Jan 21, 2025 City Council - Revised

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ROLL CALL PLEASE.

COUNCILWOMAN

[CALL TO ORDER]

PRESENT.

COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN.

PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.

HERE.

[ROLL CALL]

HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN SORROW.

PRESENT.

VICE MAYOR URANGA.

COUNCILMAN THRASH OOK.

PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI.

MAYOR RICHARDSON.

I, I AM HERE.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

I WANNA NOTE THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OIE IS, UH, WILL NOT BE JOINING US THIS EVENING.

IT IS HER BIRTHDAY.

SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DR.

RICKS OIE.

I'M GONNA ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS TO LEAD US AND THE MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

IF YOU COULD JOIN ME ON A MOMENT OF SILENCE TODAY.

FIRST OF ALL, FOR ALL THE FAMILIES AND THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE FIRES AND THE PALISADES PASADENA, UM, AS WE TRY TO RE, AS THEY TRY TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES, IF WE CAN KEEP THEM IN OUR THOUGHTS.

UM, ALSO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, OUR MAYOR, UM, FOR THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE SHOWN AS A CITY, UM, TO PROVIDE THEM WITH FUNDS.

I KNOW THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT OVER A MILLION, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO, UM, TO THOSE VICTIMS THAT WILL HELP THEM REBUILD THEIR LIVES.

AND THE REBUILDING PROCESS STARTS NOW.

UM, I'D ALSO LIKE US TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AS WE ENTER A NEW ADMINISTRATION.

LET'S REMEMBER TO KEEP THOSE, UM, THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THIS IN MIND.

AND ALSO LET'S, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL, UM, UNITING COMMUNITY AND WE SHOW EACH OTHER, UH, LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGH THESE TIMES.

UM, WITH THAT, IF I COULD PLEASE HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU.

UM, AT THIS TIME, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME FOR THE FLAG.

THANK YOU.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO STAND, PLEASE DO SO.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS, UH, FOR LEADING THAT TODAY WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS AND WE HAVE A FAIRLY SHORT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.

UH, SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF, UH, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS, THIS PAST WEEK WE HOSTED OUR, UH, SUCCESSFUL, UH, KING DAY PARADE.

UH, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UH, THE CENTRAL LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBER SOLI SORROW, THE CITY, ALL THE GRAND MARSHALLS, ALL OF THE HONOREES, UH, UH, FOR, UH, ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH OUR FIRST PRESENTATION.

IT'S THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

PEACEMAKER AWARDS AND PARADE GRAND MARSHALL'S PRESENTATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER

[ DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PEACE MAKER AWARDS AND PARADE GRAND MARSHALS]

THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE, UM, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR HONOREES TODAY.

SO WE HAD A, AS THE MAYOR SAID, A GREAT AND SUCCESSFUL PARADE AND CELEBRATION, CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY

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AND TODAY I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS CHOSEN AS THIS YEAR'S GRAND MARSHALL, AS WELL AS OUR PEACEMAKER HONOREES FOR THE 37TH ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

PARADE AND CELEBRATION.

THIS YEAR'S THEME IS, TOGETHER WE RISE, HONORING LEGACY INSPIRING CHANGE REFLECTS OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY FORWARD DR.

KING'S VISION MORE THAN EVER, THANK YOU TO ELITE SKILLS, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER WHO WORK WITH COMMUNITY TO GET INPUT AND THEIR TIRELESS EFFORT TO HELP ORGANIZE SUCH A MEANINGFUL CELEBRATION.

AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SPONSORS, THE SUPPORTERS, VOLUNTEER LONG BEACH SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM AND MY TEAM, UM, FOR THEIR WORK.

AND SO LET'S BEGIN.

I AM GOING TO JUST SHARE A BRIEF BIO OF THE WORDY, BUT WANNA GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO SPEAK.

'CAUSE REALLY PEOPLE ARE HERE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND NOT FROM ME SPECIFICALLY.

UM, SO WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH, UM, MOTHER DALE E CLINTON.

YES, PLEASE GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

SO CAN I HAVE THE SLIDE WITH HER PHOTO ON IT? NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO MOTHER DALE.

YES.

MOTHER DALE'S LIFELONG FIGHT FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ROOTED IN HER EXPERIENCES AS A SINGLE MOTHER AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE REMINDS US OF DR.

KING'S BELIEF IN THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE AND ADVOCACY TO DRIVE CHANGE.

SO OUR NEXT AWARDEE, UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH ALL THE WORDY AND THEN ASK YOU TO COME AND SPEAK AFTERWARDS.

UM, AND THEN WE'LL HONOR THE PEACEMAKER AFTER THAT.

SO OUR NEXT AWARD IS SKIP AND BETH KEEL.

AND THROUGH THEIR EXTENSIVE PHILANTHROPY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, THEY HAVE BOTH DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO ELOPING OTHERS, PARTICULARLY OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, SERVING MANY RESIDENTS AND THEIR WORK EXEMPLIFIED DR.

KING'S VISION OF COMPASSION SERVICE TO MAKE COLLECTIVE PROC PROCE, UH, PROGRESS.

OUR NEXT GRAND MARSHALL IS, AND YOU CAN READ THEIR BIO ON THE WEBSITE, I KNOW IT'S VERY HARD TO READ, UM, IS VERONICA GARCIA DAVALOS? AND YES, PLEASE GIVE HER A ROUND APPLAUSE.

AND VERONICA'S LEADERSHIP IN NONPROFIT WORK AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT REFLECT DR. KING CALLED TO SERVE OTHERS AND FOSTER EQUITY.

HER CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT INSPIRES MEANINGFUL CHANGE.

AND OUR NEXT AWARD, ISTA SAM LEMON.

AND, UH, SHE'S NOT HERE THIS EVENING BECAUSE OF HER WORK SCHEDULE, BUT WE WANTED, UM, HONOR HER FOR HER TRAILBLAZING AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER, UH, BEING THE FIRST CAMBODIAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO HOLD A CHIEF POSITION IN HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SOCIAL SERVICES, UH, WHERE SHE SERVED FOR 35 YEARS IN THE LARGEST SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION, AS WELL AS HER ROLE AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE AQUAQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC AND HER BOARD AND, AND THE CAMBODIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER.

SO, UM, WE WANNA HONOR HER FOR HER LEGACY IN BREAKING BARRIERS AND EMPOWERING FUTURE GENERATION.

SO, AND THEN NEXT UP, OUR, OUR IS OUR WARDEE IS OUR 2024 POLY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK AND FEEL CIF CHAMPIONS.

AND HERE REPRESENTING THEM IS COACH CRYSTAL IRVING.

SO THESE YOUNG ATHLETES, UH, EXEMPLIFY TEAMWORK, RESILIENCE, DETERMINATION, GUIDED BY COACH CRYSTAL IRVING, THE 2024 UNITED STATES TRACK ASSOCIATION COACH OF THE YEAR, AND HER ASSISTANCE.

THEY ACHIEVE HISTORIC VI VICTORIES AND HONOR HONORING DR.

KING'S LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE THROUGH COLLECTIVE EFFORT.

SO I WANNA NAME EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK FIELD TEAM.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONG, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHO THEY ARE, UM, ON THE LONG BEACH POLY BOYS AND TRACK AND FIELD TEAM.

AND THEY'RE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE PRACTICING REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW.

.

SO IT IS BEN HARRIS KIF.

UM, I'M SORRY IF I BUTCHERED YOUR NAME.

JOHNSTON JUNIOR, DARION SHEER, UH, DANTE WRIGHT, GUS ARMSTRONG, JAYDEN LAWRENCE, JAYLEN MCNEIL, JONATHAN WESTON, JULIUS JOHNSON, LENNOX, UH, NEWTON, MALACHI DAWSON, NOAH SMITH, AND Z RICKS.

SO THAT'S THE BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM.

PLEASE GIVE THEM AROUND APPLAUSE.

AND ON THE, AND OUR LONG BEACH POLL.

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM MEMBERS ARE AALIYAH STOKES, JAYLEN HUNTER, ANISE BECKER, AVERY PACK, AYS PORTLEY, LAYLA HOLLAND, ANIA BROOKS, ARIA, BEATTY, GI, JILLIAN WETLAND, MY RICKS AND JOY ANDERSON.

PLEASE GIVE THEM AROUND.

OH, AND I'M SORRY I MISSED A FEW.

I DIDN'T GO DOWN.

SO

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AND THEN ON THE GIRL SIDE IS NEVA LEWIS AND SHARIA LOUIS.

URIAH LEWIS WILLIAMS. SO THANK YOU.

AND SO THE NEXT, UM, GRAND MARSH SHOW THAT WE HONORED IS THE 2024 WILSON HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TRACK AND FEELS CIF CHAMPIONS.

PLEASE GIVE THEM AROUND APPLAUSE.

SO THE WILSONS BRUIN MADE HISTORY WITH BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWCASING DISCIPLINE AND UNITY LED BY COACHES NEIL NISSEN, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

BUT HERE IS COACH SHANNON FISHER AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS INSPIRE THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AND REFLECTS DR.

KING'S VISION FOR STRIVING FOR GREATNESS TOGETHER.

AND SO I AM ALSO GONNA READ OUT THE GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM MEMBERS, AND IT'S KAYLYN EDWARDS, LAUREN WEBSTER, UH, EILEEN WASHINGTON, ALICIA ELISA RODRIGUEZ, SONIYA VERNADO, JOURNEY, SPENCER KENNEDY BRYANT, JUANITA SHOTWELL, AND RILEY JONES.

PLEASE GIVE THEM ALL AROUND OF APPLAUSE.

THEY YOU VISIT.

SO MUCH APPLAUSE.

UM, SO JUST WANNA SHARE A NOTE, THE POLLY BOYS WON STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2011, BUT BOTH POLLY BOYS AND GIRLS WON CIF SOUTHERN SECTION IN 2024.

AND THE WILSON GIRLS WON STATE IN BACK TO BACK YEARS 2023 AND 2024.

AMAZING.

SO, WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU EACH HONOREE TO COMMENT AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS.

UM, AND COACHES, IF YOU CAN COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM.

SO MOTHER, UH, MOTHER DALE, IF YOU'LL COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS.

AM I TO USE THIS ON THIS? DO WHAT? THIS ONE HERE.

THIS ONE HERE.

AH, OKAY.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE AND, UH, TO THE MAYOR AIR AND TWO, YOU WRONG.

I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF .

WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR SO LONG.

I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF ANOTHER NAME.

I GUESS .

BUT I AM THANKFUL AND I AM PROUD TO BE, UM, ABLE TO STAND HERE AND TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ASKING ME TO BE A A PART OF THE PROGRAM.

I'M NOT ONE, I WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR 22 AND A HALF YEARS, AND I WAS A PART OF, UH, UH, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WENT ON WITH THE CITY BEFORE I WORKED.

I WAS A VOLUNTEER.

I'M NOT A SPEAKER.

I DON'T LIKE SPEAKING.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE AWARD AND THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ME.

AMEN.

YOU, IF THE HONOREES COULD COME UP, YOU COULD SAY A FEW WORDS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

WE'LL, UM, WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT PERSON.

THANK YOU.

I JUST WANNA SHARE WHAT A INCREDIBLE HONOR IT WAS TO, UM, SERVE AS A GRAND MARSHALL.

UM, DR. KING HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND REALLY IT'S, IT'S WHAT INSPIRED ME TO SPEND MY ENTIRE CAREER IN SERVICE.

AND SO I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A GUIDING LIGHT FOR SO MANY OF US.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, HE TAUGHT US THAT INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE, AND HIS WORDS REMAIN AS RELEVANT TODAY AS EVER.

AND SO I JUST WANNA EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU, UM, TO THE COUNCILWOMAN AND YOUR TEAM, UH, WHO HAD DONE AN AMAZING JOB FOR OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT CONSIDER THIS A PRIORITY BECAUSE IT IS A PRIORITY AND I HOPE IT NEVER GOES AWAY.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY HERE.

AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UM, THE OTHER GRAND MARSHALS AND THE PEACE MAKER AWARDEES TODAY.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

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MY NAME IS CRYSTAL IRVING FROM LONG BEACH POLY HIGH SCHOOL.

I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM.

UH, WE WERE VERY BLESSED TO WIN CIF, UH, FOR BOYS AND GIRLS FIRST TIME IN HISTORY SINCE, FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS SINCE THAT'S HAPPENED, UH, UNDER MY LEADERSHIP WITH MY AMAZING STAFF THAT I HAVE AT LONG BEACH POLY.

UM, I AM A LONG BEACH GIRL AND I'VE BEEN AT POLY NOW FOR 28 YEARS, UM, LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO JUST BUILD UP OUR COMMUNITY, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, UH, I'M LEAVING A LEGACY SO THAT THE NEXT PERSON THAT COMES BEHIND ME KNOW THAT, UH, THEY HAVE A HIGH EXPECTATION TO LIVE UP TO.

SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY TEAM, BOYS AND GIRLS IN LONG BEACH.

AMEN.

UM, MY NAME IS SHANNON FISHER, UH, LONG BEACH WILSON HIGH SCHOOL, BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD, UH, COACH.

UM, ON BEHALF OF LONG BEACH WILSON AND THE ENTIRE COACHING STAFF AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK TEAM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE GRAND MARSHALLS IN THE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY PARADE.

ALSO TO MENTION OUR BOYS WERE ACTUALLY DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONSHIPS ALSO.

IT'S KIND OF BEEN LEFT OUT.

SO THE GIRLS WERE THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BACK TO BACK, AND THEN THE BOYS WAS ALSO THE DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS FOR, UH, 2024.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO THAT WAS OUR GRAND MARSHALL, AND I'LL DO OUR PEACEMAKER NEXT, AND THEN WE'LL DO, UM, A GROUP PHOTO.

UM, BUT WE'LL ALSO GIVE THE PEACEMAKER A CHANCE TO SPEAK FOR A MINUTE AS WELL.

UM, SO NEXT, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF, UM, BEING ABLE TO AN HONOR OUR 20, UM, PEACEMAKER AWARDEES.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, THEY, AND EVERY, EVERY YEAR, UM, AWARDEES, HONOREES ARE CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THEIR VALUES AND THEIR, UM, THEIR WORK TO PROMOTE COMPASSION, DOING THE RIGHT THING AND, AND CREATING UNITY, REPRESENTING OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY ACROSS LONG BEACH AND THE AWARD AND KNOWLEDGE, THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGES, INSPIRING OTHERS, UH, TO DO SO AS WELL IN A LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.

SO I WILL BEGIN WITH CATHERINE BAYARD.

YES.

LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND APPLAUSE.

CATHERINE IS A LIFELONG ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION, EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.

AS A, AS THE LEADER OF THE CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND A DEDICATED MEMBER OF ORGANIZATION LIKE THE NAACP, UM, HER COMMITMENT FOR, TO JUSTICE AND COLLECTIVE ACTION EMBODIES DR.

KING'S TRANSFORMATIVE VISION AND IN OUR, PLEASE GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

AND THEN OUR NEXT SORORITY IS ELLIE PEREZ.

ELLIE ARE, PLEASE STAND UP.

YES.

PLEASE GIVE HER A ROUND APPLAUSE.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO RECENTLY BECAME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE LONG BEACH, UM, CENTER, UH, AND HAS SPENT HER CAREER CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE.

AND HER WORK REFLECTS DR.

KING'S BELIEF IN CONFRONTING INJUSTICE WITH LOVE AND RESILIENCE.

THANK YOU, ALLIE.

AND OUR NEXT SORORITY IS NAIDA NIK, OUR DR.

NAIDA NIK NADA'S, LIFELONG DEDICATION TO EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND NON-VIOLENCE EXEMPLIFY DR.

KING'S PRINCIPLES.

SO THROUGH HER WORK IN COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND ACTIVISM, SHE INSPIRES OTHER TO PURSUE EQUITY AND JUSTICE.

CONGRATULATIONS, NAIDA.

AND OUR NEXT AWARDEE IS REVEREND WRONG.

B, PLEASE STAND UP HIS LEADERSHIP IN PROMOTING COMPASSION, PEACE, AND UNITY, AND HIS DEDICATION TO, UH, NON-VIOLENCE, AS WELL AS PROMOTING, UH, UNITY ACROSS VARIOUS, UM, COMMUNITY.

RESONATE WITH DR.

KING'S VISION FOR PEACE, UNDERSTANDING.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SO LASTLY, WE, I DID HONOR GABBY HERNANDEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR .

AND, UM, I RE I RESPECT HER DECISION TO DECLINE THE AWARD, BUT WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HONOR HER FOR HER ADVOCACY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE FOR IMMIGRANTS.

SO HER WORK AMPLIFIES DR.

KING'S CALL TO UNITE ACROSS DIFFERENCES FOR JUSTICE AND E EQUALITY.

SO PLEASE, UM, SAY A FEW WORDS, UH, AWARDEES OUR HONOREES.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS CATHERINE BAYARD.

I AM PRESIDENT OF CAC, WHICH IS, WAS STARTED IN THE YEAR 2000 IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT.

AND I'M ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS.

AND I HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN MANY, UM, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH.

I, UM,

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I REALLY LOVED WORKING WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE ELDERS, EVEN THOUGH I WORK WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I'M WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, AND I KNOW WE CAN GET IT DONE.

IT TAKES TIME, IT TAKES EFFORT, IT TAKES LOVE, IT TAKES PATIENCE, AND IT TAKES COMPASSION FOR EVERYBODY.

JUST NOT SOME, YOU KNOW, ONE GROUP.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I'M ABLE TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT A HEALTHIER, SAFE, SAFE, SAFER, AND BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU.

I AM HUMBLED BY THIS AWARD, AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR IT.

AND DR.

SORO PARTICULARLY, I COME HERE STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME AND LOOKING TO THOSE THAT WILL COME AFTER ME.

I WAS RAISED IN A HOUSE THAT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PEACE WAS CENTRAL TO OUR LIVES.

AND I TRIED TO LIVE THAT.

I THINK MY SIBLINGS DO, AND I KNOW MY SON DOES AND MY GRANDCHILDREN.

I ALSO KNOW THAT THIS WORK CANNOT BE DONE ALONE.

I HAVE COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE I'VE WORKED WITH.

SOME DAYS ARE GOOD DAYS, SOME DAYS ARE NOT GOOD DAYS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO LEARN, ALL OF US IS WHATEVER HAPPENS, WHAT MY FATHER USED TO SAY, YOU GET UP, YOU GET DRESSED, AND YOU GO TO WORK.

SO THANK YOU FOR GETTING UP, GETTING DRESSED, AND GOING TO WORK FOR ALL OF US.

AND THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS AWARD.

IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME, NOT ONLY AS A MOTHER OF A TRANS KID, AS A LATINA, BUT ALSO AS A CHILD OF A PRO, UH, LATINA MOTHER, UH, WHO TAUGHT ME TO ALWAYS DO MY BEST TO SHOW UP AND TO DO FOR OTHERS.

SO I THANK YOU.

AND IN THE WORDS OF THE GREAT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO CREATE THE HONOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY DR.

SOLI.

I, WE ARE HONORED AND BLESSED BE PART OF THE SPECIAL AND HISTORICAL EVENT.

AND, UH, ONE OF MY FRIEND ASKED ME WHY IN AMERICA THEY DON'T HAVE THE KING? I SAID, YEAH, THAT'S ONE DAY IN AMERICA, A YEAR WE CALL KING DAYS THAT MAY HONOR TO DR.

MULAH THE KING.

AND HE BROUGHT US THE HOPE AND THE DREAM THAT WE ALL CAN WORK TOGETHER, BRING THIS COMMUNITY AS A GREAT ONE NATION AND UNITY.

SO I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF HIS QUOTE THAT I LIKE TO READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS ABOUT QUOTE, I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOURTH LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN THE NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.

SO WE LOVE HIM.

WE PRAY AND ASK THE MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL INTERFACE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY AND HONOR OUR GREAT RESPECTFUL DR.

MATILDA KING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU ALL.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SO, UM, BEFORE WE, UH, TAKE PICTURE, I DID JUST WANNA GIVE SOME QUICK INSTRUCTION.

WE'LL DO A GROUP PHOTO WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU'LL JOIN US AND THE MAYOR, UH, FIRST WITH THE GRAND MARSHALS, AND THEN WE'LL DO A DIFFERENT SET WITH THE, UH, PEACEMAKER.

AWARDEE.

BUT I JUST WANNA CLOSE BY SAYING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I I DO JUST WANNA READ A REALLY QUICK QUOTE BY B UH, BERNICE KING, WHICH IS HIS DAUGHTER.

IN A TIME WHEN DIVISION AND INEQUALITY STILL EXISTS, WE MUST CHALLENGE OURSELF TO BE BETTER, TO SEE EACH OTHER'S HUMANITY, TO STAND AGAINST INJUSTICE AND WORK RELENTLESSLY TOWARDS TRUE INCLUSION AND EQUITY.

THE MISSION IS POSSIBLE, BUT IT REQUIRES ALL OF US.

WITH THAT SAID, I KNOW THAT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN, UH, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WERE, UH, COMMENTS ABOUT THE WAY THAT THE EVENT WAS CONDUCTED.

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WHILE MY OFFICE SOUGHT TO HONOR DR.

KING'S LEGACY IN PLANNING THE PARADE AND CELEBRATION, I RECOGNIZE THE PLANNING PROCESS COULD BE IMPROVED.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONVENING MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS EVENT BETTER.

UM, SO WITH THAT, IN CONCLUSION, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO THE MAYOR.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, HOW IMPRESSIVE, HOW IMPRESSED I AM WITH THIS GROUP OF, UM, AWARDEES GRAND MARSHALLS, UM, AND, UH, PEACEMAKERS, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU, UH, MISS, MS. CLINTON, UH, THE HAMLETS TALK ABOUT YOU A LOT, ANGIE HAMLET AND OUR, OUR, UH, BLACK INFANT HEALTH PROGRAM, HER SON MATTHEW, YOU KNOW, CALLS YOU HIS AUNT, AND HE WAS MY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR YEARS.

SO JUST TO SEE YOU GET YOUR FLOWERS, I, IT, IT CERTAINLY MEANS A LOT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MAKING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS TO THE MAYOR.

IT'S VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

WANNA SEE EVEN MORE RECOGNITION, UH, FOR YOU AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THIS CITY.

AND THEN THAT'S RIGHT.

AND, AND ALL OF YOU, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T BECOME MAYOR OVERNIGHT.

I'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO A LOT OF YOU FOLKS FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THAT IRVING LAST NAME, SAME LAST NAME AS, AS MAX IRVING, THAT WAS JUST OUT THERE IN PARIS WINNING THE BRONZE AND WATER POLO.

RIGHT? IS THAT YOUR NEPHEW? THAT'S MY COUSIN.

THAT'S YOUR COUSIN MAX AND KEISHA IRVING UP AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL, J TOWN, WHO'S KILLING IT.

THE IRVINGS ARE MAKING THEIR IMPACT ON THIS CITY.

.

I'M JUST SAYING, I MEAN, A LOT OF THAT'S A LOT OF IRVING EXCELLENCE, UH, COMING OUTTA LONG BEACH.

AND, AND WE SEE, AND WE SEE AT WILSON WILSON'S BEEN JUST DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

AND WILSON PUT MORE PEOPLE, UH, IN, IN THE OLYMPICS THAN ANY HIGH SCHOOL IN AMERICA, EVERY HIGH SCHOOL, EVERY OLYMPICS SINCE 1952 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, THE, THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING REALLY IMPACTS THE WHOLE WORLD.

AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT, LIKE HOW IMPACTFUL, UH, UH, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE MADE AND HOW INSPIRED THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TO GO OFF AND JUST DO INCREDIBLE THINGS.

SO, UM, COUNCILWOMAN, I KNOW AS A LEADER, AS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, HOW HARD IT IS SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT SEE YOUR VISION.

BUT I'M SEEING YOUR VISION OF BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, AND WE ARE A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S, AND, AND THE SIXTH DISTRICT IS PROBABLY THE MOST DIVERSE OUTTA ALL OF THEM.

AND TO BE ABLE TO WALK THAT LINE AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AROUND MARTIN LUTHER KING, WHO BETTER THAN IN THIS MOMENT, AND MARTIN UNDER MARTIN LUTHER KING, THAT IS, THAT IS GREAT LEADERSHIP.

AND THEN TO SAY AT THE END, WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER.

MM-HMM.

I JUST WANNA, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU YOUR, YOUR FLOWERS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THAT IS GREAT LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU OUR, YOU KNOW, UH, WE JUST GONNA KEEP, KEEP GOING.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS INCREDIBLE, UH, PARADE, THIS INCREDIBLE TRADI THAT'S RIGHT.

WE ABOUT TO GET UP AND TAKE PICTURES.

Y'ALL CAN DO ALL THAT.

I'LL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX FOR ME.

NO, THIS FOR HER, FOR YOU TO GIVE TO, FOR ME TO GIVE TO HER.

OKAY.

YOU'RE GIVING ME MY FLOWERS, LITERAL FLOWERS.

SEE THAT? GOOD TEAM.

YOU GOT A GOOD TEAM.

BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

YOU'VE DONE, YOU, I'M, I'M VERY IMPRESSED, UH, WITH YOU.

AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY WASN'T THERE.

MY WIFE STOOD IN THE FIRST LADY AND MY DAUGHTERS WERE THERE.

I HAD TO BE IN WASHINGTON DC NOT FOR THE INAUGURATION.

I CAME HOME BEFORE THAT.

OKAY.

BUT I HAD TO BE THERE WITH SOME VERY IMPORTANT CITY BUSINESS, UH, THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF WHILE THIS ADMINISTRA THE LAST FEW DAYS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

SO AFTER THE STATE OF THE CITY I LEFT, THIS WAS THE FIRST KING PARADE.

I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT MY WIFE WAS THERE.

I HEARD INCREDIBLE THINGS AND I'M JUST SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

SO THAT SAID, LET'S ALL MEET DOWN HERE AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THESE HONOREES.

UM, GRANDMA MARSHALL, FIRST AND GRAND MARSHALL.

FIRST PEACEMAKER SECOND.

THANK YOU.

[00:58:03]

UH, WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

[ EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, UH, AND APPRECIATE ALL THE EMPLOYEES HERE, HERE TO CHEER ON, UH, THEIR FELLOW EMPLOYEE FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CELEBRATION THAT WE DO.

SO I WILL READ THE EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH BIOS FROM OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, AND JANUARY.

SO FIRST UP WE HAVE CARLA GREGORY, OPERATIONS BUREAU SECRETARY FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT.

SO CARLA BEGAN WORKING AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 2002 AS A CLERK TYPIST, UM, AT THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COUNTER, AND WAS LATER PROMOTED TO OPERATIONS BUREAU SECRETARY IN 2013.

AS OPERATION BUREAU SECRETARY CARLA PROVIDES CLERICAL SUPPORT TO THE ENTIRE OPERATIONS BUREAU, INCLUDING THE DEPUTY CHIEF ASSISTANT CHIEF, VARIOUS RANKS OF SWORN PERSONNEL, AND A FEW PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS.

SHE SERVES HER BUREAU BY PROCESSING MEMOS, FORMATTING AND DISTRIBUTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES, ONBOARDING AND TRANSFERRING OF OPERATION HEADQUARTER PERSONNEL, ASSISTING WITH, UH, DEPLOYMENT AND GENERAL REIMBURSEMENTS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER TASKS IN HER SPARE TIME.

SHE LOVES ATTENDING AND PARTICIPATING IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES, TRAVELING, SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH HER.

EXTREMELY BUSY 2-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON.

CARLA'S EXCEPTIONAL, UH, DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM SHINE THROUGH, ESPECIALLY DURING CRITICAL PERIODS WHEN THE DEMAND ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HIGH.

HER POSITIVE ATTITUDE, WILLINGNESS TO HELP AND HER ABILITY TO REMAIN CALM UNDER PRESSURE ARE COMMENDABLE.

SHE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, BOTH INTERNALLY AND TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH HAS EARNED HER THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF HER PEERS, HER WORK ETHIC AND, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION MAKES HER HIGHLY DESERVING OF THIS RECOGNITION AND EMBODIES THE CORE VALUES OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS AN EXEMPLARY MODEL OF DEDICATION AND EXCELLENCE.

PLEASE WELCOME UP CARLA GREGORY.

[01:00:15]

COME ON IN.

THAT'S, APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, UH, FOR OUR OCTOBER EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, STEPHANIE HARPER, DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

SO STEPHANIE HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION, MAKING HER AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES TEAM IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

SHE HAS DEVELOPED, UH, OR OVERSEEN THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER, ROOF REPLACEMENT AND BUSINESS FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS, AS WELL AS THE BACKYARD BUILDERS, A DU LOAN PROGRAM.

SHE TAKES OWNERSHIP OF HER PROGRAMS AND CARES DEEPLY ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING.

SHE DEMONSTRATES STRONG LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND FREQUENTLY TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO HELP SOLVE CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY HER COLLEAGUES AND SUPERVISORS.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON COMMON TO HEAR STEPHANIE SAY, LET ME TAKE THAT OFF YOUR PLATE.

SHE'S ALWAYS DEPENDABLE AND WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE TO ENSURE GOALS ARE ACHIEVED.

SHE'S EXTREMELY COMMITTED TO DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING, AND IMPROVING PROGRAMS AND POLICIES, REGARDLESS OF OBSTACLES RESULTING FROM HER INDIVIDUAL DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE.

SHE HAS THE HABIT OF CONSTANT ANALYSIS, CONSISTENT ANALYSIS AND REEVALUATION TO ENSURE HER PROGRAMS PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE COMMUNITY BENEFIT.

SHE NOT ONLY STRIVES FOR PERSONAL EXCELLENCE, BUT ALSO ELEVATES THE COMPETENCE OF STAFF AROUND HER.

AND HER SYSTEMS ARE KNOWN TO BE REPLICATED BY OTHER TEAMS AND DEPARTMENTS.

WELCOME UP STEPHANIE HARPER.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME DR.

IT'S A COOL PROGRAM.

YEAH, IT'S PRETTY COOL.

THANK YOU.

HEY BUDDY, YOU PROUD OF YOUR MOM? NICE.

HEY, ONE, TWO, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS.

FABULOUS.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, FOR NOVEMBER, UH, PLEASE WELCOME UP BRANDI O' KELLY VISUAL ARTS SPECIALIST IN OUR LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.

SO BRANDY IS A VISUAL ARTS SPECIALIST IN THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY WHERE SHE HAS WORKED FOR FIVE YEARS.

IN HER ROLE, SHE FUNCTIONS AS A LIBRARY'S GRAPHIC DESIGNER, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AND PHOTOGRAPHER.

ON ANY GIVEN DAY, YOU CAN FIND HER JUGGLING BETWEEN DESIGNING SIGNAGE AND BROCHURES TO CONVINCING HER COWORKERS TO FILM FUN VIDEOS WITH HER.

FOR INSTAGRAM.

CREATING, UH, ENGAGING CONTENT FOR SOCIALS IS ONE OF BRANDY'S FAVORITE POSTS OF HER JOB, FAVORITE PARTS OF HER JOB, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS HER TO CONNECT WITH PATRONS AND SHARE ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE THE LIBRARY GREAT.

IN 2023, SHE WAS VOTED AS A FINALIST FOR BEST INSTAGRAM PRESENCE BY THE GOLDEN POST AWARDS.

IN HER FREE TIME, BRANDY ENJOYS HANGING OUT WITH HER ONE-EYED POMERANIAN, LISTENING TO MUSIC LIKE HER FAVORITE MUSICIANS, THE VACCINES, AND LANA DORE AND TRAVELING.

WELCOME UP BRANDY, ABOUT THE TUNNEL OF LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.

DID YOU DO THE INSTAGRAM? YOU GONNA GET AWARD.

NEXT UP IS LINDA RUBIO, CLERK, TYPIST AND PARKS, REC AND MARINE.

LINDA IS THE, UH, AWARD WINNER FOR NOVEMBER.

SO LINDA EXEMPLIFIES THE EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS WE STRIVE FOR IN PARKS, REC, AND MARINE AND ANIMAL CARE.

SHE WORKS IN OUR REGISTRATION RESERVATIONS OFFICE, HELPING DOZENS OF CUSTOMERS SEEKING PICNIC PERMITS OR FACILITY RESERVATIONS ON A DAILY BASIS.

SHE TAKES THE TIME TO WALK ANYONE WHO ASKS THROUGH OUR PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS, DESPITE THE OFTEN FAST-PACED AND BUSY ENVIRONMENT SHE WORKS IN, SHE'S PATIENT KIND AND ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HER FACE.

MANY CUSTOMERS COME BACK TO SEE HER FRIENDLY FACE AND ASK FOR HER BY NAME WHEN THEY NEED ASSISTANCE.

SHE'S ALSO AN INCREDIBLE TEAM PLAYER AND IS RELIED ON TO TRAIN NEW STAFF.

SHE'S ALSO ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER IN THE OFFICE AND QUICK TO PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS

[01:05:01]

WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE HER ON OUR TEAM AND HAPPY THAT SHE GETS THE RECOGNITION.

SHE SO WELL DESERVES.

WELCOME UP, LINDA.

THANKS SO MUCH.

NEXT UP IS JASON AMP, UH, AIRPORT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST IN THE AIRPORT DEPARTMENT FOR THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

FOR DECEMBER.

JASON HAS EXEMPLIFIED DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AS AN AIRPORT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST TOO AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT.

ONE OF HIS PIVOTAL ROLES IS COORDINATING THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT.

THIS ANNUAL EVENT, WHICH ATTRACTS OVER 10,000 ATTENDEES, IS A SIGNIFICANT COMMUN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

JASON'S CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY.

HE IS, UH, TAKING, UM, TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE EVENTS OPERATIONAL COORDINATION.

HE'S GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN HIS DUTIES.

HE'S SERVED AS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FOR AIRSPACE COORDINATION AND EVENT DEMONSTRATORS, UH, ENSURING SEAMLESS COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION.

AND HE HAS METICULOUSLY MANAGED KEY OUTREACH TO ORGANIZATION AND PILOTS SUCCESSFULLY ACQUIRING AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF STATIC DISPLAY AIRCRAFT SHOWN IN THE BREADTH OF AVIATION IN OUR AIRPORTS RICH HISTORY.

UH, IN, IN ADDITION TO ALL THESE EFFORTS, HE TAKES THE DAILY INITIATIVE AND HIS DAILY WORK AS AN OPERATIONS SPECIALIST.

TWO, SHOWING PASSION AND COMMITMENT.

HE CONTINUOUSLY CONTRIBUTES AND FOLLOWS THROUGH ON POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE AIRPORT, DEMONSTRATING A CONTINUED DESIRE TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND EXCELLENCE OF THE AIRSIDE OPERATION DIVISION.

FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND COMMITMENT TO HIS EXCELLENCE, HE DESERVES THIS RECOGNITION.

HIS EFFORTS HAVE NOT ONLY ENHANCED THE FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT, BUT ALSO POSITIVELY INFLUENCED THE REPUTATION AND COMMUNITY PRESENCE OF THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT.

WELCOME UP, JASON, PLEASE.

BIGGER, BIG HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP, UM, FOR DECEMBER IS PERSONNEL.

ANALYSTS IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

GLENDY MARTINEZ, GLENDY EXEMPLIFIES DEDICATION AS AND EXCELLENCE CONSISTENTLY RISING TO EVERY CHALLENGE, BIG OR SMALL.

SHE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN LAUNCHING THE PERSONNEL AND PAYROLL ACADEMY, ENSURING DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE TRAINING AND RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR ACCURATE AND EFFICIENT JOB PERFORMANCE.

BEYOND THIS, GLENDY TOOK ON THE COMPLEX TAX TASK OF MANAGING THE CITY SALARY RESOLUTION, DEVELOPING CLEAR, SUSTAINABLE GUIDANCE FOR ANNUAL UPDATES, AND ENSURING THIS CRITICAL GOVERNING DOCUMENT MAINTAINS CONSISTENT AND ACCURATE LANGUAGE.

HER TRUE STRENGTH LIES IN HER ABILITY TO FOSTER COLLABORATION ACROSS HR DIVISIONS AND CITY DEPARTMENTS.

SHE BREAKS DOWN INSTITUTIONAL SILOS, ENHANCING COMMUNICATION AND STREAMLINING PROCESSES TO ADVANCE KEY HR AND CITY INITIATIVES.

HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND IMPACT MAKE HER AN OUTSTANDING CANDIDATE FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

WELCOME UP, BLENDY.

HERE COMES YOUR DIRECTIVE.

1, 2, 3.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT ONE IS, UH, LUPE BARON.

UH, BUT SHE'S UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT WITH US.

SHE, UH, FELL SICK TODAY.

UH, SO JUST BRIEFLY, UM, LUPE IS IN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY.

SHE'S AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM MEMBER WHO EM EXEMPLIFIES THE QUALITIES EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH WITH 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SHE CONSTANTLY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT CLIENTS, MAKING THEM FEEL VALUABLE, UH, VALUED AND HEARD.

SHE APPROACHES EVERY CHALLENGE WITH A POSITIVE CAN-DO ATTITUDE, DEVELOPING OR DEMONSTRATING HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO COMPLETING TASKS.

HER PASSION FOR SERVING OTHERS COMBINED WITH HER RELIABILITY AND DEDICATION MAKES HER AN INDISPENSABLE ASSET TO THE TEAM.

TRUE MODEL OF EXCELLENCE AND SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS.

SO TO BE AN OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE.

SO, UH, LET'S, UH, CONGRATULATE LUPE RAGGA.

AND OUR LAST ONE, UH, IS THE JANUARY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FROM OUR TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT.

GOTTI WINK WINOW GADI.

GADI.

WINOW IS ASSISTANT ADMIN, ANALYST TWO, UH, AND T I'S TRAINING COORDINATOR.

FOR THE PAST

[01:10:01]

SHE EXHIBITS THE TID VALUE WORK IN EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES.

SHE EMULATES AGILITY WHEN WORKING WITH LEADERSHIP ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATION OF TRAININGS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

SHE EXHIBITS EXPLORATORY MINDSET WHEN LEADING MEETINGS TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION, WHETHER IT'S DEPARTMENTAL TRAINING, TEAM MEETINGS, CYBERSECURITY TRAINING, AND OUTREACH.

SHE DISPLAYS EXCELLENCE AS SHE TAKES ON OWNERSHIP OF HER ROLE.

SHE'S QUICK TO LEAD A DISCUSSION, ENGAGE IN A TOPIC, DEVELOP A MIRROR BOARD TO TRACK THOUGHTS, IDEAS, ET CETERA.

DURING THOSE MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS, SHE EXHIBITS INCLUSIVITY TO, UH, CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT EVERYONE HAS A VOICE AND IS HEARD AND IS UNDERSTOOD.

GADI ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF VOLUNTEERISM IN THE PAST AS ONE OF THE T'S RACIAL EQUITY CHAMPIONS CO-LEADING THE CIVIC U USER RESEARCH COHORT.

AND EVEN SPEAKING ON A RECENT GOV LOVE PODCAST, GADI IS RESPECTFUL TO ALL A TRUE ASSET AND VALUE AND ASSET TO TID IN THE CITY.

AND I'LL POINT OUT SHE GOT HER START IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

SO WELCOME UP, GOTTI, CONGRATS.

WANNA BE HERE? DEPLOYMENT .

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME TO SPEND, UH, WITH US AND OUR EMPLOYEES.

THEY REALLY HAVE GROWN TO REALLY LOVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

YOU CAN SEE ALL, THEY ALL COME DOWN TO CHEER ON EVERYONE.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE WORK ON YOUR BEHALF.

THANK YOU.

LET'S HERE FOR OUR DEDICATED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU ALL.

ALRIGHT, NEXT WE'LL GO TO ANIMAL CARE SERVICES FOR OUR DOG OF THE MONTH.

IT'S, IT'S NOT REALLY THE DOG OF THE MONTH.

WE,

[ACS PET ADOPTION]

UH, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.

ALL OF THE PETS THAT WE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL DIES HAVE FOUND A HOME.

AND SO IT MIGHT AS WELL BE THE PET OF THE MONTH.

.

AW.

ALRIGHT, CAN WE, UM, MOVE THAT ROPE BACK? SOMETIMES THE LEASH GETS TANGLED UP WHEN WE DO PET ADOPTIONS.

ALRIGHT, WHO'S THIS? ALL RIGHT.

TEAM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE MAYOR.

MY NAME IS MAY ANOVA FROM LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER, BRIDGET, BRIDGET MCBE, AND OUR SHELTER PET OF THE MONTH, RAMSEY.

SO THIS IS RAMSEY.

HE IS OUR 2-YEAR-OLD, UM, NEUTERED AMERICAN PIT BULL.

HE'S KNOWN FOR BEING EASYGOING AND FRIENDLY.

HE'S BEEN WAITING, UM, AT THE SHELTER SINCE NOVEMBER, BUT HAS YET TO FIND HIS FOREVER FAMILY.

HE'S VERY FRIENDLY, VERY WELL-MANNERED, UM, AND HE WOULD MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO ANY HOME.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE, IN ADOPTING THE CHILLEST DOG IN TOWN, PLEASE VISIT, UM, LBAS AT 7,700 EAST SPRING STREET.

AND WE ARE OPEN FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAYS FOR ADOPTIONS.

WE ALSO HOST OUR, UM, OUR, UH, LOW COST VACCINE CLINICS WITH CAMP, UM, BECAUSE EVERY PET DESERVES TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

UH, THIS CLINIC IS ONGOING AND IT WILL OCCUR EVERY MONDAY, SECOND FRIDAY AND FOURTH FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.

UM, HOLIDAYS ARE EXCLUDED.

UH, EACH CLINIC IS OPEN FOR ABOUT, UM, OPEN TO THE FIRST 60 PETS AND THERE'S NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.

UM, TO VIEW MORE DETAILS, UM, OR TO LOOK AT FOR OUR CALENDAR, UM, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE, LONG BEACH.GOV/ACS.

I THINK, OH, GO AHEAD.

TAKE NAP.

OKAY.

YEAH.

CHANGE THE RULES.

WE'RE GONNA GO VISIT.

YEAH.

HONEY, GET A DOG.

SO NOW WE ARE, UM, KICKING OFF A NEW, UM, NEW YEAR ON A POSITIVE NOTE, UM, WITH OUR NEW LEASH ON LIFE ADOPTION SPECIAL.

SO IF YOU'RE READY TO OPEN YOUR HEART TO A NEW DOG, UH, CONSIDER GIVING ONE OF OUR SHELTER DOGS A NEW LEASH ON LIFE BY GIVING THEM A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

SO THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, YOU CAN ADOPT ANY VACS DOG FOR $25.

AND IF YOU AREN'T

[01:15:01]

UM, AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE OUR SPAY AND NEUTER, UM, PROGRAM, WHICH IS, UM, REQUIRED FOR PETS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UM, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE COVERING THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH FIXING YOUR PET, UH, WE DO OFFER VOUCHERS.

IT IS $60 AND 95 CENTS FOR DOGS AND A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR CATS.

UM, AND THIS INCLUDES COMMUNITY CATS AS WELL.

UM, THE VOUCHERS ARE PROVIDED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS TO ALL RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH.

UM, THE REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO SUBMIT A VOUCHER APPLICATION, BE A RESIDENT, AND PROVIDE A VALID PROOF OF ADDRESS.

AND THEN HERE IS OUR INFORMATION.

IF YOU DO, UM, WANNA LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS, UM, IF YOU WANNA ADOPT, VOLUNTEER, FOSTER, OR DONATE, PLEASE VISIT US AT OUR SHELTER OR, UM, ONLINE@LONGBEACH.GOV SLASH ACS.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, UH, RAMSEY'S A GOOD LOOKING PUPPY, TWO YEARS OLD.

HE'S STILL A PUPPY.

AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR FOR COMING OUT AND WALKING HIM AROUND.

NORMALLY I DO, BUT I NORMALLY TAKE A LITTLE, UH, CLARITIN BEFOREHAND.

UH, I WAS A LITTLE LATE TO THE GAME THIS TIME, SO I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T, SHOULDN'T, UH, ENGAGE WITH WITH THE PUPPY UNTIL I, UNTIL I DO THAT.

BUT ALL THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE COME BEHIND COME BEFORE THIS DAIS HAVE GONE HOME WITH HOMES.

AND WE WANT TO GIVE RAMSEY, UH, RAMSEY'S A A JUST A VERY FRIENDLY, UH, PET.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL MET HIM, MET HIM IN THE BACK, AND, UM, WE WANT HIM TO HAVE A HOME AS WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, GREAT CAPACITY FOR REALLY DOING GOOD HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AND WE WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UH, TO GO AHEAD AND VISIT OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WEBSITE.

UH, GO VISIT OUR PETS AND, AND TAKE RAMSEY HOME.

THANKS A LOT.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TEAM.

ALRIGHT, SANITIZER.

OKAY.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND START THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOW.

WE, UH, ARE FINISHED WITH OUR PRESENTATIONS.

UH, WE'RE GONNA START OFF, LET'S DO OUR REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION, DON.

SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE HAVE THREE ITEMS TO REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION.

UH, IN THE MATTER OF DOLLY VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UH, CITY COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO A SETTLEMENT IN THAT CASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $495,000 IN THE MATTER OF BELLAMY VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO A SETTLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $175,000.

AND IN THE MATTER OF WELCH VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO A SETTLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, WE'LL NOW GO TO CONSENT CALENDAR.

WE HAVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 15.

THERE'S A REQUEST TO, UH, TO PULL ITEM SEVEN.

SO LET'S DO ITEMS ONE THROUGH 15 MINUS ITEM SEVEN.

OKAY, I SEE IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED.

THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

IS

[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 15.)]

I, HI.

I AM CHRISTEL DOMBROWSKI.

UH, I SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON NUMBER ONE BECAUSE IT'S JUST EASIER 'CAUSE PUBLIC COMMENT, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ISN'T 'CAUSE EVERYBODY GOES HOME BY THE TIME YOU GET TO TALK.

SO I'M HERE FOR TWO THINGS.

UH, ONE IS I WANT, UM, TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, BRANDON BOYD.

THE FOOTAGE NEEDS TO BE RELEASED.

THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL AND THE LONG BEACH POLICE NEED TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND RELEASED THE FOOTAGE THEY NEED TO RELEASE THE NAMES OF THE OFFICERS.

AND, UM, THE TWO SISTERS THAT WERE, UH, ARRESTED NEED TO BE, UH, THE CHARGES NOT FILED.

UH, THE SECOND THING THAT I, IF I'M, I'M PROBABLY RUNNING OUTTA TIME 'CAUSE I GET THREE MINUTES, IS, UH, MY FRIEND, UM, ASKED ME TO SPEAK BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HOMELESS, UH, CHILDREN AT LINCOLN PARK, UH, LIKE ALL NIGHT.

AND, UM, THEY DON'T GET, UH, THE POLICE DON'T PULL THEM OVER.

I KNOW THAT THE, THE, UM, JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES HAVE TWO OF 'EM HAVE RECENTLY CLOSED, BUT THEY NEED TO CALL THEIR PARENTS AND HOLD THEIR PARENTS ACCOUNTABLE 'CAUSE THAT'S CHILD ENDANGERMENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR PLEASE.

[01:20:01]

COUNCIL ZARO, IS THAT A YES? YES.

SORRY.

MOTION IS CARRIED.

THANK YOU.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM SEVEN.

PLEASE REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH THE ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 100,000

[7. 25-54061 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and any necessary documents with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc. to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $100,000 for the ClimateLB Microgrant Program, with a term ending October 31, 2025; and Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $100,000, offset by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.’s grant funds. (Districts 1, 7)       Office or Department: City Manager         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]