THOSE DIFFERENT SUPPORTIVE MEASURES SO THAT WE CAN BE, UM, ATTRACTIVE TO THOSE PEOPLE SEEKING THESE POSITIONS.
WE WANT THEM LIVING IN OUR CITY AND WE WANT THEM WORKING FOR US.
SO A SHOUT OUT TO YOU TWO, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
IT'S WORTH ANYONE THAT WANTED TO SPEAK IT ALL.
WE'RE ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT STAGE.
CAN COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE TWO QUICK COMMENTS REAL QUICK IF I CAN, UM, CAN WE ACKNOWLEDGE MS. GRIFFIN, IF SHE DOESN'T MIND COMING UP AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT HER NEXT STEPS ARE, KNOWING THAT SHE'S GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL? AND ALSO I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT BEFORE WE END THE MEETING, WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT, CAN WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHO MAY HAVE LOST HER HOMES AND PROPERTY LAST NIGHT IN THE HORRIBLE FIRES? WE WILL.
I WASN'T GONNA PUT YOU ON THE HOTPOT 'CAUSE I SAW YOU SHRINKING INTO YOUR SEAT, BUT SINCE GARY DID IT,
UM, IT FEELS AMAZING TO FINALLY BE DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL, UM,
UM, I CRANKED IT ALL OUT LAST NIGHT AT LIKE 1:00 AM SO I'M VERY JUST GRATEFUL THAT IT'S ALL DONE.
AND MY NEXT STEP IS GOING TO COLLEGE IN THE FALL.
UM, SO WE HAVE, UH, UH, QUITE A FEW GRADUATES IN THE ROOM, SO, OKAY.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE OUR FAVORITE SCHOOL.
WHO'S GOING TO BE THE LUCKY RECIPIENT? I'M LOOKING AT TWO SCHOOLS.
CYPRESS COLLEGE OR LONG BEACH CITY.
SO DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT CYPRUS.
UH, BUT I'M GONNA CUT IT RIGHT TO THE QUICK
UM, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS WHERE YOU BELONG.
YOU'RE GONNA END UP WORKING FOR THE CITY, SO YOU MAY AS WELL ATTEND.
A COLLEGE THAT'S AFFILIATED WITH THE CITY.
SO THAT WOULD BE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE,
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THE STUDENT.
THEY WILL WALK WITH YOU THE ENTIRE STEP OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF YOU BEING IN SCHOOL.
THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THEY'RE MET.
SO I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
AND THE OTHER REASON IS THEY GIVE A BOATLOAD OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY.
BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU, THE FOUNDATION GIVES SCHOLARSHIP.
THE ROTARY CLUB OF LONG BEACH GIVES SCHOLARSHIPS, UM, LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, RETIRED EMPLOYEES, GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS.
HONEY, THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY FLOATING AROUND THAT COLLEGE.
YOU BETTER GET THERE AND GET THAT MONEY OFF THAT TREE
UM, CYPRESS COLLEGE IS A GOOD COLLEGE, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOME, I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER SCHOOL THAN LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
AND THEN DON'T FORGET, THERE'S THE COLLEGE PROMISE.
SO THAT TWO YEARS ISN'T EVEN GONNA COME OUT OF YOUR POCKET.
USE THOSE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY AND THEN THINK ABOUT GOING OVER TO, UH, CAL STATE LONG BEACH OR CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ.
UH, THESE ARE TWO GOOD INSTITUTIONS.
OF COURSE, THERE ARE MANY, MANY GREAT SCHOOLS, BUT, UM, I LIKE TO KEEP IT REAL AND STAY CLOSE TO HOME.
YOU BETTER STAY WHERE YOU KNOW SOMEBODY.
OKAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE INAPPROPRIATE, BUT WE LOVE YOU.
UM, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND GARY, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP, UM, UH, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED, UH, IN PACIFIC PALISADES AND COMMISSIONER WEISMAN WILL SPEAK TO THAT.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WANNA ADDRESS IS THAT TOMORROW IS A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING.
UH, MOST FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS WILL BE CLOSED EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE ESSENTIAL.
UH, THIS NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING IS TO HONOR, UM, UH, PRESIDENT CARTER, A MAN THAT I ADMIRED
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
AND REVERED.UH, HE ACTUALLY BOUGHT ME WHEN I SAW HE AND HIS WIFE WITH A HAMMER, UH, BUILDING HOMES, UH, WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
BUT OF COURSE, HE DID SO MANY MORE THINGS THAN THAT.
UH, HE WAS A NOBLE PEACE PRIZE WINNER.
AND WHEN I THINK THAT GOD GAVE HIM A HUNDRED GOOD YEARS TO BE WITH US, I AM HONORED TO KNOW THAT I LIVED DURING THE TIME OF PRESIDENT CARTER'S LEADERSHIP AND THE FACT THAT HE STILL STAYED RELEVANT FOR US.
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HAVING YOUR DAY, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS PRESIDENT, BECAUSE HE'S WORTHY OF YOUR RESPECT AND HE'S WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE.HE AND HIS WIFE WERE SOLID LEADERS.
AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I'VE LIVED DURING THE TIME OF JIMMY CARTER.
SO TOMORROW WILL BE THAT NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING, AND I'LL GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE ALL REMEMBER, UM, THIS MAN BECAUSE HE WAS TRULY A GOOD MAN.
UM, THE OTHER, UH, UH, ANNOUNCEMENT I WANTED TO, TO, UM, REMIND YOU OF IS THAT A MAN OF PEACE, A MAN WHO SPENT, UH, THE GREATER PORTION OF HIS ADULT LIFE PROMOTING PEACE.
UH, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY.
MOST PEOPLE WILL BE TAKING THAT DAY OFF.
BUT REMEMBER WHY YOU'RE OFF THE REASON WHY YOU'RE OFF.
YOU'RE NOT OFF JUST FOR A DAY.
YOU'RE OFF TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT WE COULD THINK AND LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE WOULD HOPE ONE DAY TO HAVE A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT.
I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HE STOOD FOR, BUT IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING, UH, ON HIS BIRTHDAY, PLEASE THINK OF A WAY TO BE PEACEFUL, TO ENGAGE PEACEFULLY, TO BE KIND TO SOMEONE WHETHER THEY DESERVE IT OR NOT.
SEE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE AREN'T DESERVING OF KINDNESS.
BUT, BUT WE ARE GONNA LET THAT GO AND GIVE THEM GRACE THAT DAY.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS I WANTED TO, UM, TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER WEISSMAN, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ON ANOTHER.
YEAH, I, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT THIS MEETING TO END WITHOUT, UH, OUR GIVING OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, UH, TO THOSE AFFECTED BY UNFORTUNATELY, THE EVER GROWING NUMBER OF FIRES, UH, IN, IN AND AROUND LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
UM, AND PARTICULARLY OF COURSE, THOSE WHO HAVE, HAVE LOST THEIR HOME OR THEIR PROPERTY.
ANYONE WHO'S BEEN INJURED, UH, FORTUNATELY, AT LEAST BEFORE THIS MEETING WE'RE, WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY, UH, ANY FATALITIES DUE TO THE FIRES.
BUT, UM, AND I ALSO WANNA THANK, OF COURSE, THE FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY ALL AWARE THAT THERE ARE SOME LONG BEACH FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN, IN FIGHTING THESE TERRIBLE FIRES.
AND, UM, OF COURSE, I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT IT JUST CONFIRMS THAT LONG BEACH IS A CITY THAT CARES ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, UH, THAT CARES ABOUT PEOPLE, I SHOULD SAY, AND IS WILLING TO LEND A HAND WHEN NEEDED.
SO WE CERTAINLY WANNA THANK OUR, OUR LONG BEACH FIREFIGHTERS.
UM, AND OF COURSE ALL THE, ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS, THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE POLICE, THE SHERIFFS WHO ARE, ARE, UH, INVOLVED IN THIS.
SO, UH, JUST FOR THEM TO KNOW ALL OF OUR, I I THINK I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHEN I SAY ALL OUR THOUGHTS OR PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM AND HOPING THAT THE SITUATION CAN GET UNDER CONTROL, UH, VERY QUICKLY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, MADAM PRESIDENT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, I CAN'T SEE BACK THERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING.