* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:11:32] ALL [00:11:32] RIGHT, [00:11:32] MADAM CLERK WAS CALLED TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS FEBRUARY 4TH. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. [CALL TO ORDER] PRESENT. COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. COUNCILMAN AU. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. PRESENT VICE MAYORGA. PRESENT. COUNCILWOMAN THRASH. ENUK. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. LET'S START OFF WITH THE MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. LED BY COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] I WOULD JUST LIKE TO DO THE, UM, OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE. I KNOW WITH ALL THE THINGS GOING ON IN OUR NATION AND WITH ALL THE THINGS GOING ON LOCALLY, PARTICULARLY WITH THE FIRES, I THINK SOMETIMES THE STRUGGLES THAT WE ALL FACE, THEY, SO THERE'S SO MUCH RIGHT. COMING AT US ALL AT ONE TIME. AND SO I JUST WANNA TAKE AND HOLD SPACE, UM, AND JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR EACH OF YOU WHO'S DEALING WITH YOUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES, YOUR OWN MATTERS, UM, AND JUST GIVE US THE TIME TO, TO PROCESS, UM, WHERE WE ARE, UM, AS A CITY, AS A COUNTY, AS A STATE, INNOCENT NATION. SO A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE YOU ARE ABLE. UM, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES. ALRIGHT, THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI. UH, SO TODAY WE HAVE, UH, NO PRESENTATIONS. WE'VE GOT A CONSENT CALENDAR. UH, WE WILL GO THROUGH THE REGULAR AGENDA. WE'VE GOT, UH, SOME COUPLE HEARINGS. LET'S SEE. YEP. COUPLE HEARINGS TO GO THROUGH. UH, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, SOME ITEMS RELATED TO THE OLYMPICS AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. SO, UH, A FULL AGENDA THIS EVENING. SO LET'S START OFF WITH [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 22.)] CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 22. THERE'S A REQUEST TO HOLD ASIDE ITEM 13. SO WE NEED NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 22. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, AND WE HAVE ON THE CONSENT. WE HAVE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. UH, DANA NICKERSON, G HAYES, AINA, REDMOND, AND NIA . PLEASE COME FORWARD. YES, HAYES. UH, IS DANA HERE? ALRIGHT, COME ON FORWARD DANA. AND AFTER DANA IS G HAYES, THEN ADRINA, THEN SON. TONIGHT IT'S ONE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. SO GOOD, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF. I'M DANA NICKERSON AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE [00:15:01] LONG BEACH BLACK WORKERS CENTER AND BLACK WORKERS. I WANNA FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR INTEREST IN THE EFFORTS TO SECURE FUNDING THAT SUPPORTS SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE WORKERS IN OUR CITY, OLDER WORKERS, TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING WORKERS AND BLACK WORKERS. THIS $500,000 GRANT ON AGENDA ITEM 14 FROM JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION PRESENTS A CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC INEQUITIES AND CREATE MEANINGFUL CAREER DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS. HOWEVER, I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ALLOCATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS FUND. THE BUDGET BREAKDOWN. HOW WILL THIS $500,000 BE DISTRIBUTED? SPECIFICALLY, HOW MUCH WILL BE A ALLOCATED TO BLACK WORKERS? AND WHAT PORTION WILL BE INVESTED DIRECTLY INTO CAREER DIRECT DEVELOPMENT, UM, SERVICES. NUMBER TWO, NATURE OF THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. WHAT TYPES OF WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE CREATED? WILL THESE JOBS INCLUDE TRAINING, APPRENTICESHIPS, DIRECT JOB PLACEMENT, OR WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT ADDRESS BARRIERS BLACK WORKERS FACE IN SECURING AND RETAINING, UM, EMPLOYMENT? NUMBER THREE QUESTION I HAVE IS AROUND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. HOW IS THE CITY ENSURING THAT THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUNDED BY THIS GRANT ARE ALIGNED WITH THE ACTUAL NEEDS OF THE BLACK WORKERS IN LONG BEACH? COLLABOR? COLLABORATION WITH THE LONG BLACK WE BLACK WORKER SEAT START OVER COLLABORATION WITH THE LONG BEACH BLACK WORKERS CENTER. GIVEN OUR DEEP ROOTED WORK IN ADVOCATING FOR BLACK WORKERS, WE ASK HOW THE LONG BEACH BLACK WORKERS CENTER CAN BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. WE WANNA ENSURE THAT THESE SERVICES ARE NOT JUST WELL INTENDED, BUT TRULY EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE DISPARITY DISPARITIES BLACK WORKERS FACE. THOSE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED IN THE RECONCILIATION FRAMEWORK. WE KNOW THAT BLACK WORKERS IN LONG BEACH CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES 11% DESPITE MAKING UP JUST 13% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION. WE KNOW THAT UNEMPLOYMENT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AND WE KNOW THAT THE FRAMEWORK OF RECONCILIATION ADOPTED IN 2020 CALLS FOR REAL ACTION TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES. THIS FUNDING MUST BE USED TO FULFILL THAT COMMITMENT. THE LONG BEACH BLACK WORKER CENTER IS READY TO PARTNER WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THESE FUNDINGS LEAD TO TANGIBLE OUTCOMES. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A TRANSPARENT BREAKDOWN OF THIS ALLOCATION AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITHIN 90 DAYS TO SHAPE THE CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS THAT WILL IMPACT THE BLACK WORKERS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT IS G HAYES. UM, CAN SHE GO, GO? EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO SPEAK. WHOEVER MAKES THIS TO THE MIC FIRST, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THE MIC. MR. HAYES? YES. MY NAME IS GREGORY HAYES. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 19 69, 8 43 NEW YORK STREET. BUT I HAD TO MOVE FROM THE CITY BECAUSE OF ALL THE DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FROM THE, ACTUALLY FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. AND I WENT TO THE, I WENT TO THE LONG BEACH LIBRARY AND I SAW THE TENTS THAT THE BLACK PEOPLE LIVED IN TO BUILD THIS CITY. AND I SAW IT IN CALIFORNIA AND ANAHEIM, HOW WE BUILT THIS CITY. AND NOW MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IS BEGGING FOR CRUMBS OFF THE TABLE. I I DROVE BUSES FOR LONG BEACH TRANSIT FOR OVER A DECADE. AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING FOR LONG BEACH TRA I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK BUS DRIVERS EVERY DAY THEY TRIED TO FIRE US, 80% RECITATIVE RATE. AND THEY SAID, OH, BLACK PEOPLE IS DEI. THEY CAN'T EVEN DRIVE BUSES. NOW. IT'S DIFFERENT. I'M SEEING THAT THESE PEOPLE, MY BLACK PEOPLE HERE, ARE STILL BEGGING FOR CRUMBS OFF THE TABLE. I SAW WHEN THE POLICE ARRESTED US EVERY DAY DOING MASS INCARCERATION. I, I'M 16 YEARS OLD IN THE, IN THE SEVENTIES AND EVERY DAY I GOT PULLED OVER. EVERY DAY I GOT 20 AND 30 TICKETS. I DON'T HAVE ANY CRIMINAL RECORD, BUT I'VE BEEN MORE, I'VE BEEN TO JAIL MORE TIME FROM LONG BEACH POLICE THAN ANY CRIMINAL I'VE SEEN DRIVING BUSES AND ONLY BLACK PEOPLE GET PULLED OVER. BEFORE WE KNEW ABOUT THAT, THAT TERM RACIAL PROFILING AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS [00:20:01] BLACK GOT JUST TORN US UNDER IN LONG BEACH. LONG BEACH HAS NOT BEEN GOOD TO BLACK PEOPLE EVER. AND THESE PEOPLE IS BEGGING FOR CRUMBS ON THE TABLE. YEAH. 8 43 NEW YORK STREET. YOU GUYS CHANGED. I'M TELLING YOU WHAT YOU HAVE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO BLACK, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE ONE, ONE LAST THING TO SAY. HOW MUCH TIME? ABOUT OH, 48 SECONDS. YOU GUYS FOUND A WAY TO GET RID OF ALL BLACK PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH BY, UH, MAKING THIS, UM, UH, UH, THIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED HERE ANYMORE. AND ALL THESE CHILDREN WHOSE, WHOSE GRANDS AND GRANDMAMAS BEEN HERE, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SAID, HEY, CONSTITUTIONALLY, YOU, YOU, YOU'VE BEEN IN A GANG. YOU CAN NEVER COME TO YOUR COMMUNITY AGAIN. AND NOW THERE'S NO MORE BLACK PEOPLE ON THE EAST SIDE OF LONG BEACH. YOU NEED TO HELP THESE BLACK PEOPLE WHO ARE LEFT ONE, LOVE, PEACE, AND GUIDANCE AND I'M GOING TO COME BACK AGAIN. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ARINA REDMOND. I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CITY OF LONG BEACH AND ONE OF THE FOUNDING LEADERS OF BLACK LIVES MATTER, LONG BEACH. I'M HERE TONIGHT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE LONG BEACH BLACK WORKERS CENTER, UH, AS WELL AS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE, UH, WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE OUT FRONT TODAY. UH, LOOKING FOR EXACTLY WHAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS JUSTICE FOR BLACK WORKERS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AS WELL AS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND SO, SPEAKING TO ITEM 14 IN PARTICULAR, EXCITING $500,000, BUT IT IS A DROP IN A VERY BIG BUCKET. UM, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL. AND I KNOW THAT, THAT SOME WORK IS HAPPENING ON THAT. WE NEED HEALTHY FOODS IN OUR CITY. WE NEED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR CITY AND WE NEED HOUSING FOR BLACK FOLK TO STAY IN THIS CITY SO THEY DON'T END UP HAVING TO GO OUT TO THE IE OR OUT TO THE APPLE VALLEY AND THOSE FAR AWAY PLACES, WHICH TAKE THEM AWAY FROM OUR LOVELY CITY HERE. AND JUST IN TIME FOR THE 2028 OLYMPICS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT'LL BE LEADING UP TO THE 2028 OLYMPICS. WE NEED THAT FLAVOR THAT IS BROUGHT BY THE FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE 18 HUNDREDS. AND THAT IS BLACK LONG BEACH. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU, BECAUSE I THINK IF I DON'T SAY IT, IT MAY NOT GET SAID TONIGHT. AND THAT IS THAT BRANDON BOYD WAS A HUMAN BEING. BRANDON BOYD WAS MURDERED BY THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT ON NOVEMBER 11TH, 2024, I'M SORRY, NOVEMBER 19TH. FORGIVE ME FAMILY. HE CALLED THE CITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SO WHEN I SPEAK TO, I HOPE WE HAVE, ALONG WITH ITEM 14, THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH SPEAKS TO WHAT, UH, DANA WAS SAYING WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES. HE CALLED THE CITY FOR THAT HELP. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT INTO PLACE AFTER THE SUMMER OF 2020 WHEN GEORGE FLOYD DIED. WE HAD ALL, WE HAD THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND THIS WONDERFUL PLAN FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE. THOSE PEOPLE WERE THERE THAT NIGHT, BUT THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO GET OUT OF THEIR CAR. SO WHAT GOOD IS AN OFFICE WHERE PEOPLE ARE DRAWING TAX TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DO A JOB THEY CAN'T DO? HIS NAME WAS BRANDON BOYD. HE WAS A FATHER OF SIX CHILDREN. HE WAS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. HE PRIDED HIMSELF ON BEING FROM THE CARLITOS. THEY FAMILY. THE BOY FAMILY KNOWS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY, THE BOY FAMILY, THE SISTERS ARE STEEPED IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND ARE FACING RIGHT NOW CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR DOING WHAT? BEING A, BEING IN SHOCK, WATCHING THEIR BROTHER MURDERED BY THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. LORD, WE NEED YOU TO DO YOUR PARTS JUST LIKE WE NEED THE GOOD FOLKS OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSIONER DO THEIR PART. AND WE NEED OUR CITY MANAGER, TOM MOCA, TO DO HIS PART. AND WE NEED OUR POLICE CHIEF TO DO THEIR PART IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE, NOT IN THE NAME OF COVERING THEIR BEHINDS, BUT IN THE NAME MA'AM. YOUR TIME JUSTICE. SAY HIS NAME. SAY HIS NAME. SAY HIS NAME. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. FINAL SPEAKER. SAIFE, UH, SAIFE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT. UM, JUST LIKE, JUST TWO ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO. JUST THE FIRST ONE IS THE I, UM, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 12. I THINK, UM, WHILE IT'S [00:25:01] IMPORTANT, I'M ASSUMING THAT HIRING IS THE CRITICAL NEED EXEMPTION THAT'S BEING ASKED FOR TO TRAVEL, TO BAN STATES. WHILE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, UTILIZE ALL OF OUR 49 OTHER, YOU KNOW, MEMBER STATES IN OUR QUEST TO MINIMIZE THE LABOR SHORTAGE CURRENTLY HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF RESPONSE TO THE REALITY THAT PEOPLE EXPECT US TO BE CONSISTENT WHEN WE MAKE, UM, DEMANDS OR, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE COMMITMENTS TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW WE REPRESENT OURSELVES. SO IF WE SAY THAT WE'RE A SANCTUARY CITY AND THEN WE HAVE THESE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ICE, IT IT, IT CONTRADICTS. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS, IS A HYPOTHETICAL, BUT IN TERMS OF, IN THE REALITY, UM, TO ENGAGE WITH STATES THAT DON'T MATCH THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE HERE, BOTH IN THE ECONOMIC SENSE, BUT ALSO IN THE IDEOLOGICAL SENSE, IT SEEMS COUNTER UH, PRODUCTIVE. UM, THE SECOND ITEM THAT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON IS ITEM 14, WHICH I THINK MS. D JUST, AND, AND EVERYONE ELSE, BUT SPEAKING TOWARDS HER, UH, DID A VERY GREAT, UH, COMMENT ON WITH RESPECT TO THIS $500,000. I COMMEND THE CITY FOR UTILIZING, UM, SOME OF THE HARSH REALITIES OF HIGH POVERTY CENSUS TRACKS IN THE CITY. I LIVE IN ONE OF THEM 35% UNEMPLOYMENT. SO ONE IN THREE PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED. UM, THAT'S CENSUS TRACK 5 7 3 3 0, UM, KINGS PARK AREA. I THINK THAT IT'S COMMENDABLE THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS FINANCIALLY SPEAKING TO, UM, ENGAGE WITH THE REALITIES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE SOME TYPE OF COMMITMENT FROM PG WYNN FORMERLY, UH, I DON'T, I, YOU KNOW, FORMER P CURRENTLY PG WIN AND, UM, PACIFIC GATEWAY. I WOULD LIKE SOME MORE COMMITMENT. I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GONNA IMPACT UNEMPLOYMENT IN THIS CITY, UM, CITY WORKERS HAVE TO MEET THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN ASKING THE PEOPLE TO MEET THEM. SO I'D JUST LIKE MORE OF, OF OUR, I KNOW, UH, BO AND HIS TEAM WILL, UH, YOU KNOW, EXECUTE. I JUST NEED SOME MORE OF US GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, HEY, WHO IN THIS CENSUS TRACK, WHICH IS LITERALLY THE POOREST WHO NEEDS A JOB, LET'S MITIGATE ALL OF THE OBSTACLES THAT ARE PREVENTING YOU FROM BEING EMPLOYED. 'CAUSE WE AS A CITY ARE TRYING TO COMMIT, UH, RESOURCES TO HAVE A NEW BEGINNING. UH, 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT EVERYONE'S GONNA GO TO THE AIRPORT AREA OR, YOU KNOW, THESE OTHER, UM, PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE THESE OFFICES EXIST TO TRY TO COMBAT THE, UH, LACK OF RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SO IF ANYONE NEEDS HELP WITH THAT, UH, I'LL BE SURE TO, UH, ASSIST PROVIDED THAT I WIN THE RFP. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, GOOD. UH, JUST, JUST QUICKLY, I HEARD FOUR PEOPLE COMMENT ON, WE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T COMMENT ON, ON ALL THE CONSENT CALENDAR, BUT I WILL ENCOURAGE, UH, 'CAUSE I DID HEAR BLACK WORKERS CENTER WAS HERE. UM, AND I KNOW IT'S FAIRLY NEW, UH, IN LONG BEACH. I HAVE LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH LA BLACK WORKERS CENTER'S FAIRLY NEW. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIT DOWN WITH WHOEVER OUR DEPARTMENT HIT IS ON DUTY, GET CONNECTED TO LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INVESTMENT NETWORK, USED TO BE CALLED PACIFIC GATEWAY. WE HAVE A MORE OF AN EMPHASIS ON LOCAL HIRE AND LOCAL PATHWAYS TO CAREERS OF THE FUTURE'S LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INVESTMENT NETWORK. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO GET PLUGGED IN. UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK THE IRVINE FOUNDATION FOR THIS, THIS GRANT OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. IT'S BECAUSE LONG BEACH HAS A COMMITMENT TO THE RACIAL EQUITY RECONCILIATION PLAN. IT'S BECAUSE OUR FOCUS ON PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS, PUBLIC SECTOR CAREERS THAT WE'VE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR RESOURCES LIKE THAT. SO WE WANNA MAKE IT WORK. SO IS WELCOME NEWS THAT THERE IS A BLACK WORKER CENTER IN LONG BEACH AND WE WANT YOU TO GET PLUGGED IN TO, UH, TO, BECAUSE FRANKLY, I MEAN, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF WHY WE'VE GONE AFTER THOSE RESOURCES. LAST THING I'LL SAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WE ARE ON A FULL ATTACK ON DEI IN THIS COUNTRY. AND, UM, AND NOW IS A MOMENT WE SHOULD BE STANDING TOGETHER AND WORKING TOGETHER AND TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT, UH, DEFENDING AND PROTECTING, UH, PROGRAMS LIKE OUR BLACK WORK WORKER CENTER OR, OR, UH, BLACK INFANT HEALTH PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE'S AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO ERASE, UM, EVEN THE NOMENCLATURE. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER RIGHT NOW IN THIS MOMENT. THAT SAID, MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MR. MAYOR JAIME RE, OUR BRAND NEW LB WIND DI UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS HERE. AND RAISE YOUR HAND. LOVE TO CONNECT WITH THE BLACK WORKERS CENTER. FANTASTIC. HE IS BRAND NEW. TWO WEEKS ON A JOB. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. WE'LL DO ITEM 13 NOW. REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 250,000 AWARDED BY SCAG THROUGH REGIONAL EARLY [00:30:01] ACTION PLANNING 2.0 HOUSING INFILL AND PRESERVATION PROGRAM, [13. 24-55998 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing the acceptance of grant funds in the amount of $250,000, awarded by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) through the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 Housing Infill and Preservation Program (HIPP); Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents and agreements necessary to accept and utilize these funds for eligible activities; and Increase appropriations in the Development Services Fund Group in the Community Development Department by $250,000, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Community Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS AND AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO ACCEPT AND UTILIZE THESE FUNDS FOR ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, WE JUST HAVE TO, UH, MAKE AN AMENDMENT HERE, BUT I WILL JUST SAY, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN NEXT, PRESIDENT OF SCAG. WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF SCAG, WE BROUGHT THE RESOURCES HOME. I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU CONTINUE IN THAT TRADITION. YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING BEFORE WE DO THIS AMENDMENT? YEAH, I JUST, UM, I JUST, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, UH, THE REAP 2.0 PROGRAM, IT'S A PROGRAM THAT SEEKS TO ACCELERATE THE PROGRESS ON HOUSING GOALS AND OUR CLIMATE, UH, COMMITMENTS. SO, UM, I DEFINITELY WANNA THANK A SCAG FOR THIS GRANT. UM, COUNCILMAN SORROW AND I BOTH SERVE AND, AND, UM, ALSO OUR MAYOR WAS FORMER PRESIDENT OF SCAG AND ALSO THESE, THESE, THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN, UM, WERE REALLY HARD AND WE GOT CUT AND, AND THEN WE'RE BACK IN THE BUDGET. SO I DEFINITELY WANNA THANK OUR STATE, UH, LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM WHO APPROVED THE BUDGET OF 2024 IN RESTORING A REAP 2.0. THAT'S RIGHT. THIS WAS, THIS WAS A CUT IN THE BUDGET WAS A LOT OF ADVOCACY THAT WENT TO RESTORE, UH, REAP. AND THESE ARE IMPORTANT PLANNING DOLLARS THAT OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT HAVE. UM, UH, MR. KUNZ, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS GRANT, UH, BEFORE, WHICH WILL UPDATE THE CITY'S, UH, SUCCESSFUL DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM. THE REASON IT WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT, UM, WE DID CIRCULATE WITH THE CLERK THE UPDATED RESOLUTION, WHICH SHOULD REFERENCE THE CORRECT, UM, PROGRAM NAME, WHICH IS THE HOUSING INFILL ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS PROGRAM. UM, THERE'S AN EARLIER VERSION THAT REFERENCES THE HOUSING INFILL AND PRESERVATION PROGRAM. UM, SO WE GOT ALL THE WORDS CORRECT IN THE UPDATED VERSION. THAT'S WITH THE CLERK AND ASKS FOR YOUR APPROVAL. ALRIGHT. SO THAT THOSE AMENDMENTS REFLECT IN YOUR MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER? YES, SIR. OKAY, GREAT. UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON 13? SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, ARE YOU READY TO REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION? YES, I AM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE NO REPORT TONIGHT FROM CLOSED SESSION RIVETING REPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'LL GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE. LET ME QUEUE THAT UP. OKAY. SO WE HAVE, UH, 10 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I'LL READ THEM ALL AND PLEASE LINE UP, UH, IN ORDER [ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ] MURIEL BE REAL. KELVIN ANDERSON, GREGORY HAYES, DENISE OLIVIERA, GLENN LASSETER, KATHY SNUGS, MARQUISE ANDERSON. DORY CHAN CHANDLER AND KATE OV. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS. UM, UH, CAPRICE MCDONALD AND ANTHONY HOLMES. SO FIRST UP IS MURIEL. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. AS YOU SAID, MY NAME IS MURIEL B REAL WITH GIVING ALL GLORY AND HONOR TO GOD. UM, I'M BORN AND RAISED IN LONG BEACH. WAS BORN AT LONG BEACH MEMORIAL. GREW UP IN THE SPRINGDALE WEST APARTMENTS. AK THE PROJECTS. GRADUATED FROM LONG BEACH POLY. MY FIRST SON WAS BORN HERE. WENT TO KINGS PARK, WAS A PART OF THE BLACK INFANT HEALTH PRO, UH, PROGRAM. SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT DOES NOT GO AWAY 'CAUSE IT HELPED ME GREATLY. UM, AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS CANNABIS EQUITY PROGRAM NOW FOR SIX YEARS. SO IT'S INCEPTION WAS IN 2019. I'M APPLICANT NUMBER SEVEN THAT SIGNED UP FOR THAT PROGRAM. SO I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FIGHT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I'VE GONE THROUGH LAWSUITS WITH LANDLORDS. I'VE GONE THROUGH THE CITY CUTTING GRANT FUNDS. UH, MOST RECENTLY I'VE GONE THROUGH HEARING THAT THE CITY WAS OUT OF FUNDS COMPLETELY FOR THE CANNABIS EQUITY PROGRAM, WHICH LEAVES A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME. UM, EXTREMELY FEARFUL. UM, I'M ONLY STANDING HERE TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD. UM, MY HOME BURNED DOWN TO THE GROUND IN THE EATON FIRES A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AND ALL I HAD WAS THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK TO LEAVE. AND YET I'M STILL STANDING BEFORE YOU FIGHTING FOR THIS THING THAT I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOR SO LONG. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL DID APPLY FOR THE GO BIZ GRANT FUNDS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY MARCH FROM, OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, TO WHICH YOU ALL HAVE TO MATCH THE FUNDS IS WHAT I'M TOLD, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT $6 MILLION THAT COULD GO TOWARD BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS. SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS GO ROUND, THE MONEY ACTUALLY GOES TOWARD US AND THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE. UM, THERE WAS A NEWS INTERVIEW THAT I DID WITH THE LONG BEACH BLACK NEWS, AND IN IT THEY QUOTED TOM MONICA, THE CITY MANAGER, AND HE STATED THAT LESS THAN 2% [00:35:01] OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CROSSED THE FINISH LINE. I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT THAT IT'S LESS THAN 1% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CROSSED THE FINISH LINE. SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS TIME, AFTER SO MUCH TIME, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY BEGIN TO OPERATE, WHICH WOULD HELP THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN SULI SULIS DISTRICT. UM, 'CAUSE MY FACILITY IS IN DISTRICT SIX AND IT'S SET TO BE AN INCUBATION HUB TO HELP NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY, WHO LACK THE RESOURCES TO GETTING THEIR OWN FACILITIES, UM, WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THE INS AND OUTS BETWEEN LICENSING, BUT THEY KNOW THAT THEY WANT TO GET IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND STOP DOING BLACK MARKET THINGS. SO I HOPE, AS I SAID, THAT YOU ALL DO PUSH EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PUSHED, OPEN UP THE GATES FOR THE BLACK PEOPLE BECAUSE WE NEED IT SO THAT THE CITY CAN ACTUALLY THRIVE, ESPECIALLY REGARDING CANNABIS BUSINESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, CALVIN ANDERSON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON. I'D LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO MY CITY, COUNCILMAN SUSAN SORROW AND THE REST OF THE, UH, PANEL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE. MY NAME IS KELVIN ANDERSON, OWNER OF THE VIP RECORD STORE HERE ON, UH, PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING. THIS IS, UH, ACTUALLY MY, UH, 46TH YEAR OF DOING BUSINESS ON THAT CORNER. SO IT AIN'T TOO MUCH I HAVEN'T SEEN IN THAT, IN THIS AREA. BUT, UH, I'M HERE BECAUSE, UH, THINGS ARE REAL TOUGH THESE DAYS. AND OUTSIDE OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE STAND AS FAR AS, UM, UM, OUR LEADER OF THE, OUR PRESIDENT, BUT HERE LOCALLY IN THE BUSINESSES, WE ARE REALLY STRUGGLING. WHEN I CAME TO LONG BEACH, UH, EVERYBODY, ALL OF THE BUSINESSES AROUND ME WAS BLACK BUSINESSES. AND NOW IT IS ONLY PROBABLY LIKE AROUND THREE OR FOUR. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, WE ARE STRUGGLING IS THAT, WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE JUST MOVED AWAY FROM LONG BEACH. I'VE NOTICED THAT THE, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS REALLY CHANGED, BUT WE ARE REALLY HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH DRIFTERS. WE HAVING PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS, WE HAVING PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE, UH, THAT'S ARE ON DRUGS, PEOPLE THAT ARE MENTALLY DISTURBED. AND I JUST FEEL JUST RIDING AND LOOKING AROUND TOWN THAT MY DISTRICT SEEMS TO SUFFER THE MOST WITH THAT. AND I, I LATELY BEEN GOING TO DIFFERENT EVENTS, SEEING PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE LITERALLY TELLING ME THEY JUST AFRAID TO COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THOSE THAT FORMALLY LIVED THERE AND KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE, FOR ME TO HEAR THAT FROM THEM, I WAS, UH, SURPRISED. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO SEE HAPPEN, THERE'S MORE SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS, UH, ESPECIALLY THE BLACK BUSINESS. WE GET A LOT OF INFORMATION AFTER THE FACT ABOUT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, UH, ARE OUT THERE TO ADDRESS AND HELP US, UH, IN KEEPING OUR BUSINESS, UH, OPEN AND GOING. BUT THAT INFORMATION KIND OF COMES A LITTLE LATE. I LATELY BEEN GOING TO A FEW MEETINGS WHERE I WAS ACTUALLY THE ONLY BLACK PERSON THERE. UH, MAYBE ONE OR TWO MORE THAT, UH, THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT'S DESIGNED TO HELP, BUT THE WORD IS NOT GETTING OUT, IT'S NOT BEING CIRCULATED. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S COMING UP REAL SOON, UH, THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT, UH, WE TRYING TO, UH, MAYOR GARCIA ON HIS WAY OUT, HE CAME TO ME AND SAID THAT, HEY MAN, I GOT AN IDEA OF GETTING THE VIP RECORD SIGNED BACK OUT TO PUBLIC VIEW. AND HE KINDA RAN IT DOWN TO ME, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE HAD IN MIND. SO, WELL, , I HAD NOTICED MY TIME IS UP. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH, UH, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT DON'T KNOW THE VIP STORY AND EXPLAIN IT TO THEM. AND, UH, MAYBE YOU WILL FEEL, UH, MY, UH, DESIRE TO STAY HERE IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. THANKS, KEL. ALRIGHT, NEXT. GREGORY HAYES. GREGORY HAYES. GOING ONCE, GREG? YES. YES, SIR. [00:40:02] OKAY. AFTER GREGORY IS DENISE, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK OUR TRUE HEARTS AND OUR TRUE MINDS. AND THE THING IS THIS LONG BEACH HAS NOT BEEN THAT GREAT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS. LONG BEACH HAS TREATED AFRICAN AMERICANS LIKE THE SLAVES OF THE 19 HUNDREDS. WHEN WE FIRST CAME HERE, THE POLICE HAVE ALWAYS ATTACKED US. THEY KICKED US OUT OF ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE NO MORE BLACK COMMUNITIES IN LONG BEACH. SO YOU GUYS HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED THE BLACK COMMUNITY. NOW, LEMME TELL YOU, IN 19 70, 69, OR 72, I LIVED IN BELMONT SHORES. OH YEAH. I LIVED IN BELMONT SHORES TOO. I WENT TO JEFFERSON, UH, ELE JEFFERSON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. AND MILLIKEN, IN THOSE DAYS, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE BLACK AMERICANS IN THIS CITY. THE WORST, EVEN WHEN YOU GAVE US ONE POLICE, HE LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME WHILE WAS AT LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. HIS NAME WAS, UH, LAWRENCE ORWELL. LAWRENCE ORWIN. WE WENT TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY TOGETHER. ONE DAY HE BECAME A POLICE OFFICER. I WAS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR. HE THREW AGAINST THE WALL, HE PATTED ME DOWN, AND IT WAS TRAINING DAY FOR HIM. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TREATING BLACK PEOPLE IN YOUR CITY TERRIBLY. WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR EVERYONE'S RIGHTS. AND NOW THERE'S NOT EVEN ANY BLACK REPRESENTATION. BLACK PEOPLE ARE BEGGING FOR A FEW DOLLARS. YOU GUYS ARE, YOU GUYS HAVE BETRAYED THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS COUNTRY, WHO BUILT LONG BEACH. I'VE STUDIED THE HISTORY OF LONG BEACH. THE, THE OVER ONE MINUTE AND 12 SECONDS. PLEASE GIVE ME THAT. I, I STUDIED THE FIRST TIME THAT BLACK PEOPLE CAME TO LONG BEACH. WE WERE THE, THE IMMIGRANTS. THE LATINS WAS OVER THERE ON CALIFORNIA AND, AND, UM, AND CALIFORNIA AND ANAHEIM. WE HAD TENTS THERE. YOU GUYS USED US TO BUILD YOUR CITY. YOU KEPT US THERE IN MY DAYS. OH MAN. TALKING ABOUT, TALKING ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY. HEY, BLACK MAN, DON'T EVEN WALK UP. DON'T EVEN WALK IN IN THE SIGNAL HILL BECAUSE THEY'LL KILL YOU. AND NOW YOU HAVE THIS DIVERSE BOARD OF PEOPLE WHO'S DOING THE SAME THING. AND BECAUSE YOU GOT RID OF ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH ON MOST OF 'EM, YOU GUYS OWE A BET TO BLACK PEOPLE WHEN THEY BEGGING FOR THESE LITTLE CRUMBS. YOU GUYS SHOULD GIVE THEM A LITTLE CRIME. AND I KNOW DEI AND ALL THAT STUFF, 1.3% OF E ALL PEOPLE, THE DE WHAT THEY CALL QUOTE UNQUOTE DEI IS BLACK. 76% IS WHITE WOMEN. AND BUT 1.3% IS TOO MUCH. SIR, YOUR TIMES CONCLUDED. YES. IT'S TOO MANY BLACK PEOPLE. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. AMEN. HELP BLACK PEOPLE IN YOUR CITY. MAN, SNOOP IS WATCHING. BLACK PEOPLE IS WATCHING. THANK YOU. NEXT IS DENISE. AFTER DENISE IS, UH, GLENN. HELLO, MY NAME IS DENISE OLIVER. CINDY, I AM IN YOUR DISTRICT. I LEFT YOU A MESSAGE, CINDY. AND I KNOW YOU BUSY. YOU NEVER CALLED NOBODY. NEVER CALLED. SO I DONE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS WE VOTING FOR Y'ALL. YOU DON'T CARE. THAT'S HOW I FEEL. I'M A DISABLED SENIOR. I HAVE WHEELCHAIR. CPAP, MACHINE, BREATHING MACHINE, 30 MEDICATIONS. I DON'T WANT MY DOCTORS, MY MEDICINES, MY STUFF TAKEN FROM ME. WHERE I CAN'T LIVE. I DON'T CARE. THE RACE, THE RELIGIONS OR YOUR GENDER, WE'RE ALL PEOPLE. SO WHILE EVERYTHING IS BEING TAKEN FROM THE BLUE STATES, THE RED STATES ARE GONNA SUFFER TOO. SO GO AHEAD AND TAKE CARE OF SECTION EIGHT, EBT, SOCIAL SECURITY, TAKE ALL OF IT. 'CAUSE THEN THE RED STATE'S GONNA SUFFER TOO. ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT MEXICO AND CANADA, NO TRUMP TARIFFS. Y'ALL NEED THEM. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT AS SENIORS DISABLED HELPING US. WE LIVING IN RAGGEDY BUILDINGS, [00:45:01] SLUM LORDS. I HAD A BATHROOM BROKE FOR THREE AND A HALF MONTHS. I HAD TO BEG OTHER PEOPLE, CAN I SHOWER AT THEIR HOUSE? AND MY KIDS, MY KIDS WORK HARD, BUT I DON'T DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS. I AM A CITIZEN AND I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SENIOR BUILDING ON FOURTH AND CERRITOS. WELL, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, SWEETIE, I'M GONNA GO OVER TO THE SENIOR BUILDING, GET ALL THE SENIORS TOGETHER, LET 'EM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEN I'M GONNA ASK THE SENIOR BUILDING, SINCE THEY GIVE US FREE LAPTOPS, FREE GIFT BAGS, LET'S GET SOME NEWS MEDIA OUT HERE AND LET 'EM KNOW THESE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE VOTING FOR, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US. THEY AIN'T TRYING TO HELP US. I'M NOT GONNA BE HOMELESS. I'M GONNA KEEP MY PO BOX. I'M GONNA KEEP MY CAR THAT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO DRIVE. I COULD LIVE IN THAT CAR. I DID IT BEFORE. I'M NOT GONNA BE ON THE GROUND. I'M GONNA RECYCLE CANS, PLASTIC BOTTLES. I CAN COVER THAT WHOLE CAR. I CAN HAVE PAJAMAS, PILLOWS, COVERS CLOTHES, FOOD, TAKE WATER, CUT THE TOPS OFF THE WATER. I HAVE SOMETHING TO PEE AND POOPY IN, HONEY. THEN I'M GONNA GET TRASH BAGS AND PUT IT IN THERE. I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO SLEEP ON DEAD ENDS AND IN THE CITIES. 'CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA BE ON THE GROUND. MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED, BUT Y'ALL NEED TO HELP US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. STOP HELPING Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS GLENN LASSETER. ALL RIGHT, AFTER GLENN IS KATHY SNUGS. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNCIL PERSONS AND MAYOR RICHARDSON. UH, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE. I REALLY CAME TONIGHT REALLY TO SEE THIS NEW FACILITY. I HAVEN'T, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN IT. I'M A 30 YEAR RETIREE EMPLOYEE OUT OF PUBLIC WORKS. AND, UH, I ONLY SEE ONE FAMILIAR FACE UP HERE WHEN I RETIRED. THAT'S COUNCILMAN URANGA. I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY ELSE. AND I SEE I, I NOW SEE WHO MY COUNCILMAN IS IN COUNCIL NINE. UH, DR. OTTI, UM, MY CHURCH. I'M A PASTOR OF A SMALL CONGREGATION IN IN THE COUNCIL SIX. I SEE. I MET WITH, UH, DR. SORROW ONCE. UM, BUT I, UH, I'M HERE TONIGHT, UH, IN SUPPORT OF, UH, UH, THE ITEMS THAT WE DID OUTSIDE AND, UH, IN PUBLIC WORKS WAS, UH, AND I, FROM WHAT I HEAR STILL IS A VERY CORRUPT DEPARTMENT. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILMAN RICHARDS, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR RICHARDSON. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IT'S UNDER YOUR DIRECT PURVIEW. I KNOW THAT HAS TO DO WITH TOM MOCA. UM, HE WASN'T THE, UH, CITY MANAGER WHEN I RETIRED. UM, BUT, UM, PUBLIC WORKS, UM, IT'S FROM WHAT I'M HEARING NOW FROM THE FORMER EMPLOYEES, AND I LIVE IN NINE. SO I TALKED TO THE FOUR. I'VE BEEN RETIRED NOW EIGHT YEARS. IT'S STILL AS CORRUPT AS IT WAS WHEN I LEFT. UM, I WAS WHAT I LATER LEARNED FROM MY ATTORNEY CALLED CONSTRUCTIVELY TERMINATED, WHICH MEANS THEY DIDN'T TERMINATE ME, BUT THEY PRESSURED ME OUT. AND SO I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT IT'S STILL THE SAME KIND OF PRESSURE, SAME FIGHT, JUST A DIFFERENT ROUND. UM, AND SO I'D ASK, UH, MARY RICHARDSON AND OF COURSE, UH, ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL PERSONS CONCERN TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT PUBLIC WORKS, PARTICULARLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES BUREAU. UM, I OPENED AN INVESTIGATION THERE YEARS AGO AND BROUGHT IN, UH, INVESTIGATORS. AND WHAT I SAID, THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, OH NO, WE DON'T SEE ANY OF THIS. THAT WAS JUST AS LUDICROUS AS IF I SAID TO THEM, I LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE MYSELF AS A BLACK MAN, AND THEY COME BACK AND SAY, SORRY, SIR, WE DON'T SEE THAT. I HAD FACTS, HARDCORE FACTS AS TO THE RACIAL DISPARITY. AND WHAT I LATER LEARNED IS CALLED RACIAL, UH, DESPAIRED IMPACT PUBLIC WORKS. UM, THE YOUNG MAN, ANTHONY HOLMES, I ADMIRE HIM. I HIRED HIM OUT. PROBABLY WHAT YOU'RE PROBABLY SAYING, WOW. WAY TO GO, LASSETER . BUT I THOUGHT I'D GET A CHUCKLE, LOST SOMEBODY. BUT LISTEN, I'M HERE TONIGHT ON HIS BEHALF. UM, BECAUSE I'D LIKE FOR THINGS TO BE BETTER PUBLIC WORKS. UH, EMPLOYEES WORK HARD. AND I HAVEN'T SEEN A SINGLE DIRECTOR WITH ANY INTEGRITY SINCE THE, THE, THE MAN WHO MADE ME A PUBLIC WORK SUPERVISOR. AND THAT WAS RAYMOND HOLLAND, ONE OF THE KINDEST GENTLEMEN I EVER MET. SO I'D ASK THAT YOU WOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AT PUBLIC WORKS, PARTICULARLY, UH, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL [00:50:01] SERVICES BUREAU AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO KIND OF CLEAN THAT UP. RI MAY I RICHARDSON. THANK YOU, SIR. YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED, SIR, I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, KATHY SNUGS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL. HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. UM, MY NAME IS KATHY SNUGS AND I PROUDLY REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY PEACE AND WELLNESS COLLECTIVE. MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW ME FROM A DECADE LONG SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HEALTH DEPARTMENT FROM 99 TO 2009 AS A BLACK INFANT HEALTH PROJECT COORDINATOR. AND LATER AS A VIOLENCE PREVENTION COORDINATOR. I'VE DEDICATED MY CAREER TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY LEADING INITIATIVES LIKE SAFE PASSES GRANT PROGRAM, HEALING RESPONSE, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. I STAND HERE TODAY TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON SYSTEMIC RACISM, TOXIC WORKPLACE CULTURES AND RETALIATION ALL WHICH PERSIST UNCHECKED WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN 2023. SOME OF THE CITY'S LONG BEACH FINEST REPRESENTATIVES LIKE REVEREND DR. WOOD, MS. EVELYN KNIGHT, MS. MR. KEITH LILLY, MR. JAMES MARKS STOOD BEFORE THIS COUNCIL ADVOCATING FOR REINSTATEMENT AND ASKING FOR ANSWERS AS TO WHY THE CITY OF LONG BEACH VIOLENCE PREVENTION COORDINATOR WAS UH, RELEASED AT THAT TIME. EVEN MAYOR RECH REX APPEARED BAFFLED SEEKING ANSWERS ONLY TO BE TOLD BY THE NOTABLE ABSENT RAMON GARCIA AND OTHERS, THAT THIS WAS MERELY A PERSONNEL ISSUE. AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT IT WAS NOT A PERSONNEL ISSUE ON MY PART, BUT SADLY, A SYSTEMIC ISSUE OF DISCRIMINATION. I WAITED PATIENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR REFRAINING FROM DRAWING NEGATIVE ATTENTION TO THIS CITY, OR AS REPRESENTATIVES WHILE COUNTLESS SUPPORTERS SENT LETTERS AND MADE CALLS PASSIONATELY VOICING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE INJUSTICE OF MY INTER OF MY TERMINATION. FROM POWERHOUSE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, PEGGY PRIESTLEY, FOOD JUSTICE EXPERT, FRANK TAMARILLO AND ROSARIO A OC SEVEN TO THIS DAY, THE PROGRAM I LED AND OFFERED AFTER LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF COMMUNITY, THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM REMAINS ONE OF YOUR ONLY SUCCESSFUL VIOLENCE PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS. YET I'M DISHEARTENED TO KNOW THAT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, SOME OF THIS COUNCIL WERE UNAWARE OF ITS UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS. AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT INABILITY TO HIGHLIGHT A PROGRAM LED BY AN EMPLOYEE THEY WRONGFULLY DISMISSED. I GAVE YOU TIME, I GAVE YOU MY TRUST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD ACT, RECTIFY WHAT WAS A TRUE TRAVESTY. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO REMIND YOU WITH FULL CONFIDENCE THAT WHAT WAS DONE TO ME WAS UNJUST. THE QUESTION NOW IS WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER MARQUIS ANDERSON IS NEXT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARQUIS ANDERSON AND I'M HERE WITH, UH, LONG BEACH ANTI-BLACKNESS COALITION TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF ANTHONY HOLMES, WHO I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH. UH, IN 2005, I LEFT LONG BEACH AND MOVED AWAY TO SAN DIEGO TO ATTEND COLLEGE. I RECALL THIS EVENT MORE AS A REFUGEE SEEKING ESCAPE. I ARRIVED IN SAN DIEGO FOR THE FIRST TIME. I DIDN'T FEEL THE WEIGHT OF ANXIETY AND STRESS PRESSURE DOWN ON ME. BETWEEN 2004 AND 2005, THERE WAS A WAR TAKING PLACE ON THE EAST SIDE OF LONG BEACH. I LIVED ON THE SEVEN, I LIVED ON SEVENTH IN NEBRASKA, NEAR THE EPICENTER OF THE BATTLES. I REMEMBER SEVEN PEOPLE GETTING KILLED IN ONE WEEK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 20 YEARS LATER, LONG BEACH IS STILL PLAGUED WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS, THE SAME ETHNIC TENSIONS EXIST, AND LONG BEACH REMAINS A PLACE THAT IS SCARCELY HABITABLE FOR BLACK FOLKS. MY FAMILY MIGRATED TO LONG BEACH IN THE 1950S, HOPING FOR BETTER ECONOMIC PROSPECTS AND TO ESCAPE THE VIOLENCE OF JIM CROW IN THE SOUTH. MOST OF THEM SETTLED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR KING PARK. MY GRANDPARENTS WENT TO POLY WHERE MY GRANDFATHER WAS A STANDOUT FOOTBALL PLAYER. MY MOTHER AND I BOTH ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM MILLIKEN HIGH SCHOOL. MY FATHER WORKED FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION. UM, HIS BROTHER WAS IN THE NAVY, WAS STATIONED IN THE NAVY AND LONG BEACH, AND AFTERWARDS WORKED IN THE PORT OF LONG BEACH. UM, WHAT MADE MY HIGH SCHOOL YEAR SO ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT WAS THAT, UM, THE ANTI-BLACKNESS THAT WAS PRESENTED. UM, TO ME ANTI-BLACKNESS IS A WAY THAT INSTITUTIONS, GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUALS BUILD THEIR WEALTH, CULTURE, AND IDENTITIES AT THE EXPENSE OF BLACK PEOPLE. THIS IS INGRAINED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IN THE UNITED STATES AND EVEN IN THE [00:55:01] CONSTITUTION. UH, IN AN, IN AN ANTI-BLACK WORLD. BLACK PEOPLE ARE A SOURCE OF EXTRACTION FOR WEALTH, LABOR, AND SCAPEGOATED AND MADE, UH, INVISIBLE AT THE SAME TIME. UH, FOR ME, HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND SEGREGATION, UH, THAT'S THE ELEPHANT OF THE ROOM IN LONG BEACH. UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT. UM, AND FOR ME, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL HOUSELESS, UM, YEARS. UH, AND THAT LED TO MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR MYSELF AND MY MOTHER. UH, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE THAT A LOT OF BLACK FOLKS, UH, STRUGGLE WITH IN, IN LONG BEACH. UM, AND I DEALT WITH DREAD AND PARANOIA, ANXIETY AND ALL THESE THINGS. UM, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR BLACK FOLK ARE FOR BLACK FOLKS IN LOS ANGELES IN LONG BEACH ARE PERSISTENTLY AND DISPROPORTIONATELY HOW I LEADING TO MEANING TO PURSUE LIVELIHOODS THAT FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M AN EDUCATOR AND FOR LONG, FOR THE LONGEST TIME, I WANTED TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE ISSUES GOING ON IN LONG BEACH AND HELP WORKING CLASS FOLKS AND BLACK FOLKS. UM, I'M READY TO DIG IN MY BOOTS AND HANDS INTO THE DIRT IN LONG BEACH AND I'M DEMANDING THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DO THE SAME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOW THE NEXT SPEAKER, I SEE 2 9 2 NAMES SIGNED UP ON ONE LINE. SO HOW'S THAT GONNA WORK? WE'LL BE FAST TOGETHER. SO YOU GUYS ARE GONNA SHARE THREE MINUTES? YEAH. OKAY. BEFORE YOU BEGIN, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO THAT AGAIN. 'CAUSE THERE'S 10 SPEAKERS WE WERE NOT ABLE TO AND IT'S UNFAIR TO THE OTHERS IF WE DO THAT. OKAY, LET'S PROCEED. OKAY. UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DORY CHANDLER. I AFFIRM THE CHALLENGES OF MY FELLOW RESIDENTS. I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE, A CONCERNED PARENT AND A POLICY ADVOCATE WITH A COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR. WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THERE ARE REAL CONSEQUENCES TO INACTION ON AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE, EVEN BEFORE THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS TO AIR QUALITY FROM THE WILDFIRES. WE LIVE IN THE MOST POLLUTED AIR DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY WITH MANY OF OUR FRONTLINE AND PORT SIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN LONG BEACH, HAVING SIX TO EIGHT YEARS LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY. WE DON'T MEET OUR FEDERAL AIR ATTAINMENT STANDARDS OR EVEN OUR OWN COMMUNITY STANDARDS FOR CLEAN AIR. THERE IS MUCH MORE OUR LOCAL LEADERSHIP CAN DO HERE THAT WILL AFFECT THE LIVES OF ALL OF US IN LONG BEACH. ONE OPPORTUNITY COMING UP BEFORE YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON. THIS THURSDAY IS A VOTE OF THE CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE AND WHO WILL BE THE NEXT LEADER REPRESENTING OUR CITY ON THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT GOVERNING BOARD. AS YOU DID SO WELL, THE BODY THAT REGULATES OUR REGIONAL AIR EMISSIONS. WE NEED A LEADER WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE FIRST, WHO SUPPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH. WE AT THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS ARE SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBER JUAN MUNOZ GUVERA FOR THIS ROLE. HE'S A PROVEN ADVOCATE AND KNOWS ABOUT THIS POLLUTION FIRSTHAND. HE HAS WORKED ON SOLUTIONS, BRINGING A 200 TRUCK EV CHARGING FACILITY TO HIS CITY. LEADING EFFORTS TO JOIN THE CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE L LEG LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS BOARD. PLEASE CONSIDER USING OUR LONG BOY LONG BEACH VOICE TO ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR. THANK YOU. UM, I'M KATE SOFF AND I AM HERE REPRESENTING TEMPLE ISRAEL'S SUBCOMMITTEE ON CLIMATE CHANGE. AND THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OUR MEMBERS HERE, UM, TO SUPPORT. UM, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING NEAR THE PORT AND SUFFERING FROM POOR AIR QUALITY. AND WE ALSO WANT TO URGE, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON TO VOTE FOR MR. MUNOZ GUEVARA FOR THE SOUTH COAST, UH, AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. WE BELIEVE HE'S THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE AND WILL BE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR AIR QUALITY SOLUTIONS. UM, I WANNA MENTION THAT THE JEWISH HOLIDAY OF TVA IS THIS MONTH. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS HEARD OF IT, BUT IT'S THE BIRTHDAY OF THE TREES. UM, SO WE CELEBRATE NATURE. WE SHOW OUR GRATITUDE TO THE EARTH. SO IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS HOLIDAY, UM, WE ARE REALLY HOPEFUL THAT OUR MAYOR WILL HELP US MAKE A POWERFUL CREATIVE PROGRESS, UM, IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS CAPRICE MCDONALD, THEN ANTHONY HOLMES. GOD IS GOOD. I'M GONNA GET RIGHT TO THE POINT. ON JUNE 23RD, 2020, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND THE HISTORY OF IT. HOWEVER, THE CITY HAS YET TO ESTABLISH EMPLOYEE PRACTICES THAT ADDRESS AND ELIMINATE ACTS OF RACISM AGAINST EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE WORKPLACE. AND I KNOW, 'CAUSE I WAS THERE HISTORICALLY, BLACK EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN BYPASSED IN PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, [01:00:02] YET A NON-BLACK, LESS SENIOR EMPLOYEE WITH LESS EXPERIENCES PROMOTED. AND TODAY THAT'S STILL HAPPENING. THE BLACK CITY EMPLOYEES ARE STILL RECEIVING DISPARATE TREATMENT. BLACK NON CITY EMPLOYEES ARE EXPERIENCING RACISM, AGEISM, FAVORITISM, AND WHATEVER OTHER ISMS THAT I MIGHT'VE MISSED. OKAY. SO IN NOVEMBER OF 2024, MEASURE JB TO CHANGE THE CITY'S CHARTER WAS PASSED BY VOTERS. UNBEKNOWN THE PASSING OF MEASURE. JB ELIMINATED EMPLOYEE PROTECTION AND THE OVERSIGHT OF FAIR HIRING FOR CLASSIFIED POSITIONS. SO, REX, YOUR MEASURE JB IS THE VERSION OF PROJECT 2025. AND EVERYONE, WE ARE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THAT NOW. OKAY. IT CAUSES ELIMINATION PROJECT 2025 OF FEDERAL POSITIONS PROVIDING OVERSIGHT TO THE GOVERNMENT JUST AS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS ELIMINATED THE OVERSIGHT OF ITS POSITION. SO I'M, I'M A LITTLE PERPLEXED WHEN YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT DEI BECAUSE IF YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT DEI, WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHY DID YOU GET RID OF CIVIL SERVICE? THE FRAMEWORK FROM THE RECONCILIATION. IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, BUT THAT'S JUST WHERE IT RESTS. OKAY. PLEASE STOP TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT THERE'S BEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO GET IT OUT THERE TO ALL THE ORGANIZATION, THE CITY EMPLOYEE. I WORKED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR 24 PLUS YEARS. I JUST, WHAT? WE HAD SOMEONE THAT REPRESENTED OUR DEPARTMENT. SOMEONE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING OUR DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK AND SHARE A POWERPOINT. THAT'S IT. AND LAST I WANNA SAY THOSE OF THE YOU THAT ARE CONSIDERED BLACK AND HIGH PLACES. I'VE LEARNED, I'VE LEARNED THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE IN HIGH PLACES DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE GONNA SERVE US. I'M PROUD TO BE THE 92% AND I'VE REFUSED TO BE WELL-BEHAVED IN THIS CHAPTER OF MY LIFE. BLACK BY NATURE AND PROUD BY CHOICE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ANTHONY HOLMES. IT'S NOTHING LIKE A BLACK MOVEMENT. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE MOVE IN INTENTION AND AS A COLLECTIVE AND ADDRESSING THE PERSISTENCE RACISM AGAINST THE BLACK RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH, WE SHOULD CELEBRATE LONG BEACH FOR ITS DIVERSITY. BUT THAT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN LONG BEACH IS EXEMPT FROM SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION. AND MANY OF US KNOW TOO WELL THE ANTI-BLACKNESS CONTINUES TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. FROM OVER POLICING AND HOUSING INEQUITIES TO DISPARITIES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. BLACK RESIDENTS FACE CHALLENGES THAT DEMAND ME MEANINGFUL, MEANINGFUL ACTION. IN 2020, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON INTRODUCED A RACIAL RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE AND WE ALL CHEERED. WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A BOLD STEP IN ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACISM AND FOSTERING EQUITY. THREE YEARS LATER, WE SEE IT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A WAY TO PACIFY US. IN THE WAKE OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE CITY HAD NO INTENTIONS OF TAKING REAL ACTION AND INVESTING TIME OR RESOURCES. RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. TONIGHT WE GATHER TO HIGHLIGHT THE REALITIES IN THE ANTI-BLACKNESS IN OUR CITY. AND DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRESS IN THE INJUST IN OUR, IN, IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES EQUAL RECOGNITION OF, OF OUR CULTURAL RELEVANCE WITH THE NAMING CELEBRATION OF PAN AFRICATOWN. WITH THIS, WE WANT THE SAME ATTENTION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EDUCATION, LEARNING, EC ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS TO PROMOTE A LIV, A LIVABLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY IMPARTIAL ENTITIES, FREE FROM ANY TIES FROM THE CITY, SHOULD EXAMINE DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS WITHIN CITY EMPLOYMENT. WE WANT THE FINDINGS TO BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. THE FINDINGS SHOULD RESULT IN POLICIES THAT PREVENT THE CITY FROM CONTINUALLY PAYING, PAYING ON DISCRIMINATION SETTLEMENTS WITH, WITH TAXPAYERS MONEY. EQUAL TREATMENT FROM POLICE. IF A WHITE MAN WHO HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS AND A WEAPON CAN BE SUBDUED, SUBDUED WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A K NINE, A BLACK MAN THAT LIVE IN THE SAME STATE SHOULD NOT RECEIVE A FLASH, BANG AND GUNFIRE. WE WANT THE CITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS FAILINGS REGARDING THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND HAVE REAL CONVERSATION THAT RESULTS IN REAL CHANGE [01:05:01] FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY. MAYOR REX, ALL AUGUST 9TH, REMEMBER ME AND YOU HAD THAT CONVERSATION UNDERGROUND CITY HALL PARKING LOT WHEN I TOLD YOU THAT OUR PEOPLE, THE, THE COMMUNITY LEADER SAID YOU NOT FOR US. WHAT YOU TELL ME, F**K THEM N****S. THEY DIDN'T HELP ME GET HERE OR THEY HERE TONIGHT AND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT TOO. SO ALL Y'ALL LOOK AT THEM AND I WANT YOU TO TELL THEM WHAT YOU TOLD ME. BLACK LIVES MATTER. WE AIN'T TAKING NO MORE. YOU NEED TO FIRE TOM MOCA ASS RIGHT NOW. ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON WITH THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. UM, ALRIGHT, SO NEXT WE HAVE HEARING ITEM NUMBER 23, REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD. CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION. CONTINUING THE FOURTH STREET PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA ASSESSMENT LEVY FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. DISTRICT TWO. THERE IS ALSO AN OATH FOR THIS. UM, PLEASE STAND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TESTIFY ON THE ITEM. DO YOU SOLEMNLY STATE THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE AND THE CAUSE NOW IMP PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY [23. 25-54160 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution continuing the Fourth Street Parking and Business Improvement Area assessment levy for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025; and authorize City Manager, or designee, to extend the agreement with the Fourth Street Business Improvement Association for a one-year term. (District 2)       Office or Department: Economic Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. SO HELP YOU GOD, YOU MAY BE SEATED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU TOM. TAKE US AWAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE JULIAN SODA, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUREAU MANAGER FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE A OVERVIEW OF THIS ITEM. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE FOURTH STREET PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA, ALSO KNOWN AS A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2007. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE LEVY OF AN ANNUAL BUSINESS LICENSE ASSESSMENT TO BE PAID BY THE BUSINESSES LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT. THE CITY CONTRACTS WITH THE FOURTH STREET BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION TO MANAGE THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTOR SERVES AS THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE DISTRICT STATE LAW GOVERNING THIS DISTRICT REQUIRES THAT AN ANNUAL REPORT BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT DESCRIBES THE BOUNDARIES, PROPOSED AREAS, AND BUDGETARY INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE METHOD AND BASIS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE ASSESSMENT. DANIEL REPORT PROPOSES NO CHANGES TO THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES METHOD OF ASSESSMENT AND NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES. STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT A PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD ON THE PROPOSED PROGRAM AND ASSESSMENT. AT ITS JANUARY 7TH, 2025, MEETING CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION GRANTING APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL REPORT, DECLARING THE INTENTION OF THE CITY TO CITY COUNCIL TO LEVY THE ASSESSMENT AND TO SET TODAY AS THE DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING. THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL HEAR AND CONSIDER ALL PROTESTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE FOURTH STREET PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA AGAINST THE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM AND BOUNDARIES OF THE AREA AS PROPOSED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT. THIS CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL, NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE ON ITEM 23? I DON'T SEE ANY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE IT BACK. UH, BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN? YES. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE FOURTH STREET, THE CREW, THE BUSINESSES, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO, UH, SUPPORT THIS AGREEMENT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. ALL RIGHT. AND NOW I WANNA OFFER MY, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOURTH STREET BID. THEY'RE DOING INCREDIBLE, UH, WORK ON FOURTH STREET RETRO ROW. IT'S, UH, ONE OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, ONE OF THE, UH, DISTRICTS THAT ARE DOING SOME, YOU KNOW, JUST, IT'S AN ATTRACTION WHEN PEOPLE COME TO TOWN TO SEE THE ACTIVATION. FOURTH FRIDAYS AND SOME OF THE OTHERS. UH, SO WE WANT TO GIVE YOU ENCOURAGEMENT. KEEP GOING, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS TONIGHT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. NEXT IS HEARING ITEM 24. PLEASE REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD. CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION. CONTINUING THE LONG BEACH TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA ASSESSMENT LEVY FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. DISTRICT 1, 2, 4, AND FIVE. THERE IS ALSO AN OATH REQUIRED FOR THIS HEARING. PLEASE STAND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TESTIFY ON THIS ITEM. DO YOU SOLEMNLY STATE THAT TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE IN THE CAUSE? NOW, IMP PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. SO HELP YOU GOD. YOU MAY BE SEATED. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. MR. MODIGA. OR APRIL? YES. YES, WE HAVE JULIAN AGAIN WITH, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UM, THE LONG BEACH BUSINESS TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA, L-B-T-B-I-A WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2005. AND THIS ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE LEVY OF AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT TO BE PAID BY THE HOTELS WITH GREATER THAN 30 ROOMS LOCATED IN THE TOURISM AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT [01:10:01] AREA. THE CITY CONTRACTS WITH THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU TO MANAGE THE TOURISM AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA, AND THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS SERVES AS THE ADVISORY BOARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS RELATED TO THAT AREA. STATE LAW GOVERNING THIS DISTRICT REQUIRES THAT AN ANNUAL REPORT BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, LIKE THE PREVIOUS REPORT, THE ANNUAL REPORT DESCRIBES BOUNDARIES, PROPOSED ACTIVITIES, BUDGETARY INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE METHOD AND BASIS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE ASSESSMENT. DANIEL REPORT PROPOSES NO CHANGE TO THE AREA BOUNDARIES OR THE METHOD OF LEVYING THE ASSESSMENT. THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES WILL FOCUS ON PROMOTING AND MARKETING LONG BEACH AS A DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS AND CONVENTIONS. THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL ALSO HEAR AND CONSIDER ALL PROTESTS FROM HOTEL OPERATORS AGAINST THE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM AND BOUNDARIES OF THE AREA AS PROPOSED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT. THIS ALS UH, CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. JOSEPH DEMETRIUS LYLES. I, UH, UM, I, AS FAR AS LIKE FOR ME, I LIKE TO, UM, HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE CALLED SMILEY FT. NON-PROFITABLE TOKENS. AND THE PEOPLE THAT'S, UM, LIKE THE VERNE AREA, UM, TO INCORPORATE LIKE MY LICENSE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAD LIKE DIFFERENT SPOTS THAT THEY COULD RENT AS FAR AS THEY COULD DO A TEMPORARY ASSESSMENT OR CONTINUE BUSINESS AND DO IT THAT WAY. SO I'M LIKE TO PRESENT AND EMERGENCY, LIKE RENT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? TRYING TO HELP THEM OUT. THANK YOU. EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT FROM LONG BEACH, BUT PARTNER UP WITH THEM. OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S IT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ALL. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, UH, LET'S SEE WHO MADE THE MOTION HERE. COUNCILWOMAN. I DON'T SEE A MOTION. I, IT'S NOT ON MY SCREEN. COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S THERE. I PROMISE. OKAY. I SEE IT NOW. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT RECAP OF, UM, ALL THE EVENTS THAT WERE HOSTED IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH. AND THE INCREASE OF 97 MILLION IN LABOR INCOME IS INCREDIBLE. UM, I ALSO AM SO PLEASED TO SEE THAT OUR QUEEN MARY RECEIVED THE SUNSET TRAVEL AWARD AND TO, UH, CONTINUE TO GEN GENERATE REVENUE SINCE ITS GRAND REOPENING. I THINK THE QUEEN MARY HAS REALLY, UM, SHOWED WHAT THE POWER THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY, UM, TO ATTRACT SO MANY PEOPLE, UM, WHO REALLY, UH, ELEVATE OUR ICONIC, UM, ASSETS HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, I'M PROUD OF WHERE WE ARE HEADED, UH, AND I'M VERY PROUD, UM, TO SEE ALL OF THIS COMING FULL CIRCLE AND MORE TO COME YET TO, UH, MORE TO COME, BUT ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE APPROACHING THE OLYMPICS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL RECAP. ALRIGHT. COUNCILMAN ALLEN. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE. ALRIGHT. I'LL OFFER MY SUPPORT HERE. UH, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO SEEING A BIG PRESENTATION, UH, FROM, UH, VISIT LONG BEACH AND, UH, MAYBE WE CAN RESCHEDULE THAT FOR ANOTHER TIME. BUT I JUST WANT TO, UH, OFFER CONGRATULATIONS TO, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE BOARD AT, AT VISIT LONG BEACH AND MEET LONG BEACH FOR ANOTHER LANDMARK YEAR. AND, UM, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE. RIGHT NOW, MUCH OF THEIR WORK HAS BEEN CENTERED ON BRINGING PEOPLE TO OUR CITY FOR MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS. BUT IN THE YEARS TO COME, PEOPLE WILL BE COMING TO LONG BEACH FOR SPORTING EVENTS LIKE THE OLYMPICS AS WELL AS ENTERTAINMENT. UM, AND WHEN PEOPLE COME TO OUR CITY FOR ENTERTAINMENT, THEY, THEY SLEEP IN A HOTEL ROOM THAT CREATES TRANSIT OCCUPANCY TAX THAT HELPS PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND OUR LIBRARIES AND OUR PARKS AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE DEPEND ON WHEN THEY SHOP AT OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS. UH, THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF OUR LOCAL JOBS ARE CREATED AND LOCAL BUSINESSES, LOCAL RESTAURANTS, AND THEY SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY COME TO TOWN FOR TOURISM. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON ANOTHER LANDMARK YEAR. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND, UH, WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS CONTINUATION OF THE, UH, OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. THAT'S MEMBERS. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 26, REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY'S STRATEGIC ROADMAP IN PREPARATION FOR THE 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, SO TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION. IT'S BEEN A LOT, A LOT OF WORK HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE WE BROUGHT ON, UH, [01:15:01] OUR CONSULTANT AND ENGAGED IN OUR LONG BEACH OLYMPIC STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORTS. [26. 25-54162 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the development of the City’s Strategic Roadmap in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Manager         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE WILL BE A MAJOR OLYMPIC CENTER IN 2028. UH, THE NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY NEGOTIATED HAS WERE ANNOUNCED AND NEGOTIATED HAS GROWN, AND OUR PROFILE AND OUR FOOTPRINT HAS CERTAINLY GROWN. WHY HAVE WE RECEIVED SO MUCH GROWTH AND WHY ARE WE NOW GONNA BE A MAJOR OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC CENTER? IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR EXPERIENCE IN HOSTING LARGE SCALE EVENTS, 49 YEARS OF THE LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX. THIS YEAR, WE'LL HAVE 50 YEARS OF, UH, OF, UH, THE SECOND LARGEST STREET RACE IN NORTH AMERICA, SECOND ONLY TO INDIANAPOLIS 500, WHERE WE GET 200,000 PEOPLE, UH, THAT COME TO OUR CITY, UH, FOR, UH, 200 MILE AN HOUR BEACH PARTY. AND IT'S ONE OF OUR, UH, BIGGEST WEEKS ECONOMICALLY IN OUR CITY, AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN. UH, WE ALSO ARE A MAJOR CENTER BECAUSE OF OUR EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY HOSTING OLYMPIC EVENTS GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1932 AND 1984. UH, BUT THIS TIME WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A LARGER FOOTPRINT THAN 32 AND 84 COMBINED. UH, IT'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR US. WHY? FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. ONE, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE OUR PROFILE AS A WORLD CLASS DESTINATION CITY, UH, WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME HERE FOR GREAT FOOD, GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, GREAT CULTURE, GREAT EXPERIENCES. UH, IT'S A OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME OUT OF OUR OWN, UH, UH, SORT OF, UH, SHAPE OUR IDENTITY AND COME OUT OF THE SHADOW OF THE REGION A LITTLE BIT. UH, ALSO IT'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL BENEFITS IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE INSPIRED. UM, UH, IT'S A BIG ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY. AND THEN THIRDLY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM AN ARTS AND CULTURE STANDPOINT, A SPORTS STANDPOINT, A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT. NOW, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WE'RE ONE OF A NUMBER OF, UH, OLYMPIC CENTERS, UH, SPORTS CENTERS THAT'D BE ESTABLISHED. IT'D BE ONE IN INGLEWOOD, ONE IN THE SOUTH BAY, ONE IN LONG BEACH. AND SO THE SUCCESS HERE, A LOT OF CITIES AROUND US, OUR SATELLITE CITIES, OUR SURROUNDING CITIES, ARE DEPENDING ON LONG BEACH. WHEN FOLKS TAKE THE A LINE DOWN TO LONG BEACH, THEY'RE GONNA PASS THROUGH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE EXCITED. UH, EVEN COMPTON, THE COMPTON STATIONS. THINKING ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE PASS THROUGH COMPTON ON THE A LINE TO COME TO LONG BEACH, WHAT'S THAT EXPERIENCE GONNA LOOK LIKE? HOW CAN THEY UPDATE THEIR HISTORY? UH, THE ENTIRE GATEWAY, THE SOUTH BAY AREA, THEY'RE DEPENDING ON LONG BEACH TO GET IT RIGHT. AND WE ARE A REGIONAL SPORTS COMPLEX. IN THIS, UH, IN THIS REPORT, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT SOME MAJOR THEMES, UH, THAT WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON, UM, THAT FOCUS ON HOW WE'RE INCLUSIVE OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND ENGAGING WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. UH, HOW, HOW ARE WE THINKING ABOUT AND APPROACHING PUBLIC SAFETY DURING THE EVENTS? AND WHAT INTENTIONAL EFFORTS WE DOING TO LEAVE ARE WE MAKING TO LEAVE A LEGACY IN PLACE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS? UH, AT THE STATE OF THE CITY, I'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOME OF THE ADVISORY GROUPS, UH, THAT ARE BEGINNING TO MEET. AND, YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF, UH, FOLKS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, UH, FORMER OLYMPIANS, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS, AND, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE GONNA BE A PART OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO HELP OUR PLANNING EFFORTS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. UH, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, AND I THINK THIS IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, THAT WE'LL BE HOSTING NOT JUST THE OLYMPIC GAMES, BUT ALSO THE PARALYMPIC GAMES, WHICH ARE, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN ITS OWN RIGHT. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT THE OLYMPICS AND THE PARALYMPICS ARE HOSTED IN THE SAME PLACE IN NORTH AMERICA. AND SO THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN. EVERY TIME THERE'S A PARA, THE PARALYMPICS TAKES PLACE, THERE'S AN AWAKENING. PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED AND, AND INSPIRED, AND YOU'LL SEE A NUMBER OF THINGS TAKE PLACE. YOU MAY SEE FOLKS ASPIRE TO A DIFFERENT FUTURE THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE THEY COULD HAVE BEFORE. AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE MORE INTEREST IN, UM, UH, ALL ABILITIES, YOUTH PROGRAMS IN YOUR CITY AND ABILITY AND, AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND ENGAGE WHERE THEY WOULDN'T BEFORE. SO LET'S NOT BE SURPRISED BY THAT. LET'S PREPARE FOR THAT NOW. LET'S PREPARE FOR THAT TODAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE WILL INSPIRE AN ENTIRELY NEW GENERATION OF, OF ATHLETES AND OLYMPIANS. AND IN THE REALITY WITH THE PARA PARALYMPICS. NOT ALL OF THE PARALYMPIANS ACTUALLY KNOW THAT THEY'LL BE PARALYMPIANS TODAY, UH, BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED THEIR DISABILITY YET. AND SO THERE'S GREAT RESPONSIBILITY IN STEPPING UP TO BE BOTH AN OLYMPIC AND A PARALYMPIC HOST. AND, AND WE ARE CERTAINLY, UH, THINKING ABOUT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO THAT SAID, WE'LL NOW GET INTO THE PRESENTATION. UH, MR. MOKA, TAKE US AWAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT RUNUP. UM, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE'RE PLANNING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. AND, UH, OUR CHANCE TO REALLY LEAVE A MARK, UH, ON THE WORLD AS, UH, THE WORLD COMES TO LONG BEACH. UH, WE'VE BEEN VERY PURPOSEFUL IN, UH, ASKING FOR SOME ASSISTANCE AND BRINGING ON EXPERTS THAT HAVE DONE GAMES BEFORE. AT THIS LEVEL, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT OF INTERNAL SUPPORT FOR, UH, DOING, YOU KNOW, MAJOR EVENTS, BUT NOTHING LIKE THE OLYMPICS. AND SO WE HAVE RELIED ON A LOT OF EXPERTISE. UH, WE BROUGHT ON STAFF THAT, UH, ARE DEDICATED TO THIS. WE HAVE DR. UH, TYLER CURLEY HERE, AND JORGE [01:20:01] GRINA, WHO ARE TWO OF OUR, UH, REALLY, UH, LARGE LEADS IN THE AREA OF OLYMPICS, UH, TO KIND OF GO THROUGH IT. AND THIS IS A CHANCE, UH, TO GIVE INPUT. THESE ITERATIVE DOCUMENTS ARE GONNA BE ITERATIVE. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT WORK THAT IS, THAT IS IN THE ACTUAL REPORT, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THAT. UM, BUT AS WE NEED TO ADAPT AND CHANGE, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THAT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. SO I WILL TURN TO THE TEAM TO WALK US THROUGH, UH, THE ROADMAP. ALRIGHTY, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT. TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, UM, LAST YEAR WE HAD A COUPLE ITEMS WHERE WE UPDATED YOU MAINLY ON SOME OF THE AGREEMENTS AND THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND LA 28. UM, BUT TONIGHT IS REALLY AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING INTERNALLY, UH, TO PREPARE THE CITY FOR THE 2028 GAMES. AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, AS WE RAMP UP A LOT MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WANT TO GET MORE INPUT, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THE COMMUNITY, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, OUR YOUTH SPORTS LEADERS, ARTS AND CULTURE LEADERS, AND OTHERS WANT US TO BE, UM, AS WE PREPARE FOR THE 2028 GAMES. SO, UH, WE WANNA WALK YOU THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR ROLE IS WITH THE 2028 GAMES, UM, EMPHASIZING A LOT OF WHAT THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY MENTIONED. UM, AND THEN WE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW WE DEVELOPED THIS, UH, STRATEGIC ROADMAP, ESPECIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH SOME OF OUR EXISTING CITY PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIC PLANS. UM, AND THEN JORGE WILL WALK US THROUGH WHAT THE PHASED APPROACH IS TO PREPARING AND PLANNING FOR 2028 AND EACH OF THE STEPS, UH, THAT WE NEED TO WALK THROUGH, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED. AND THEN, UH, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT SOME OF OUR LONG-TERM, LONG-TERM LEGACY IMPACTS ARE GONNA BE AS PART OF THE OLYMPICS. UM, AND LIKE I MENTIONED, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT WITH, UH, WHAT OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS WANNA SEE AS WELL. UM, AND THEN WE'LL END WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING IN INTERNALLY AS WE, UH, PLAN FOR AND PREPARE FOR THE OLYMPICS. SO, UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE THE LARGEST, UM, VENUE CITY OUTSIDE OF THE HOST CITY LA SO AT THIS MOMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, THE NUMBER OF SPORTS SEEMS TO CHANGE, UM, BUT WE EXPECT THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE AND MORE, HOPEFULLY AS WE GO ALONG. AND, UH, LA 28 IS ABLE TO FINALIZE ALL OF THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC SPORTS IN LONG BEACH. BUT WE DO HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THE, UM, CONVENTION CENTER, THE ARENA, UM, AS ONE MAIN SPORTS HUB, AND THEN ALAMEDOS BEACH, BELMONT SHORE, AND MARINE STADIUM, ALL AS DIFFERENT LOCATIONS FOR THE EVENTS. UM, AND THEN OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC SPORTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE, UM, WHICH IS BIGGER, UM, FOOTPRINT THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE HISTORY OF OUR, UH, TIME WITH THE OLYMPICS. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE DID HOST EVENTS IN 1932 AND 1984, AND WE'VE, UM, ALSO HOSTED, UM, PREPARATION EVENTS AND, UH, TRIALS AND THAT TYPE OF THING HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, WE ALSO HAVE, OF COURSE, A REPUTATION. AND, UM, WE HAVE WORLD CLASS ATHLETES THAT ARE COMING OUTTA LONG BEACH EVERY YEAR THROUGH OUR HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEMS. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO HAVE A LONG LEGACY AND PRESENCE THAT ARE RELATED TO THE OLYMPICS, BUT WE KNOW 2028 IS EVEN MORE AND GREATER. UM, AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAPITALIZING ON THAT AND WE'RE LEVERAGING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. UM, SO THIS IS WHERE WE KNOW THAT THE OLYMPICS IS, AND THE PARALYMPICS ARE MORE THAN JUST A FEW WEEKS SPECIAL EVENT. UH, THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN REALLY PUT THE GLOBAL SPI SPOTLIGHT ON LONG BEACH. WE CAN GET OUT OF THE SHADOW OF LOS ANGELES IN A LOT OF WAYS. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW, UM, THAT WE'RE HERE AND THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER. UM, AND WE KNOW WE ALSO NEED TO PREPARE AND PLAN FOR NOT ONLY THE PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIAL EVENTS NEEDS AROUND, UM, EACH OF THE EVENTS, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR ARTS CULTURE, UH, BUSINESSES, YOUTH SPORTS, AND OTHER KIND OF, UH, COMMUNITY GROUPS HERE IN LONG BEACH, SO THAT WE BRING THE GAMES TO THEM AS WELL. AND WE HAVE LONG-TERM COMMUNITY BENEFITS. SO, UM, THIS SHOULD BE FAMILIAR, UH, BASED ON PREVIOUS UPDATES THAT WE'VE PROVIDED. BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL IMPORTANT KIND OF SERVICES AND ROLES THAT WE'LL PLAY AS PART OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH LA 28. AND SOME OF THESE ARE JUST BASIC CORE CITY SERVICES THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE, UM, FOR ANY SPECIAL EVENT. AND THEN OTHERS ARE OVER AND ABOVE, JUST BASED ON THE SCALE OF THIS EVENT. SO OBVIOUSLY PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE SECURITY, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION, UM, ZONING AND PERMITS, WORKING WITH LA 28 ON KIND OF THE, THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR THEIR EVENTS. UM, COORDINATING WITH OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS, UH, LOOKING AT WAYS TO, UM, OFFSET THE IMPACTS OF, UH, PARKING [01:25:01] AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES TO MOVE PEOPLE TO AND FROM THE DIFFERENT EVENTS. UH, WE ALSO HAVE A ROLE IN THE CITY LOOK AND THE WAY FINDING SIGNAGE, WHICH IS A REALLY INTERESTING AND, UM, EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SHOWCASING LONG BEACH ALONGSIDE, UM, SHOWING PEOPLE HOW TO GET TO THE DIFFERENT EVENT VENUES. UH, PROTOCOL IS ANOTHER EXCITING OPPORTUNITY WHERE, AGAIN, WE CAN GROW OUR REPUTATION, WE'LL HAVE MORE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS THAN WE'VE LIKELY EVER HAD, UH, WANTING TO COME TO LONG BEACH, AND WE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO HOST THEM, UM, AND TO GET MORE CONNECTED IN WITH OUR REGIONAL CONSULAR CORE AND OTHER, UM, INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEN, OF COURSE, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA IS ANOTHER, UM, AREA WHERE THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY A LEAD ROLE. SO, UM, YOU MAY REMEMBER IN DECEMBER, 2023, WE CAME TO YOU WITH A, A CONTRACT, UM, REQUESTING TO APPROVE, UM, A CONTRACT WITH KPMG TO START OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS. SO WE KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE SCALE OF THIS EVENT, UM, IS MUCH LARGER THAN ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED. SO WE BROUGHT KPMG OUR CONSULTANTS ON BOARD TO, UM, WORK WITH US TO ESTABLISH AND DEVELOP THIS STRATEGIC ROADMAP, UH, THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT. UM, THEY DID OVER 60 STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, UM, WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE IMPACTED WITH YOU ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, UM, TO GET, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE KEY PRIORITIES ARE FROM YOU ALL, UM, FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF PREPARING FOR THE 2028 GAMES. THEY ALSO LOOKED THROUGH OUR EXISTING CITY PLANS, LIKE THE 2030 STRATEGIC VISION ELEVATE 28 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PLAN, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BLUEPRINT, OUR FRAMEWORK FOR RECONCILIATION, SOME OF OUR CORE GUIDING DOCUMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLAN, UM, AND THE ROADMAP THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING FOR THE OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS IS IN LINE WITH. AND WE'LL ADVANCE OUR OTHER STRATEGIC GOALS AND PRIORITIES. UM, AND AS, UH, TOM MENTIONED, THEY ALSO HAVE FOLKS ON THEIR STAFF THAT, UM, HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. SO THEY HAVE INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING TO US AND TO HELP US AS WE PREPARE AND PLAN FOR 2028. SO THAT'S JUST SOME CONTEXT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, INTRO FOR THE PLAN, AND THEN I'LL PASS IT OVER TO JORGE TO WALK US THROUGH WHAT'S IN THE ROADMAP ITSELF. SO STRATEGIC ROADMAP PROVIDES A STRUCTURED FRAMEWORK FOR HOW THE CITY WILL PREPARE, UH, TO EXECUTE AND MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF HOSTING THE GAMES, ENSURING ALIGNMENT WITH LONG BEACH'S LONG-TERM GOALS, CLARIFYING THE CITY'S ROLE, GUIDING KEY DECISIONS, AND MAXIMIZING COST RECOVERY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES. THE ROADMAP FOCUSES ON SIX KEY OBJECTIVES, A COMMITMENT TO MAXIMIZING ALL AVAILABLE COST RECOVERY FOR CITY SERVICES DURING THE GAMES PERIOD, WHICH IS A DIRECTIVE WE RECEIVED FROM CITY COUNCIL AND PREVIOUS MEETINGS, UH, FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING LASTING LEGACY COMMUNITY BENEFITS THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND LEG LEGACY PROGRAMS IN ARTS CULTURE, AND YOUTH SPORTS, PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY AND EFFECTIVE COORDINATION WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES. LEVERAGING THE GAMES TO BOOST LOCAL BUSINESSES, TOURISM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PLACING A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION TO ALL LONG BEACH COMMUNITIES, EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, STAFFING, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY. BY STRUCTURING OUR EFFORTS AROUND THESE OBJECTIVES, WE CAN ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL AND WELL ORGANIZED EVENT, WHILE ALSO MAXIMIZING LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO STAY ON TRACK. WE'RE WORKING THROUGH, UH, WORKING TOWARDS SEVERAL KEY MILESTONES, UH, IN OCTOBER OF 2025. SO OCTOBER THIS YEAR WE'LL BE NORMAL. WE'LL BE, UH, FINALIZING OUR NORMAL AND CUSTOMARY SERVICES. PLAN WAS LA 20, UH, WITH LA 28, AND THEN BY OCTOBER OF 2026, WE'LL SIGN OUR ENHANCED CITY REHO RESOURCES MASTER AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL DEFINE THE, UH, KEY MUNICIPAL SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDING IN SUPPORT OF THE GAMES. AND THEN, AND BY 2026, WE ANTICIPATE VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT WILL BEGIN AS WELL AS TICKET SALES WILL BE OPENING. AND THEN THAT LEADS US UP TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES, THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES, WHICH OPENED IN JULY OF 2028, UM, AND ACTUALLY FOLLOWED THE PARALYMPICS, UH, ACTUALLY OPENED IN AUGUST, 2028. SO, UH, OLYMPICS 20 JULY, AND PARALYMPICS IN AUGUST. SO OUR FIRST PHASE IN THE PLAN IS THE FOUNDATION PHASE. SO THIS IS WHERE WE LAY ALL OF THE GROUNDWORK. SO THIS IS A PHASE WE STARTED, UH, LAST YEAR, WHICH WILL BE WRAPPING UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. AND THIS PHASE WE'VE BEEN ESTABLISHING GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES AND DEFINING ROLES ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, FINALIZING OUR AGREEMENTS WITH LA 28, PARTICULARLY REGARDING VENUES AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES, ASSESSING CITY RESOURCES, INCLUDING STAFFING, OPERATIONAL COSTS, AND DEPARTMENT CAPACITY, CONDUCTING A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL CHALLENGES, INITIATING OUR LEGACY PLAN FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE LONG-TERM BENEFITS. AND SOME OF THE KEY MILESTONES OF THIS PHASE INCLUDE THE APPROVAL OF THE GAMES AGREEMENT, [01:30:01] WHICH OCCURRED LAST YEAR, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CITYWIDE COORDINATION STRUCTURE, AND THE LAUNCH OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUPS. UH, THE NEXT PHASE, UH, IS WHERE WE SHIP FROM PLANNING TO IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE STARTING ACTUALLY NOW, UM, LEADING TO THE REST OF 2025, AND THEN GOING INTO 2027. DURING THIS PHASE, WE'LL BE FINALIZING, UM, UH, THE ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL AGREEMENTS WITH, UH, WITH, UH, LA 28 TO DEFINE OUR CITY OBLIGATIONS. UH, DEPARTMENTS WILL DEVELOP THEIR GAMES, TIME, OPERATIONAL PLANS. WE'LL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE CLOSELY WITH TRANSIT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES. WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT THE LEGACY PROGRAMS. WE'LL WE'VE DEVELOPED, UM, IN THE FOUNDATION PHASE, WHICH ARE FOCUSED ON ARTS, SMALL BUSINESS AND NEW SPORTS. AND THEN WE'LL BE EXPANDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. THE KEY MILESTONES FOR THIS PHASE INCLUDE FINALIZING SERVICE AGREEMENTS, LAUNCHING READINESS EXERCISES, AND SECUR, SECURING NECESSARY CITYWIDE RESOURCES FOR GAMES TIMES OP OPERATION. THAT LEADS US TO THE, UH, TESTING AND DELIVERY PHASE IN 2027 THROUGH 2028. UM, THIS PHASE WILL FOCUS ON READINESS AND FINAL PREPARATIONS. WE'LL BE CONDUCTING CITYWIDE EXERCISES TO TEST EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND LOGISTICS SUPPORTING TEST EVENTS IN 2027 TO EVALUATE OPERATIONAL PLANS, REFINING FINAL STAFFING AND CONTINGENCY PLANS, SHIFTING TO INTEGRATED VENUE OPERATIONS, AND THEN LAUNCHING OUR COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS AND PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS. MILESTONES FOR THIS PHASE INCLUDE VENUE REDNESS, EVALUATIONS, CONDUCTING REDNESS EXERCISES, AND ULTIMATELY THE START OF THE GAMES IN JULY OF 2028. ONCE THE GAMES CONCLUDE, WE SHIFT TO THE DISILLUSION AND LEGACY EFFORTS, UM, FROM 2028 THROUGH 2029. AND THIS PHASE WE'LL FINALIZE OUR CITY OPERATIONS AND RECONCILE RECONCILING FINANCES WITH LA 28. WE'LL CLOSE OUT ANY CONTRACTS AND, UM, ANY LEGAL MATTERS THAT ARE PENDING. RESTORE OUR VENUES AND PUBLIC SPACES FOR POST GAMES USE DOCUMENT OUR CITY'S ROLE IN THE GAMES THROUGH ARCHIVING RECORDS AND PUBLIC REPORTS, AND THEN RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEERS AND HOPEFULLY DISTRIBUTING ANY LEFTOVER SPORTS EQUIPMENT FOR COMMUNITY USE IF AVAIL, IF AVAILABLE. MILESTONES FOR THIS PHASE INCLUDE, UH, VENUE TRANSITIONS, FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION, AND THE PUBLICATION OF FINAL REPORTS IN 2029. A KEY PART OF OUR PLAN IS, UM, IS LEGACY. SO THE, THE 2028 GAMES REALLY REPRESENT A TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE LONG BEACH GLOBALLY AND SUPPORT INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CREATE THOSE LASTING LEGACY BENEFITS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. WE'RE FOCUSING ON THREE CORE THEMES IN OUR PLAN EQUITY TO ENSURE ALL COMMUNITIES BENEFIT, PARTICULARLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY TO SECURE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT LEGACY WITH A FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESSES, ARTS AND CULTURE AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING. AND ALL OF THESE EFFORTS REALLY ALSO ALIGN WITH OUR 2030 STRATEGIC VISION TO CREATE A THRIVING, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. THE ELEVATE 28 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PLAN IS A, IS A MAJOR INVESTMENT STRATEGY THAT SUPPORTS NOT ONLY THE 2028 GAMES, BUT ALSO THOSE LONG-TERM LEGACY COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS. AS PART OF THE FY 25 CITY COUNCIL EXPANDED THE PLAN TO OVER 930 MILLION WITH PROJECT SPANNING MOBILITY, SAFETY, PUBLIC SPACES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. OF THAT TOTAL, APPROXIMATELY 210 MILLION IS SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO OLYMPIC LEGACY PROJECTS, ENSURING THAT THAT IMPROVEMENTS MADE FOR THE GAMES WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY FOR DECADES TO COME. SOME OF THE KEY IN INVESTMENTS IN, IN THOSE OLYMPIC LEGACY PROJECT AREAS INCLUDE PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS, AND IMPROVE MOBILITY AND SAFETY AROUND OLYMPIC VENUES AND, AND CITYWIDE AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE KEY TRANSPORTATION AND EVENT FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE VISITORS AND LONG-TERM USE. AND THEN WATER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT AT ALL MILLS BAY TO STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND WATERFRONT ACCESS. BEYOND THESE OLYMPIC FOCUSED PROJECTS, THE BROADER ELEVATE 28 PLAN, AS MENTIONED, INVEST IN, UH, FUNDS, INVESTMENTS IN PARKS, PUBLIC FACILITIES, RIGHT AWAY, IMPROVEMENTS AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES OUTSIDE OF THOSE LEGACY OLYMPIC LEGACY CATEGORIES. UM, AND THEN TO ENSURE COMMUNITY VOICES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROCESS, WE'RE ALSO LAUNCHING COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUPS. THOSE GROUPS WILL BE FOCUSED ON ARTS AND CULTURE, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND USE SPORTS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THESE GROUPS, UM, ARE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAMMATIC AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY FOCUS AREAS, IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY MESSAGING. UM, WE'RE ALSO ACTIVATING A LEGACY FUND AND DEV AND, UH, LEGACY FUND DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP GROUP THAT WILL HELP US EXPLORE AND ORGANIZE AROUND THE CREATION OF A LONG BEACH 2028 GAMES, ENDOWMENT OR LEGACY FUND, AND RECOMMEND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANIZING THE FUND AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL FUNDRAISING. SO HERE ARE THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED COMMUNITY ADVISORY CO, UH, COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP CO-CHAIRS THAT [01:35:01] WERE, UM, ANNOUNCED BY THE MAYOR AT THE STATE OF THE CITY. AS THE COMMITTEES ARE FORMED, ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT LEAD IN AREAS HIGHLIGHTED ABOVE OR OTHER THEMES WILL BE CONSIDERED. AND IF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY CAN PROVIDE THOSE TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR CONSIDERATION AS WELL. UM, ONE THING WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS WE'VE RECENTLY LAUNCHED OUR NEW LONG BEACH 2028 GAMES WEBSITE AS A HUB FOR EVENT UPDATES, ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND FAQS. WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS THROUGH THE WEBSITE. WE HAVE AN EMAIL SIGN UP, UM, FOR UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A DIRECT EMAIL CONTACT AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE FOR ANY INQUIRIES OR FEEDBACK. TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WILL REMAIN A PRIORITY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S IN THE STRATEGIC ROADMAP, UH, BUT WANTED TO ALSO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ALREADY THROUGH THIS FOUNDATIONAL PHASE TO PREPARE, UM, AND WHAT WE'VE, HOW WE HAVE ORGANIZED THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PLANNING AND COORDINATING ACROSS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. SO WE DO HAVE A, A KEY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPED ALREADY WITH, UH, AN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, UH, AMONG THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. UM, AND THEN WE HAVE LEADERS ACROSS KEY DEPARTMENTS THAT'LL BE INVOLVED IN 2028 GAMES AS A PART OF OUR CITYWIDE STEERING COMMITTEE. UM, AND THEN WE HAVE SPECIFIC WORK GROUPS AS WELL. SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UH, BUT WE KNOW, OBVIOUSLY AS WE GET FURTHER INTO THE PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS THAT THIS IS GONNA BE MORE DYNAMIC AND MAY NEED TO CHANGE AND SHIFT AS, UH, NEEDS COME ALONG. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION ON THE PERMITTING PROCESS. THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY REFLECTED BY ONE SPECIFIC WORK GROUP, BUT WE KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY AS WE LEAD INTO 2028. AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM AS NEEDED, UM, ON THE DIFFERENT, UM, TASKS AND ACTIONS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THROUGH THE DIFFERENT PHASES THAT JORGE WALKED US THROUGH. UM, AND AS MENTIONED, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. SO PART OF THE FEEDBACK IS, UH, THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT JORGE MENTIONED, BUT ALSO FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THE FOLKS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, MORE EXPERT THAN, THAN ME AND OTHERS, UM, IN THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED, UH, TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS THAT WE'RE SETTING OUT. UM, AND ONE THING THAT WE DID LAST MONTH AFTER THE STATE OF THE CITY ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ROADMAP IS WE BROUGHT THESE TEAMS BACK TOGETHER. UM, SO WE DID HAVE A KICKOFF LAST YEAR, BUT IT WAS PRETTY HIGH LEVEL. HERE'S AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND NEGOTIATING WITH LA 28, UH, BUT NOW WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUBSTANCE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC ROADMAP. UM, AND WE HAD FOLKS THAT WERE PART OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM THAT HAD GONE TO PARIS 2024 GAMES. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE TAKEAWAYS AND, UM, LESSONS LEARNED RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, SECURITY, LOGISTICS, TRANSPORTATION, UH, OTHER BEST PRACTICES THAT THEY FOUND FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND BRANDING AND, UH, STRATEGIES TO BRING LARGE SCALE EVENTS, UM, ALONG WITH SOME OF THE RESIDENT AND BUSINESS NEEDS. AND WE ALSO GOT ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM THOSE INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORK GROUPS ON WHAT ARE THEIR CARE KEY PRIORITIES AND WHAT DO THEY WANNA SEE AS PART OF THE, UH, 2028 PLANNING EFFORTS AS WELL. SO, UH, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? UM, THE MAIN THING IS WE NEED TO LAUNCH THE ADVISORY GROUPS. SO THEY WERE ANNOUNCED, OF COURSE, AT THE STATE OF THE CITY, WE'RE STARTING TO ENGAGE WITH, UM, THE CO-CHAIRS, BRING THOSE FOLKS TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO, UM, GET ADDITIONAL OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND INPUT. UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GATHERING INPUT FROM MAYOR COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS PROCESS. UM, AND AS WE DO THAT, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO REFINE THE ROADMAP. SO THIS IS JUST A, A STARTING POINT THAT WE, UM, WERE ABLE TO BUILD FROM THOSE STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, UM, SOME OF THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL INPUT. UM, AND THEN WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE INCORPORATE THE COMMUNITY INPUT AS WELL AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, INTO 2028. SO, UM, OF COURSE WE CAN RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL NOT ONLY WITH UPDATES ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE PLANNING, BUT IF NEEDED ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, ANY SPECIFIC RE REVISIONS AND CHANGES THAT ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE ROADMAP AS WELL. AND SO WITH THAT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING YOUR INPUT AND, UM, HAPPY TO HAVE MORE OF A DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. ALRIGHT, GOOD, GOOD. WELL, UH, WELL, THANK YOU, UH, UH, JORGE AND TYLER FOR THAT PRESENTATION, AND TOM AND THE ENTIRE TEAM. IT'S CLEAR A LOT OF WORK HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE [01:40:01] TO LEAD UP TO THIS PHASE WE'RE HEADING INTO NOW WITH MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. UH, IF YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PLAN, IT'S, UH, IT'S PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL, MORE THAN A HUNDRED PAGES. SO, UH, THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN HOW THE CITY IS THINKING ABOUT THE GAMES, HOW WE APPROACH, INTEND TO APPROACH IT FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, HOW WE, UH, INTEND TO APPROACH IT FROM A LEGACY STANDPOINT, THIS LAYS OUT THAT ROADMAP FOR YOU. AND WE WILL BEGIN TO FILL IN AND ANSWER MANY OF THESE QUESTIONS AS WE NEGOTIATE WITH LA 28 AND AS WE ENGAGE WITH THE, WITH THE PUBLIC. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, WORK TO DO IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT OF ALL THE VENUE CITIES, UH, OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, LOS ANGELES, ALL THE VENUE CITIES WE'RE PROBABLY MORE ADVANCED THAN EVERY OTHER CITY, UH, IS HAVING ALREADY BROUGHT ON THE RIGHT TEAM, THE CONSULTING TEAM, AND PUT TOGETHER OUR ROADMAP. SO WE'RE THE VERY FIRST OF THE VENUE CITIES TO DO SO, UH, WHICH PUTS US IN A REALLY STRONG POSITION. AND SO OTHER CITIES WILL LOOK TO US FOR LEADERSHIP ON HOW WE ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, UH, THAT WE HAVE HERE. AND SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS, WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL TAKE THOSE COMMENTS AND THEN, UH, WE'LL GO THROUGH, UH, THE COUNCIL DELIBERATION. SO TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, SNIA KIN, FAY AND LLOYD FOX. PLEASE COME FORWARD. EXCUSE YOU WANNA SWITCH NAMES. SONAI, I CAN. PHASE SIX, DISTRICT PRESIDENT. FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR NEW JOB TITLE. TYLER, WE'VE, WE'VE COME A LONG WAY. YOU'VE GONE A LITTLE BIT GRAY FASTER THAN I HAVE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE'RE STILL HERE. UM, WITH RESPECT TO, UH, THIS ROADMAP, I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ A HUNDRED, 118 PAGES, MR. MAYOR, UH, WHEN YOUR TEAM SENT IT OUT AT 1133 TODAY, I SPENT THE AFTERNOON MAKING A LOT OF NOTES, AND I'M, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE CONSULTING GROUP AND THE CITY COMING INTO ALIGNMENT. I KNOW FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY, I DEFINITELY WILL BE MAKING SIX FIGURES, UH, THIS YEAR. AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO INVEST IN ME AND MAKE SOME MONEY WITH ME, YOU JUST GIMME SOME OF YOUR MONEY AND I'LL, I WILL PARLAY IT INTO A LARGER AMOUNT. UM, WITH RESPECT TO THIS, UH, OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, UH, OPPORTUNITY AS A CITY TO COME TOGETHER, ALL NINE DISTRICTS. UM, I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT I SAW, I, I THOUGHT TO COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUPS ARE GREAT. WE WE GOT SOME, THE, THE GOOD NAMES UP THERE AND EVERYTHING. UH, ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN, UH, UH, PARTICIPATION MORE OF IS DISTRICT SPECIFIC GROUPS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT KNOW OUR DISTRICTS BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. UH, NOTHING AGAINST ANYONE IN PARTICULAR. UH, AND SO I THINK THAT I KNOW FOR MYSELF, I WILL MOST DEFINITELY BE WORKING WITH MY COUNCILWOMAN TO STRATEGIZE, TO GET ALL THE MONEY TO THE DE ANDREWS SPORTING COMPLEX, TO KING PARK, TO SO MANY OF THE ASSETS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT REALLY, WE HAVE ALL THIS BANNER SPACE. WE HAVE ACRES AND ACRES OF BANNER SPACE THAT I KNOW THAT WE CAN MONETIZE. I MEAN, THE CITY OF, OF, OF NEW YORK CITY, THEY, YOU KNOW, I I, UH, I USED TO DO PROGRAMMING THERE IN THE SUMMER, AND THEY HAVE A $55 MILLION BUDGET TO DO FREE PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AT BRYANT PARK, AT CENTRAL PARK, AT ALTOS PARKS. THAT COMES SPECIFICALLY OUT OF AD REVENUE FROM WRAPPING, UH, BENCHES AND, AND, AND WALLS AND, AND, AND ADVERTISEMENT BILLBOARDS THAT ARE ACROSS FROM ADJACENT TO ALL THEIR PUBLIC SPACES. AND WE, WE HAVE THAT ACROSS THE DISTRICT. AND I THINK THAT IF WE CAN CREATE A, A ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, I KNOW MR. MAYOR, I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA BE ON A COMMITTEE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME GREAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, ON THE CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY SIDE AND ON, YOU KNOW, THE CITY SIDE, IF THEY COME TOGETHER ON, UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE DISTRICTS THAT THEY SERVE, I THINK THERE CAN BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MONETIZE AND UTILIZE THIS MONEY. AND I'LL, I JUST WANNA SAY THIS OUT LOUD. UM, MR. DENNIS DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO ME. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF, UH, ALLOCATION OF THE OVERALL MONEY THAT'S RAISED DURING THIS, UH, OLYMPIC, UH, SEASON TO BE DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO OUR PARKS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GREAT COMMENTS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT, UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LLOYD FOX AND I LIVE IN THE SPINNAKER BAY COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO MARINE STADIUM. I AM HERE AS A RESIDENT AND ALSO [01:45:01] ON BEHALF OF A COALITION OF RESIDENTS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. AS YOU PLAN ON THE GRAND SCALE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS IN MIND. WHILE MANY RESIDENTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OLYMPICS, HUNDREDS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE MARINE STADIUM, MARINA VISTA PARK AND COLORADO LAGOON AREA WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE OLYMPICS EVENTS. IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 18 OF THE ROADMAP, WHICH IS JUST, UH, UP THERE, YOU WILL SEE MARINE STADIUM, AND YOU WILL SEE THE HOMES THAT LINE MARINE STADIUM ON BOTH SIDES. THOUSANDS OF ATHLETES AND ATTENDEES WILL LITERALLY BE IN OUR BACKYARDS, INCLUDING MY BACKYARD. SAFETY, SECURITY, ACCESS TO HOMES, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, STREET CLOSURES, TRAFFIC NOISE, PARKING, AND TRASH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. RESIDENTS NEED INFORMATION, BUT NOT ONLY INFORMATION, BUT ALSO TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE INPUT DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS. THESE ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED IN SECTIONS THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE OF THE STRATEGIC ROADMAP, WHICH I ALSO HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH. STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATION PLANS IS ONE ASPECT, CONSISTENT CALLS FOR CONSISTENT TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT PROJECT PROGRESS. NUMBER TWO, OPERATIONAL ISSUES INCLUDING IMPACT ON COMMUNITY GROUPS AND RESIDENTS, SPECIFICALLY CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH BY ESTABLISHING FOCUS GROUPS AND GETTING INPUT ON PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. BY INFORMING CONSULTING, INVOLVING COLLABORATING AND EMPOWERING STAKEHOLDERS IN EACH ASPECT OF DECISION MAKING. THIS COMES STRAIGHT OUT OF THE STRATEGIC ROADMAP. MM-HMM . BUT THE TIMELINE FOR INFORMING RESIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE ROADMAP WITH NEWSLETTERS IS JUNE, 2027 TO AUGUST, 2028. THE TIMELINE FOR INFORMING RESIDENTS WITH NEWSLETTERS IS JUNE, 2027 TO AUGUST, 2028. THESE OBJECTIVES NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED NOW, NOT TWO YEARS FROM NOW. ALSO, WHILE APPOINTING COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES, WHICH WE'VE NOTED, IS ESSENTIAL TO IMPLEMENT THE ROADMAP, IT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE RESIDENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE SPEAKER BEFORE ME ALSO MENTIONED SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND IT'S CALLED FOR IN THE STRATEGIC ROADMAP. SO I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. I THANK YOU FOR OUR CITY STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING ON OUR BEHALF. AND DON'T FORGET OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO, BEFORE I, I GO TO THE COUNCIL, UM, GONNA BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS. UM, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE BOTH THE SPEAKERS AND YOU DID HAVE COMMON THEMES AND, AND THANK YOU FOR NOTING THAT THOSE ARE CALLED OUT IN THE ROADMAP. SO, UH, THERE IS INTENTIONAL THINKING ABOUT, UM, NOT ONLY FOCUS GROUPS BY ISSUE OR BY TOPIC, BUT ALSO GEOGRAPHIC OUTREACH. AND SO, UM, UH, ELEVATE 28, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN OF PUBLIC DOLLARS, LOCAL DOLLARS TO INVEST IN FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS OUR CITY THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY OLYMPIC VENUES. UH, BECAUSE THE IDEA HERE IS, UH, LIKE, LIKE, UH, MR. KIN FAY SAID, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE INSPIRED AT KING PARK OR DE ANDREWS FIELD, OR, YOU KNOW, OR HOUGHTON PARK IN NORTH LONG BEACH OR THE FOREST PARK. AND WE WANT, UH, THIS IS THE ENTIRE CITY'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OLYMPICS. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS INCLUDED AND, AND BENEFITS FROM, UH, THIS MOMENT. SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT JUST INVESTING IN THE VENUES THAT ARE TYPICALLY ALONG THE WATERFRONT, BUT MAKING SURE THE ENTIRE CITY FEELS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. I I PROBABLY LIVE FURTHER AWAY FROM CITY HALL. THERE ARE SIX CITY HALLS CLOSER TO MY HOUSE WITH OTHER CITIES THAN OUR OWN, MY OWN CITY HALL. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT EVEN NORTH LONG BEACH AND THE WEST SIDE, THE FIFTH DISTRICT, ALL THESE AREAS FEEL INCLUDED. I WOULD ALSO SAY THE ADVISORY GROUPS THAT WERE NAMED ARE BY SUBJECT MATTER. IT'S, IT'S IN THE ROADMAP AND FULLY ANTICIPATED TO ALSO DO DISTRICT ENGAGEMENT AND DO ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE IMPACTED AREAS AROUND TRAFFIC AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER ISSUES. AND I'M SURE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BRING SOME OF THAT UP, BUT IT'S FULLY ANTICIPATED THAT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AS A PART OF THE OUTREACH AND IT'S REFERENCED IN THE PLAN. 'CAUSE I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THROUGH THE WHOLE PLAN TOO, RIGHT? UH, SO, SO IT IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE. UM, I WILL ALSO SAY THAT A LOT OF WORK, UM, HAS TAKEN PLACE TO GET HERE, HERE AND THINK THROUGH THINGS, BUT THINGS MAY COME UP THAT WE HADN'T THOUGHT OF. BUT WE ARE WELL AHEAD OF EVERY OTHER, EVERY OTHER VENUE CITY. AND HAVING DONE THIS WORK TO THINK THROUGH THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED, WE FULLY ANTICIPATE NEW THINGS WILL BE PUT ON THE TABLE, AND WE'RE READY [01:50:01] FOR THAT. UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GONNA BE A LARGE, LARGE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY. SO WE HAVE TO BE READY. SO WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM IN PLACE AND WE'RE READY FOR THIS. UH, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. AND, AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR THAT TO TAKE PLACE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GONNA, UH, TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL ALSO ADD MY THANKS TO, UH, DR. CURLEY AND MR. UH, GODINA, UM, FOR ALL YOUR WORK IN THE PREPARATION, UH, OF THE REPORT AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION. UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH, UH, I THINK VARIETY OF DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND STAFF AND JUST IN GENERAL WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE INCLUSION OF OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY THAT ARE NOT AWARE, THE GAMES ARE NOT LOCATED. SO THAT'S WHY I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE UPLIFT AND UTILIZE ARTS CULTURE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE UPLIFTING OUR BUSINESS CORRIDOR. SO I APPRECIATE SEEING EQUITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE LEGACY PIECE, UM, AS THESE THREE CORE THEMES. AND I THINK THAT, UH, THIS IS OVERALL A GOOD ROADMAP THAT AS BEEN MENTIONED MANY TIMES IT CAN BE IMPROVED, WHICH I APPRECIATE BECAUSE I DO WANNA THINK THROUGH WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT ACTIVITIES OR POP-UP BUSINESS THEY COULD DO. I THINK MAYBE ON OUR SIDE IS THINKING ABOUT KITS WE COULD CREATE, SUCH AS POP-UP KITS TO OTHER MAYBE, UH, SHORT TERM SMALL BUSINESSES SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO PREPARE, UM, IF THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING. AND I ALMOST SEE IT AS LIKE TWO WEEKS OF PARTY, TWO WEEKS OF CITY PARTY, UH, WHERE PEOPLE ARE GONNA PROBABLY DO THINGS ON THE SIDEWALK AND, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR YARD. UM, AND I THINK THAT IF THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN CAPTURE IT, WHETHER IT'S GEOGRAPHICALLY WITHIN OUR DISTRICT TO THE CITY, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE JUST KIND OF, THAT THERE ISN'T ANYONE OVERLAPPING OR THAT THERE'S RESOURCES AVAILABLE. SO PEOPLE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE, UM, WE WANNA UPLIFT THAT IN A WAY WHERE, WOW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THAT'S HAPPENING, WHETHER IT'S IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT SIX OR UPTOWN OR, YOU KNOW, EAST SIDE OR WEST SIDE. UM, AND I THINK THAT IT'LL BE GOOD TO THINK ABOUT, WELL, WHAT ARE THE, YOU KNOW, UNIQUE WAYS THAT, UH, WE CAN GET FEEDBACK FROM EVERYONE, NOT JUST GENERAL PEOPLE THAT CAN MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. SHOULD WE GET FEEDBACK FROM YOUNG PEOPLE AT SCHOOLS? ARE THERE CREATIVE WAYS AND THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PARTICIPATORY, UM, AT THESE DIFFERENT LEVEL, WE CAN MAKE IT FUN SO THAT, I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S GIVEN AROUND SUCH A BIG EVENT, BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO SEE IF WE CAN GET OTHER KINDS OF PERSPECTIVE SO THAT THERE'S A SPACE FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHERE THESE DISTRICTS, THE EVENTS ARE HOSTED, BUT PEOPLE CAN FEEL LIKE, WOW, YOU KNOW, IF I WANT IT FOR SOME REASON TO JOIN A BUNCH OF, I DON'T KNOW, SKATEBOARDERS, THERE MIGHT BE A GROUP OR PICKLE BALLERS OR, UM, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU, UH, KIND OF THEMES SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERYONE. BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK. UM, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD IN WAYS THAT WE CAN KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING, TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL THEY'RE HEARD AND INCLUDE IT AND GIVEN THE RESOURCE TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND I WILL NOTE THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS LED THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE PICKLEBALL AN OFFICIAL OLYMPICS EVENT. UM, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, DON. THAT IS A JOKE. THAT'S A JOKE. , UH, WE'RE GONNA GO, UH, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION WAS COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. WE'LL GO TO COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH TYLER AND JORGE FOR THIS VERY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION AND KIND OF PUTTING THE WHOLE, UM, THE WHOLE ROADMAP IN FRONT OF US VERY SIMPLY, UM, AND ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PUBLIC. UM, THE TIME IS MOVING SO FAST. UM, LA 2028 IS GONNA BE HERE IN NO TIME, AND I'M SO PLEASED, UM, TO HAVE RECEIVED THESE UPDATES. AND SO PLEASE, UM, WITH ALL OF THE KEY POINTS THAT WE HAVE, LIKE, UM, IT WAS STATED BEFORE, THIS IS A ROADMAP WITH FLEXIBILITY. UM, AND, AND WE ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO LOOK AT, AT WHAT IS NEEDED AND LOOK TO WHO WE, WE ARE, UM, INCLUDING IN THIS ROADMAP AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL, UM, ANGLES OF THE CITY, ALL PEOPLE [01:55:01] FROM ALL CORNERS OF ALL THE CITY ARE REPRESENTED. UM, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING AS A WHOLE CITY. AND, UM, ONE OF THE COMMENTERS, UH, SAID THIS IS, THIS IS A TIME FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS A CITY AND TO BE ABLE TO UNIFY AROUND THIS IS GONNA BE SO AMAZING. SO I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED WITH THIS AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE STARTING NOW. IT GIVES US THE CONFIDENCE AND THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED AS WE MOVE FORWARD. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK ON THIS AND VERY SUPPORTIVE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT ADVICE, MAYOR ANG. THANK YOU, TYLER. WHATCHA ARE YOU DOING HERE? AGREED. I THOUGHT YOU WERE A DADDY. NEW DADDY. UH, YOU SHOULD BE WITH YOUR BABY. WELL, I FELT BAD. JORGE WAS DOING A LOT THIS WEEK, SO, AND I MISSED A COUPLE OF THE OTHER OLYMPICS PRESENTATIONS, SO, BUT, UH, I SEE THAT TOO, UH, EMPHASIZE THAT WE HAVE A VERY DEDICATED STAFF. YEAH. COMING BACK FROM CHILDBIRTH TO COME MAKING THIS PRESENTATION, CHILD. WELL, IT WAS ENJOYING , YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT? BUT IT IS A, A VERY THOROUGH REPORT, VERY EXHAUSTIVE AND EXTENSIVE, REALLY BRINGS OUT A LOT OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE TIME, THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT. SO PROJECTING AND BEING AT THE FOREFRONT OF A LOT OF THESE ISSUES IS COMMENDABLE. YOU GUYS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT, CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK, TYLER. HOW, HOW OLD'S THE LITTLE ONE? HOW IS HE OR HOW OLD? HOW OLD? UM, LIKE EIGHT DAYS. EIGHT DAYS. THAT IS DEDICATION. FEELS LIKE A LIFETIME. GO HOME AFTER THIS PRESENTATION. I WILL. THAT'S RIGHT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH INTO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SO I TOO WANNA ECHO AND THANK THE STAFF SO MUCH, UH, FOR THIS REPORT. UH, I AM, AND I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE BEYOND PROUD THAT THE WORLD WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND ENJOY A LONG BEACH. AND IT IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT WE ARE A LEADER, UH, IN OUR REGION. AND HAVING ALREADY IDENTIFIED THE CONSULTING TEAM, HAVING THIS REPORT AND HAVING THIS STRATEGY PUT FORTH. UM, I TOO WANNA ECHO THAT. I HAVE REALLY APPRECIATE THE THEMES THAT WE HAVE UPLIFTED TODAY. SO IN THINKING ABOUT EQUITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND LEGACY, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR ME, I DEFINITELY WANNA SPEND SOME TIME AROUND EQUITY, UH, AND ALSO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES REGARDING THAT. THIS IS AN OLYMPICS FOR ALL OF OUR CITY, ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY. UM, CERTAINLY I REPRESENT UPTOWN IN THE NORTH LONG BEACH AREA. AND WHILE THERE WON'T BE ANY GAMES NECESSARILY THERE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITY GET A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE. I WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE ACTIVATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WILL ALLOW ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO ENJOY, UH, THE GAMES NOT ONLY THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE IN OUR CITY, BUT ACROSS THE REGION. AND IT'D BE THE KIND OF PLACE THAT EVERYBODY IN THE REGION WOULD WANT TO BE, UH, TO WATCH THE GAMES IN SOME OF OUR ACTIVATION LOCATIONS ACROSS OUR CITY. I'LL ALSO BE FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY HAVE A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE. UH, MY COLLEAGUE HAS TALKED ABOUT SOME ACTIVATIONS I DO. I WANNA DO THAT, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR CULTURAL CORRIDORS, OUR VARIOUS, UH, COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS ACROSS THE CITY AND OUR VARIOUS SMALL BUSINESSES, UM, REALLY BECOME HUBS OF OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THE WORLD, UM, TO TRAVERSE THE ENTIRE AREA. THAT IS ALL OF LONG BEACH. AND THEN I WILL SAY THE ISSUE OF LEGACY. NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON ARTS AND CULTURE AND SPORTS FOR YOUTH, BUT WE ARE A CITY THAT IS GOING TO BE HOSTING WATER SPORTS. AND WE KNOW ALL TOO WELL THE DISPARITIES IN WHO HAS ACCESS TO WATER, UH, FACILITIES, UM, WHO IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, KNOWS HOW TO SWIM IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE DISPARITY AROUND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY BLACK COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH PART OF OUR CITY, NOT HAVING THAT ACCESS AND HAVING THE DISPARITY OF NOT HAVING THE EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING HOW TO SWIM. ONE OF THE LEGACIES THAT I WOULD ANTICIPATE IS THAT SOME OF THE RESOURCES BE DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT ALL OF LONG BEACH CAN PARTICIPATE IN OUR WATER SPORTS, WHEN THE OLYMPICS IS HERE AND BEYOND. UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, THAT IS PART OF OUR LEGACY, UH, GOING [02:00:01] FORWARD. SO WITH THAT, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, AS ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING FURTHER IN DISCUSSIONS REGARDING, UH, HOW THIS PLAN GETS ROLLED OUT, UH, THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ABSOLUTELY. IT IS AN OLYMPICS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, AND WE WILL MAKE GOOD ON THAT COMMITMENT. UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI. UM, I ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, UM, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES PARTICULARLY. I REALLY APPRECIATED, UM, UH, WHAT COUNCILWOMAN, UH, NUIT THR TOOK, JUST LOOKED IT UP. UH, I JUST WANTED, THERE MAY BE NOT NECESSARILY BE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS I'M GONNA ASK, BUT JUST THINGS THAT I WANT US TO CONSIDER. SO, UM, I KNOW AS PART OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PHASE, WE'RE GONNA BE INITIATING THE LEGACY PLAN FRAMEWORK. UM, AND SO I'D BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED AS A, AS A A COUNCIL MEMBER, HOW DO WE PLAN TO ENVISION THAT FRAMEWORK? HOW DO WE PLAN TO BUILD IT? WILL THAT BE WHAT, WHAT WILL THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LOOK LIKE? HOW WILL WE, IN INVOLVING COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUPS, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUPS? I KNOW THERE ARE CO-CHAIRS, UH, THAT OUR MAYOR HAS, UM, HAS IDENTIFIED. UM, AND I THINK, AND I KNOW YOU ALL MENTIONED, UM, INTERESTS FROM THE COUNCIL ON US NOMINATING INDIVIDUALS TO BE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUPS. AND SO MY INTEREST WOULD BE AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WILL THEY START TO MEET? HOW LARGE CAN THOSE COMMUNITY ADVISORY, UM, GROUPS BE? SO SOME PARAMETERS FOR US AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT MAYBE WE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON FOLKS THAT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. UM, AND THEN JUST IN GENERAL, I KNOW WE DON'T, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I THINK FOR US AS THE, THE, AS THE, I'LL SAY THIS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I KNOW SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ENGAGING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, RIGHT? SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT THESE PLANS, RIGHT? BUT THE ABILITY TO DISSEMINATE THAT INTO THE COMMUNITY, GET IT TO PENETRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN HAVE THEM ACTUALLY BE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IS DIFFERENT, RIGHT? SO, UM, I THINK, UH, IT WAS A COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MARY AND DEJAS THAT MENTIONED THAT WE DON'T HAVE IT, IT FEELS LIKE A LONG TIME AWAY, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A LONG TIME AWAY, RIGHT? AND SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LIKE, HOW ARE WE GETTING THAT, GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? HOW ARE WE LEVERAGING THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, THE TOWN HALLS, THE, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE DIFFERENT, THE DISTRICTS, THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE TO GET THAT, DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION IN AND PREPARE OUR, OUR RESIDENTS FOR IT. UM, AND THEN I'M JUST GONNA LIKE LOOK, HONK A LITTLE HORN, UH, RELATED TO WHAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN THRESH SAID AROUND IT BEING FOR A, UM, A, UM, AN OLYMPICS FOR ALL AND THINKING ABOUT THE DISPARITIES AROUND, YOU KNOW, SWIMMING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND, AND MAYOR, AREN'T WE, AREN'T WE LOOKING TO PUT A A, A POOL, UM, IN NORTH LONG BEACH? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MY IDEA BACK WHEN I WAS THE COUNCIL MEMBER UP THERE. YEAH. I BELIEVE THAT WE, UH, WE HAVE A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT WE DID AROUND RAMONA PARK. YEAH, I THINK SO. TO, TO PUT A POOL THERE. AND WE'RE STILL IDENTIFYING FUNDING. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LEGACY FRAMEWORKS AND, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, LEGACY PROJECTS, I'D JUST LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE LIFT THAT ONE UP. . THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. WELL DONE, COUNCIL MEMBER. WELL DONE. UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. GREAT JOB, JORGE AND TYLER. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BITS AND PIECES OF THIS FOR TWO YEARS, SO IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE ALL OF IT COME TOGETHER. AND IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HAVE KPMG AS THE CONSULTANT. REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE HAVE A WORLDWIDE EVENT LIKE THIS TO HAVE EXPERTS WHO KNOW HOW TO DO TO PUT EVENTS LIKE THIS TOGETHER. AND I WANNA ECHO SO MANY OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY, UM, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND, UH, THE MAYOR. SO SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN PUBLIC COMMENT, THE MAYOR ADDRESSED IT A BIT, AND I KNOW, UH, DR. JONI RICKS OIE HAD MENTIONED IT. I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT OR ASK ABOUT, UM, AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE OUTREACH GROUPS ARE SET UP. COMMUNITY GROUP OUTREACH IS GREAT, BUT I'VE ALREADY HAD TWO MEETINGS WITH RESIDENT ASSOCIATIONS AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S MORE OF A PLAN THAN AUGUST OF 27 TO, OR JUNE OF 27 TO AUGUST OF 28. THEY'RE VALUABLE JUST IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. WE WANNA GET, UM, WE WANNA GET THEM INVOLVED. SO COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO THAT FOR ME? YEAH, SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT PIECES. ONE IS WE ARE ALREADY ENGAGING IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH. SO, UH, JORGE AND I HAVE DONE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS TO DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS, FOR EXAMPLE. SO I THINK THAT WILL BE, AND CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO, UM, PROVIDE INPUT AND ASK QUESTIONS, AND THEN FOR US TO SHARE INFORMATION AS WE GET IT. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS AS WELL. UM, AND THEN THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES, UM, RIGHT NOW IS, IS KIND OF FOCUSED AROUND THE, THE CORE THEMES THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING INPUT FROM DIFFERENT EXPERTS AND LEADERS IN THOSE [02:05:01] FIELDS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH. UM, AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC TIMELINE. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER RICK WERE ASKING LIKE, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? WHAT'S, UH, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE INPUT SESSIONS LOOK LIKE? UH, WE'LL BE BUILDING THAT OUT AND WE'LL OF COURSE BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION. UM, BUT THE FIRST STEP IS TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER THAT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AS THE CO-CHAIRS AND GET THEM UP TO SPEED ALSO ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE STRATEGIC ROADMAP. AND I THINK AS THAT BUILDS OUT, UM, THROUGH THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR, I THINK WE'LL BE A KEY FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, NOT JUST WITH THE ADVISORY GROUPS, BUT ALSO WITH THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMISSIONS AND OTHERS THAT, UM, FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN AS WELL. UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND RESIDENTS SPECIFICALLY. ABSOLUTELY. IF THERE'S AN INTEREST, UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE LET US KNOW. I THINK ONE OF THE, UM, TOOLS THAT WE NOW HAVE AVAILABLE IS THE WEBSITE AND OUR EMAIL ADDRESS. SO IF THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR A BID OR OTHERS THAT ARE SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION TO OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, YOU KNOW, OR GET INVOLVED IN THAT KIND OF THING, UM, WE WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REACH OUT TO US AND THEN WE CAN SCHEDULE, UH, JUST BASED ON CAPACITY. UM, WE SEE THE ADVISORY GROUPS AS OBVIOUSLY AN INTEGRAL PIECE OF PROVIDING THAT FEEDBACK AND INPUT, UM, BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE, UH, UPDATES AND, AND INFORMATION AS WE'RE ABLE TO. GREAT. UH, THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA KEEP MY RESIDENTS INFORMED THAT THEY, THEY HAVE A VOICE TOO. UM, MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION IS THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM BECAUSE, UM, I WENT TO WORKSHOPS IN OLYMPICS LAST SUMMER AND IT WAS SUCH A BIG PART OF THE PROGRAMMING AND THE WORKSHOPS. CAN SOMEONE JUST SHARE WHAT HAPPENS WITH VOLUNTEERS? I GET ASKED ALL THE TIME, AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF WE HAVE A BUDGET SET FOR THE VOLUNTEER. UM, I KNOW WE'RE DOING COST RECOVERY WITH THAT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOME PRE-PLANNING FOR THAT TOO. YEAH, AND THAT'S, UM, THAT'S A GREAT POINT. AND ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE DEFINITELY WANNA BUILD OUT. UM, RIGHT NOW, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO THE WEBSITE AND EXPRESS INTEREST AND THEN WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO ON THE BACK END, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, IF THEY WANT TO VOLUNTEER SPECIFICALLY IN LONG BEACH, MAYBE FOR SOME OF THE CITY ACTIVATIONS THAT, UM, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT WE WANT TO DO THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, THAT MIGHT BE A SPECIFIC GROUP OF FOLKS. THEY WANT TO BE IN LONG BEACH, YOU KNOW, AND INVOLVED IN WHAT THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY IS DOING. UM, THERE MIGHT BE ALSO FOLKS THAT JUST SAY, HEY, I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE 2028 GAMES, YOU KNOW, IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. AND THAT MIGHT BE WHERE WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, RECOMMEND POTENTIALLY THAT THEY CONNECT WITH LA 28 AS THEY DEVELOP OUT THEIR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. SO WHAT, RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS JUST GET THAT INPUT, WHO'S INTERESTED. UH, WE DO HAVE A FORM ONLINE, ON OUR WEBSITE, UM, THAT WE WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FILL OUT. AND THEN FROM THERE WE'LL BE ABLE BE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT CHANNELS. UM, AND AT THE MOMENT WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC BUDGET OR PROGRAM FOR THE VOLUNTEERS, BUT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING INTO AND, AND EXPANDING. JORGE. YEAH, I WAS GONNA ADD TO, UM, IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH LA 28 ABOUT THEIR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE STILL AT THE EARLY STAGES, SO THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH INFORMATION, BUT WE HAVE, UM, MESSAGE TO THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THEM TO PRIORITIZE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS FOR HOPEFULLY LONG BEACH VENUES AND EVENTS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THEY'VE TAKEN TO NOTE AND SOMETHING THEY'RE CONSIDERING AS WELL. SO WE'RE, WE'LL BE SURE TO MESSAGE THAT ON OUR END. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MESSAGE THAT. GREAT TO KNOW. AND I WILL PUSH THAT OUT AND SEND PEOPLE TO THE WEBSITE. THANK YOU. THE ROADMAP IS REALLY GOOD. ALRIGHT, UH, I'LL ADD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. WE NAME, WE NAME THOSE FOLKS ANNOUNCED THAT CITY, CITY AS CO-CHAIRS, AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE COUNTING ON THEM TO POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF WHO ELSE NEEDS TO BE, UH, ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS. AND SO IT MAY BE FLUID, IT MAY BE WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO SMALL BUSINESSES ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS ISSUES, THE ADVISORY GROUP MAY TALK TO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, BUT WHEN IT'S ARTS AND CULTURE, THEY MAY TALK TO OUR ARTS BASED ORGANIZATIONS OR FOLKS WHO ENGAGED IN REGIONAL WORK AROUND THE REGIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL. SO IT MAY BE FLEXIBLE AND FLUID, BUT IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT PARTICULARLY IN THOSE MOST IMPACTED AREAS THAT WILL HAVE TRAFFIC IMPACTS AND AC AND ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS, AS THOSE PLANS ARE COMING TOGETHER, THERE WILL BE DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES. I KNOW MANY OF THEM ARE IN COUNCIL DISTRICTS, ONE, TWO, AND THREE. AND THEN IN TERMS OF CITYWIDE PROGRAMMING, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE COUNTING ON, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW COUNCIL MEMBER AND TOOK AND, AND, AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO OPT TO ACTIVATE YOUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL. UH, IF WE'RE GONNA DO ADVERTISING AND SIGNAGE AND, AND THOSE THINGS, WE WANNA SEE STREET BANNERS ON ARTESIA BOULEVARD MARKET STREET. RIGHT? WE WANNA SEE THOSE THINGS ON PCH. [02:10:01] UH, THE, A LINE COMES THROUGH MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? WHAT'S THE ROUTE FOR THE TORCH? HOW CAN WE INCLUDE AS MANY DISTRICTS AS WE CAN IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS? UH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE WILL NEED LOCALIZED INPUT ON. AND SO IT'S FULLY EXPECTED THAT AS WE GET TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE PUT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AND WE'RE GONNA BE COUNTING ON NOT JUST THE ADVISORY GROUP, WE'RE GONNA BE COUNTING ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THESE AREAS TO PROVIDE INPUT AS WELL. GOOD. LET'S KEEP GOING. COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN? YES. UH, THANK YOU, UH, MAILER, UH, UH, TYLER AND JORGE FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND CONGRATULATIONS, TYLER, FOR LASTING EIGHT DAYS. , IT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT. UM, I KNOW, UM, THAT THERE HAS BEEN JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, UM, THAT HAS GONE INTO ENSURING A SUCCESSFUL, WELL ORGANIZED, UH, EVENT. AND, UM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE ROLE THAT LONG BEACH IS, UH, GONNA BE PLAYING. UM, IN MY SCAG ROLE, I MET WITH A FORMER LA COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PAUL KORIAN LAST FRIDAY. UH, AND I KNOW HE WAS JUST APPOINTED BY KAREN BASS AS THE, HIS TITLE IS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY'S OFFICE OF MAJOR EVENTS. SO, UM, HE'S GETTING HIS OFFICE SET UP, SO I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE GONNA BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH HIM. HE DID SAY HE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU, MAYOR AND THE CITY AND, UM, ALL OF THE, THE, UM, THE HOST CITIES. UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN LA 28 THAT WE STILL HAVE TO DO. SO I ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. UM, BUT, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KORIAN SAID THAT CASSIE WASSERMAN DID MEET WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, UM, LAST MONTH AND HE WAS GONNA BE SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THE EVENTS. SO HOPEFULLY, UM, THAT IS THE CASE. 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT WE STILL NEED, NOT ONLY FOR LONG BEACH, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. BUT I DO THINK AS THE EVENTS GET CLOSER, UM, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT OUR RESIDENTS, UH, HAVE A LOT OF, UH, QUESTIONS. AND I LOVE ALL THE, UM, INPUT THAT I HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON HOW WE'RE GONNA ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY, UM, ENGAGE THE REGION. UM, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE THAT THAT COMES TO OUR REGION IS GONNA BE ACTUALLY ATTENDING GANGS, BUT WE HAVE A ENORMOUS, UH, INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE 'EM TO LONG BEACH. AND SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THIS COUNCIL, WITH WORKING, UH, WITH THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, THE REGION, AND ESPECIALLY OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, UM, TO TAKE ON THIS HISTORIC EVENT. 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE, UM, YOU KNOW, A, A A LEGACY, A MEANINGFUL, UH, LEGACY FOR LONG BEACH WITH THESE GAMES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, KURT? YES. UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR A THOROUGH PRESENTATION AND REALLY DILIGENT WORK OVER THE LAST MANY MONTHS, UM, ABOUT THE DETAILS. I THINK WHEN WE FIRST, UH, WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, IT WAS DECEMBER, 2022, MAYBE JANUARY 23, WE WERE STARTING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND IT SEEMED SO FAR AWAY. UH, AND WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD GET HERE QUICKLY, AND HERE WE ARE, UH, TWO YEARS OUT OR THREE YEARS OUT. UM, I WON'T REPEAT, UH, THE WONDERFUL COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE QUESTIONS AROUND ENGAGEMENT, BUT I DO WHAT I HEAR ECHOED IS THAT ALL OF US REALLY LONG TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY FEEL INCLUDED IN THIS WORK, UM, IN THE PREPARATION. UM, NOT EVERYBODY PROBABLY WANTS TO ATTEND AN EVENT, BUT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, IN AREAS AROUND, NOT JUST IN GEOGRAPHIC WAYS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO OR AT EVENTS, BUT IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, IN WAYS THAT FEEL IMPORTANT TO THEM, WHETHER IT IS ARTS AND CULTURE, WHETHER IT'S YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND SPORTS. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUILD OUT OF THE VOLUNTEER PIECE OF THIS. WE KNOW LONG BEACH SHOWS UP BIG. UH, WE KNOW WE ARE A HUGE, UH, HISTORICALLY VERY STRONG SPORTING COMMUNITY, UM, AND LEGACY FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO LOOKED AT WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEW WAYS. UH, SO WAS GLAD TO SEE SUPERINTENDENT BAKER, UH, AND DR. MUNOZ IN THERE AS FINDING WAYS TO INTEGRATE OUR WORK AND OUR PREPARATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS BEST WE CAN SO THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE AS MUCH ACCESS TO BEING A PART OF THE BUILDUP AND THE PLANNING AS JUST GOING TO AN EVENT AND BEING INSPIRED OR DISPLAYING THEIR OWN TALENTS. UM, WE KNOW THIS IS MULTIFACETED AND THERE WILL BE EVERYTHING FROM PUBLIC SAFETY TO MARKETING, UM, ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO LEARN IN THE RUNUP. SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW ENGAGING OUR YOUTH, ESPECIALLY IN ALL ASPECTS OF PREPARATION, CAN COME TO FRUITION. UM, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. I THINK WE WILL PUSH PEOPLE TO THE WEBSITE FOR NOW. I LOOK [02:15:01] FORWARD FOR WAYS TO ENGAGE, UM, WITH ALL OF OUR OFFICES. I KNOW YOU ALL WON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE TIME TO BE RUNNING AROUND TO A MILLION COMMUNITY MEETINGS, BUT FIGURING OUT WAYS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE MEANINGFUL IMPACT, UM, ACROSS MAYBE A COUPLE OF DISTRICTS AT A TIME FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY HAVE SOME BACK AND FORTH. I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS RECENTLY IS PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYING THE ENGAGEMENT OF BEING ABLE TO TALK BACK AND FORTH WITH, WITH CITY STAFF. AND I THINK THIS IS AN EVENT AND AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE EXCITED. AND SO FIGURING OUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE FOR A SIMILAR TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT STYLE, UH, WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UH, WE, WE KNOW THERE WILL BE A BIG NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS. A HUNDRED THOUSAND STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IS WHAT'S GONNA BE NEEDED TO PULL OFF THE 2028 GAMES ACROSS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT VENUE CITIES. AND SO WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. IT'S GONNA BE THE HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS OF TODAY WHO WILL LIKELY BE THE FULL-TIME WORKERS OF, UH, THE OLYMPICS IN THREE YEARS. AND SO, UH, WE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING THEM INTO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. UH, THAT CONCLUDES COUNCIL COMMENTS. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE TO RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT. THANK MOTION IS CARRIED. GO HOME, TYLER . ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO ITEM 30. PLEASE REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RESTATING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS. [30. 25-54186 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending Title 5 of the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending and restating Chapter 5.77 all relating to short-term rentals, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for a final reading; and       Office or Department:         Suggested Action: ] READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DIRECTING CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO SUBMIT THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION FOR REVIEW AND A FINDING OF CONFORMANCE WITH THE CITY'S CERTIFIED COASTAL PROGRAM CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TONIGHT ON THIS ITEM. 27 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SO LET'S, LET'S, UH, LET'S BE EXPEDITIOUS WITH THE PRESENTATION. THIS IS NOT NEW CONTENT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, NOT OUR FIRST TIME DISCUSSING THIS. UH, AND MAKE SURE, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS, YOU ALL CLARIFY HOW THE NEW RENEWAL PROCESS, UH, WILL WORK, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE OPERATOR, UH, WHO OPERATORS WHO ARE SET TO EXPIRE, AND WHETHER THEY'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE OPERATING WHILE THEY WAIT FOR INSPECTIONS. AND WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND THAT, SO MAKE SURE IN YOUR PRESENTATION YOU ADDRESS THAT AS WELL. THAT SAID, UH, LET'S, LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, UH, WE'VE HAD A SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL. UH, WE, UH, HAVE A NUMBER, WE'LL SHOW YOU THE DATA OF WHO'S SIGNED UP AND, AND KIND OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHERE IT'S AT. UH, BUT WE ALSO WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION LAST YEAR, UH, BY THE COUNCIL THAT THERE ARE SOME, UH, TWEAKS TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WE THINK WILL HELP AS WE LEARN. AND, AND WE'VE GOT OUR ORDINANCE NOW ON, UH, UH, OUT THERE FOR A, A COUPLE YEARS ON HOW TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER, MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT CLEARER, AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEM, UH, ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP KIND OF FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO, UH, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CHRISTOPHER KOONTZ TO GIVE A SUMMARY OF THAT, UH, UM, ORDINANCE CHANGE THAT YOU DIRECTED US TO WORK ON. AND, UH, WE'RE READY FOR FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE TONIGHT, IF YOU'RE READY. ALRIGHT. UH, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AS TOM MENTIONED, WHAT WE WERE TASKED WITH DOING AS STAFF WAS LOOKING AT THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM FOR OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL RULES. SO, UH, YOU RECEIVED A VARIETY OF WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE, AND YOU'LL RECEIVE TESTIMONY TONIGHT ON DIFFERENT TOPICS, BUT AS A STAFF, WE WEREN'T TASKED WITH REIMAGINING THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL APPROACH OR THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS WE WERE TASKED WITH FOR THE SMALL NUMBER OF BAD OPERATORS. HOW DO WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, UM, AND, AND HOW DO WE INCREASE, UM, PENALTIES AND EFFECTIVENESS ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE? SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. UM, SCOTT BALDWIN FROM OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT GROUP IS GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH, UM, THE PREPARE PRESENTATION. UM, THEN I'LL ANSWER A COUPLE OF THE POINTS THE MAYOR BROUGHT UP. YOU'LL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND THEN IF AFTER THAT LONG TESTIMONY, YOU COULD, UM, PROVIDE US, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE SOME OF THAT OUT. AND THEN WE WILL ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO SCOTT. UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UM, THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2020. BEFORE THAT, THERE WERE SEVERAL YEARS OF OUTREACH CONDUCTED, UH, 2017. UH, THEY REQUESTED A STUDY OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, UH, REGULATIONS IN 2018. WE HAD THE OUTREACH EVENTS IN 2019. THE ORDINANCE WAS DRAFTED, UM, IN 2020. UH, IT WAS ADOPTED MIDYEAR, UM, DURING COVID AND IT WASN'T THE, UH, ORIGINALLY INTENDED ORDINANCE. UM, SO THEN LATER THAT YEAR IN DECEMBER, UH, WE, UH, UH, AMENDED THE ORDINANCE, UH, TO INCLUDE [02:20:01] UNHOSTED STRS. AT THAT TIME IN 2022, UH, THE, UH, COASTAL COMMISSION MADE, SORRY, APPROVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE ORDINANCE. SO THOSE WERE, UH, FINALLY INCLUDED IN ANOTHER AMENDED ORDINANCE. AND IN 2024, THE COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO RESEARCH UPDATES ON THE ORDINANCE. OUR CURRENT PROGRAM, UH, STATUS, UH, AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS, UH, WE HAVE, UH, APPROXIMATELY 700 WE'RE HOVERING AROUND RIGHT NOW. THE CITYWIDE CAP FOR UNHOSTED IS 800, UM, AND IN THE COASTAL COASTAL ZONE, THERE IS A, UH, CAP OF THREE 50. RIGHT NOW WE ARE, UH, AT AROUND TWO 60, UM, FOR, UH, HOSTED, WHICH HAS NO CAP CITYWIDE. WE ARE, UH, HOVERING AROUND TWO 50. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THERE THE BREAKDOWN, UH, BY DISTRICT AS WELL. SO, LAST YEAR, UH, APRIL 2ND, 2024, CITY COUNCIL, UH, DIRECTED, UM, THE ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE UPDATING THE ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS AND THE PROCEDURES FOR THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS. UM, UH, PER CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THEY WERE TO NOTIFY. PART OF THAT, UH, WAS TO NOTIFY, OR SORRY, CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO NOTIFY WHEN AN APPLICATION IS RECEIVED AND WHEN IS SUBMITTED OR APPROVED BY THE CITY, UH, IF IT IS IN THEIR DISTRICT. AND WHEN A PETITION RELATING TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SHORT-TERM RENTALS IS BEING CIRCULATED IN THEIR DISTRICT. UM, THEY ALSO ASKED TO, UH, ADDRESS THE COST FOR PETITIONERS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO WE'LL ADDRESS THE BUDGET FIRST. UH, SORRY. UH, PETITION COSTS WERE INCREASED NOMINALLY IN, UH, FISCAL YEAR 25, BUT THE APPLICATION FEES WERE INCREASED TO OFFSET PETITION COSTS AS WELL AS FUND AN ADDITIONAL INSPECTOR. UM, FURTHER CHANGES MAY BE PROPOSED REGARDING REGISTRATION APPLICATION FEES AS PART OF NEXT YEAR'S OR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS. UH, BUT THAT WILL BE AT A FUTURE AND SEPARATE COUNCIL, UM, APPROVAL PROCESS. UM, THIS FEE IMPACT, UH, OR SORRY, THE INCREASE FOR THE, UH, APPLICATION FEE INCREASE IS TO, UH, PROVIDE SAFETY INSPECTIONS, WHICH WOULD NOW BE REQUIRED FOR EVERY NEW UNIT. UM, IF THIS, UH, ORDINANCE IS AMENDED, SEVERAL CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE ORDINANCE, UM, INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO VIOLENCE. UM, AS THE DIRECTOR STATED, UH, CRIMINAL OR CIVIL INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL AS ACTIONS INVOLVING VIOLENCE AT A PROPERTY WILL PREVENT THE REGISTRATION OR RENEWAL REGISTRATION OF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL. UH, THE DIRECTOR, UH, WILL NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND A SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION IF THE OPERATOR FAILS TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER OR REMEDY AN INCIDENT INVOLVING VIOLENCE. UH, CITATIONS HAVE ALSO, UH, UH, BEEN IMPACTED. CURRENTLY THE TIMEFRAME, CURRENTLY THE PROCESS IS THREE CITATIONS WITHIN A 12 MONTH TIMEFRAME, AND YOU'RE OUT. UM, NOW WE'RE EXTENDING THAT TO 18 MONTHS. UH, ANY VIOLATIONS INVOLVING VIOLENCE SHALL RECEIVE AN IMMEDIATE CITATION AND SUCH CITATION SHALL COUNT AS DOUBLE. NOW, UH, A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OPERATOR CAN RECEIVE MULTIPLE CITATIONS FOR A SINGLE EVENT IF IT VIOLATES, UH, THE, UH, MUNICIPAL CODE OR THE PENAL CODE, OR IF THE VIOLATIONS CONTINUE FOR MULTIPLE DAYS WITHOUT A SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTIONS, UM, VIOLATIONS MAY NEED, UH, MAY NOT NEED A CURE PERIOD. THIS ORDINANCE, UH, NOW CLARIFIES THAT THERE NEED NOT BE A CURE PERIOD BEFORE WE CAN ISSUE A CITATION AS IT IS, UH, WITH THE NORMAL CODE PROCESS. UH, SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES, THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY DURING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, UH, HAS BEEN UPDATED FROM 10 GUESTS TO EIGHT GUESTS. UM, PROPERTIES MAY NOT BE APPROVED FOR A NEW OR RENEWAL REGISTRATION IF THERE ARE CODE ENFORCEMENT FEES OWED AGAINST THE PROPERTY. AND THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, UH, SHALL NOT BE BOOKED, UH, BY A PERSON OR PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM ANY SD RPL PLATFORM IN THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS. UM, THE PETITION IS, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY UPDATES WITH THE PETITION. ONE IS TO REDEFINE MAJORITY TO, UH, EXCLUDE ANY PROPERTIES WHERE THE OWNER WAS MAILED AND THE PETITION CAME BACK AS UNDELIVERABLE, UM, ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES TO HANDLE THAT UNDELIVERABLE MAIL SHOULD IT BE RECEIVED. AND IT ALSO DIRECTS, UM, UH, THE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP, UH, PETITION PROCEDURES, WHICH SHALL BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. AND THAT IS IT. AND THAT IS, IT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. YEAH, SO JUST TO CLOSE SCOTT'S, UM, PRESENTATION OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE TECHNICAL CHANGES IN FRONT OF YOU HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS AT A RENEWAL HAS TO DO WITH, UH, DOING AN INSPECTION ON EVERY, UM, FACILITY. SO JUST WANTED TO TIE THAT BACK TO HOW IT WORKS IN A PRACTICAL SENSE. UM, THE DEPARTMENT [02:25:01] HAS THE STAFFING TO DO THOSE INSPECTIONS. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN WORRIED ABOUT. WE HAVE THE STAFFING TO MEET ALL OF THE TIMELINES, UM, INVOLVED IN DOING THOSE INSPECTIONS. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CLOSE A LOOPHOLE WHERE SOMEONE WOULD PROVIDE US AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION, NOT PAY THEIR FEES, AND THEN SAY, WHEN WE TRIED TO TAKE THEIR RENEWAL AWAY WHILE I APPLIED FOR A RENEWAL. SO THAT IS WHAT THE TECHNICAL CHANGE IN THE TEXT IS, BUT IT'S NEVER OUR INTENT TO SET PEOPLE UP TO FAILURE. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, UM, BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE SMALL NUMBER OF NUISANCE ISSUES, AND THEN HAVE OUR STAFF GO OUT AND DO THE INSPECTIONS AND, AND BE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND WE MEET THOSE, UM, INSPECTION TURNAROUND TIMES. ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UH, WE'VE HAD THE SHORT TERM RENTALS ORDINANCE FOR A WHILE. THIS IS TIGHTENING IT UP, YOU KNOW, AFTER TESTING IT OUT. AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY. I, I THINK WHAT WHERE YOU ARE IS OKAY. I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GOING A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAN THIS, BUT I THINK YOU'VE REALLY THOUGHT THROUGH SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO BALANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO HOST SHORT TERM RENTALS FOR THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THEIR HOUSEHOLD. SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT BALANCE. WE'RE GONNA NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE ARE 27 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'RE ALL STILL HERE, SO I'M GONNA READ THE FIRST 10. IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP IN ORDER. STEVE ASKING IS FIRST FRANZ RUSSELL, UH, NOAH SUAREZ SYKES, MARCELLA SLATE, MELISSA REIKI, UH, ELLEN GEFFNER, SARAH GEISLER, ANDY OLIVER. CHRISTINA REI AND WONG BOWIE. OKAY, I SEE YOU A GOOD LINE. MAYBE EVERYONE IS HERE. OKAY, STEVE, GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU'RE UP, SIR. MAYOR, GOOD TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I FIRST OF ALL REALLY WANT TO THANK THE CITY AS AN AIRBNB HOST FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS BOTH HOSTS AND OUR NEIGHBORS, WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S GOOD ENFORCEMENT IN THE FEW CASES WHERE ABUSES OCCUR OR DANGERS EXIST. UM, I DON'T EXPECT THERE WILL BE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THIS, BUT I JUST WANNA PUT IN THE HEAD OF THE COUNCIL THREE THOUGHTS ON THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE THAT WOULD FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE SITUATION. NUMBER ONE, THOUGH, THIS DOESN'T AFFECT US, I DO THINK IT WAS PROBABLY A MISTAKE TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GUESTS FROM EIGHT TO 10. I KNOW IN TERMS OF OUR FAMILY, IF WE CAN HOST FAIRLY LARGE GROUPS, NOT THAT LARGE, BUT IF THERE'S A BIG FAMILY GATHERING, WE WILL REFER THEM TO AN AIRBNB THAT HAS FOUR BEDROOMS. SO I THINK THAT THAT CHANGE WAS A MISTAKE. SECOND, ALMOST ALL OF OUR AIRBNB HOSTS AND FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THIS, I ACTUALLY WISH THAT MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS FROM UNITE HERE WERE HERE BECAUSE I WOULD EXPLAIN THIS TO THEM. ALMOST ALL OF OUR HOSTS PAY THEIR CLEANERS A VERY GOOD WAGE. TYPICALLY, IN MY CASE, IT RANGES FROM 30 UP TO $60 AN HOUR FOR OUR, OUR MOST EXPERIENCED HOST. THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST IN THE FUTURE, UM, THAT YOU CONSIDER ADDING A PROVISION, SORRY, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED. W WITH A, OH, I'M FINISHED. CONSIDER ADDING A PROVISION FOR A LIVING WAGE. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO ARE CLEANING AND I WILL SEE TO THE NEXT PERSON. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, RON. ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NOAH SORA SYKES, AND I'M AN ORGANIZER FOR BETTER NEIGHBORS LA, A COALITION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TENANTS HOST HOUSING ACTIVISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING LONG-TERM HOUSING BY REGULATING SHORT-TERM RENTALS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 30. WE'D LIKE TO URGE YOU ALL TO IMPLEMENT STRONG REGULATION OF STR BY LIMITING STR IN LONG BEACH TO TRUE HOME SHARING AND HOSTED ONLY RENTALS BY NO LONGER ALLOWING UNHOSTED RENTALS. THE CITY SHOULD ALSO ADD A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION TO THE ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT. ACCORDING TO A REPORT AUTHORED BY PROFESSOR DAVID WASMITH OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY, THE AVERAGE RENT IN LOS ANGELES IS $810 HIGHER A YEAR DUE TO STR. AND 5,000 MORE PEOPLE ARE UNHOUSED. DUE TO THE PROLIFERATION OF THOSE STR, THEY'VE ALSO SERVED AS A VANGUARD OF PRICE GOUGING AND SPECULATION. IN THE WAKE OF THE LA FIRES, OUR ANALYSIS FOUND OVER 1400 LISTINGS ENGAGED IN PRIZE GOUGING BEHAVIOR IN THE CITY OF LA, CONSTITUTING ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY SIX IN THE WHOLE CITY. ACCORDING TO OUR DATA, LONG BEACH SAW A 22% OVERALL INCREASE OF UNHOSTED SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN JUST ONE YEAR. IN OUR WORK WITH LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, WE'VE ALSO HEARD THAT DIFFICULTIES IN FORCING EXISTING REGULATIONS HAS DISTURBED NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE URGING THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDING A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION TO THIS ORDINANCE AS SEEN IN CITIES LIKE WEST HOLLYWOOD AND [02:30:01] SANTA MONICA, WHICH WOULD GIVE INDIVIDUALS ANOTHER PATHWAY TO KEEP HOSTS AND PLATFORMS VIOLATING THESE REGULATIONS ACCOUNTABLE. BNLA URGES YOU ALL TO STRENGTHEN STR REGULATIONS TO PROTECT LONG-TERM LONG BEACH RESIDENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES BY AMENDING THE ORDINANCE TO A HOSTED ONLY TRUE HOME SHARING MODEL AND ADDING A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE AN AVENUE OF RELIEF. PLEASE SEE OUR COMMENT LETTER FOR MORE DETAIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, MARSHA? UH, YEAH, WELL, MARCELLE MELISSA. OKAY, ELLEN AND SARAH. OKAY. UH, HI. MY NAME IS MARCELLUS SLATE. I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH, LIKE 20 YEARS, UM, OR LONGER. UM, I ASSIST WITH, UH, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, AND I'M HERE 'CAUSE A JOB GIVES ME FLEXIBILITY TO STAY AT HOME WITH MY SON. AND, UM, NOT VERY MANY JOBS WILL OFFER THAT. UM, AND I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT WE PROVIDE, UM, JOBS FOR LOCAL LIKE ELECTRICIANS, UM, UH, PLUMBERS, HVAC CLEANERS, AND WE ORDER OUR SUPPLIES LOCALLY. UM, I ALSO, UH, PLUS, UM, WE RECOMMEND LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PLACES. SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANNA, I SUPPORT STRONGER ENFORCEMENT OF THE CURRENT RULES, BUT NOT, UH, NOT TO CREATE NEW RULES OR ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS OR RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MELISSA. GOOD EVENING. I'M MELISSA REIKI. THANK YOU FOR REVISITING THIS ISSUE. AFTER 10 MONTHS, I HAVE REVIEWED THE RED LINE ORDINANCE AND FOUND THE PROPOSED CHANGES ALMOST ENTIRELY ADMINISTRATIVE. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES HOMEOWNERS FACE WHEN LIVING NEXT TO ONE OR MORE STR AND STRENGTHEN THE ORDINANCE WITH MEANINGFUL ENFORCEMENT MEASURES. ONE CRITICAL OMISSION IS A CLEAR ENFORCEMENT PLAN. HOW MANY CALLS TO THE HOTLINE OR VISITS BY THE LONG BEACH PD ARE REQUIRED BEFORE A CITATION IS ISSUED? AND MY EXPERIENCE ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN NON-EXISTENT. I'VE LIVED NEXT TO A POORLY MANAGED STR FOR 10 MONTHS, AND DESPITE MAKING OVER 25 CALLS TO THE HOTLINE, TO THE PD, THE OPERATOR WAS NEVER CITED. THIS WAS LARGELY BECAUSE THE ENFORCEMENT WAS DONE BY ONE OFFICER WHO WORKED FOUR DAYS A WEEK FROM 6:00 AM TO 4:00 PM WHICH MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN STR ISSUES ARE LEAST LIKELY TO OCCUR WITHOUT AN ENFORCEMENT PLAN. DURING PEAK PROBLEM TIMES, ENFORCEMENT WILL REMAIN ELUSIVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROCESS TO PETITION, UM, IS EXCESSIVE IN THE COST AND BURDENSOME $7,000 IN MY INSTANCE. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. PLEASE CONSIDER STRENGTHENING THE ENFORCEMENT AND ADJUSTING THE PROCESS TO BETTER PROTECT HOMEOWNERS LIKE ME. THANK YOU. UH, ELLEN. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE LONG BEACH COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING COMMENTS FROM THE, UH, LONG BEACH, UH, CITIZENS. I AM 79 YEARS OLD AND I CAN'T ALWAYS BE AT MY RESIDENCE. I SHORT TERM RENT OUT WHEN I'M GONE. IT PROVIDES ME, UH, BEING ABLE TO PAY MY MORTGAGE. IT ALLOWS MY RESIDENTS TO NOT BE EMPTY AND UNCARED FOR, IT ALLOWS, UH, MANY OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES TO PROSPER, LIKE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE CREWS THAT ARE PAID A, UM, A GENEROUS AMOUNT AND THAT I WOULD NORMALLY NOT EMPLOY. IT GIVES BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, UH, CUSTOMERS LIKE RESTAURANTS. SHORT TERM TERMERS ARE LIKELY TO EAT OUT OR BUY LOCALLY. AND AS A SHORT TERM, UH, PROVIDING, UH, HOSTING FOR VISITORS THAT MAY NOT, UM, BE IN LONG BEACH BECAUSE A HOTEL WOULD NOT BE SUITABLE FOR THEM. THEY MAY HAVE A PET, A CHILD, THEY MAY NEED A KITCHEN. UH, WE ARE NOT A BIG HOTEL THAT EARNS LARGE PROFITS TO EMPLOY LOBBYISTS AS THE BIG CORPORATIONS DO. SO I FEEL THAT TO KEEP OUR CITY FRIENDLY, AND IF WE WANNA CREATE, UH, ONE OR TWO CORPORATIONS THAT HAD ONLY, UH, LONG BEACH, THEN YOU'LL ALLOW THE BIG CORPORATIONS TO HAMMER AT INCREASING FEES TO US IN PUTTING US LOCALS OUTTA BUSINESS. AND THEY EVEN TRY EVERY FEW MONTHS AS THEY ARE. AGAIN, PLEASE ENFORCE THE NON, UH, COMPLIERS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT PLACE ALL NON-COMP COMPLIERS OR ALL COMPLYING LEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS INTO [02:35:01] THE SAME ENVELOPE AS THE NON-COMP COMPLIERS. MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. UH, WELL, THEY, SOMETIMES THEY TAX US OUT OF OUR OWN INCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, SARAH? HI, I AM SARAH GEISLER AND I MANAGE MY MOM'S PLACE HERE IN LONG BEACH IN DISTRICT TWO. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE COUNCIL IS TAKING ENFORCEMENT MORE SERIOUSLY, THOUGH, AS WE'VE HEARD, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO, AND WE WANT THE RULES TO BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. BUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE NOT JUST VACATION RENTALS. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE HAD GUESTS WHO ARE DISPLACED DUE TO REPAIRS BEING DONE ON THEIR PROPERTIES. WE'VE ALSO HAD EVACUEES FROM THE LA FIRES WHO STAYED WITH US. AND THERE ARE GUESTS WHO REQUIRE THE AMENITIES OF A HOME THAT HOTELS DO NOT PROVIDE. UH, WE'VE HAD MANY YEARS WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM, BUT WE HAVEN'T EVEN REACHED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ALLOWED UNHOSTED PERMITS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING PROPERTY OWNERS' RIGHTS AND PRESERVING NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, WHEN ENFORCED ALREADY ACCOUNTS FOR THAT. THOSE WHO AREN'T FOLLOWING THE RULES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL. BUT IT ALSO DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT ONE PROPERTY OWNER CAN ARBITRARILY BE GIVEN THE O THE POWER TO DECIDE HOW TO RESTRICT ANOTHER PROPERTY OWNER RENTING OUT THEIR HOUSE EVEN WITHOUT INCIDENTS OR VIOLATIONS, WHICH IS INCLUDED BY, UH, INCREASING THE, THE PETITION RULES IN THIS, UH, ORDINANCE. UH, WE'RE ASKING NOT TO ASK NEW, ADD NEW RESTRICTIONS AND PUNISH RESPONSIBLE HOSTS, BUT PLEASE JUST ENFORCE THE EXISTING RULES. THANK YOU. UH, ANDY, THANK YOU FOR FINALLY REVISITING THIS ISSUE AND OPENING BACK UP THIS ORDINANCE. BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, A LAW WITHOUT MEANINGFUL AND SERIOUS ENFORCEMENT IS JUST WORDS ON PAPER. FIRST OF ALL, THE ORDINANCE STATES THAT AN OPERATOR SHALL NOT OPERATE MORE THAN ONE PRIMARY RESIDENCE AND MORE THAN ONE NON-PRIMARY RESIDENCE. SCR IN THE CITY, WE HAVE FOUND SINGLE OPERATORS RUNNING AS MANY AS 24 DIFFERENT AIRBNBS UNDER THE SAME NAME. THAT'S A CLEAR VIOLATION OF THE LAW AS WRITTEN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ABUSE AND CORRECT THE ORDINANCE. LAWS ARE MEANT TO BE ENFORCED, RIGHT? LIKE WITH NUISANCE VIOLATIONS YOU DON'T ENFORCE, YOU IGNORE. NEXT, I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING CHANGES BE MADE BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THIS ITEM. NUMBER ONE, ANY SCR INVOLVED IN OR IS THAT HAS CAUSED A VIOLENT OR SERIOUS CRIME MUST BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. NOT GIVEN TWO OUT THREE STRIKES. YOU'RE FURTHER ENDANGERING IN TRAUMATIZED NEIGHBORHOODS BY LEAVING EVEN ONE CHANCE OPEN FOR AN OFFENDER. PLUS, THIS ASSUMES YOU EVEN HANDOUT STRIKES ARE VIOLATIONS, WHICH SEEMS RARE SINCE YOU ARE NOT TRANSPARENT WITH THAT DATA AND HOTLINE CALLS GO ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE. NUMBER TWO, NEIGHBORS MUST BE GIVEN A 60 DAY NOTIFICATION WHEN A NEW SCR REGISTRATION IS APPLIED FOR GIVING THEM TIME TO DECIDE IF THEY REALLY WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. AKA HOTEL SOUNDS PRETTY FAIR TO ME, DOESN'T IT? IN CLOSING, I URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS RATE OF THIS ORDINANCE AND MAKE THESE MUST NEEDED REVISIONS. AND I KINDLY ASK THAT ANYONE ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHO HAS EVER RUN AN AIRBNB BEFORE, PLEASE RECUSE YOURSELF FROM THIS DELIBERATION. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU. UH, CHRISTINA. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHRISTINA RELE AND I HAVE LIVED, UM, OR BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE FIFTH DISTRICT FOR 20 YEARS. I PURCHASED MY HOME TO LIVE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT NEXT TO A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS OR UNSUPERVISED HOTEL. I APPRECIATE THE CON COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF THE EXISTING SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRIORITIZE YOUR CONSTITUENTS. BUDGETS AND POLICIES ARE A STATEMENT OF VALUES. AND AS A CONSTITUENT, I I DO NOT FEEL VALUED ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT. I AM CERTAIN IT IS NO SURPRISE TO HEAR ABOUT THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT. I HAVE REPORTED NUMEROUS VALID VIOLATIONS OF THE UNHOSTED SHORT-TERM RENTAL NEXT TO ME, AND YET THE PERMIT STILL EXISTS. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WHEN CONSTITUENTS FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE AND REPORT VIOLATIONS AND ARE THEN TOLD THEY AREN'T VALID OR THAT THEY DON'T EXIST AT ALL FURTHER, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT ONE PERSON CAN OPERATE 24 UNHOSTED SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ALONE? AGAIN, A LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING POLICIES BY CONTINUING TO ALLOW UNHOSTED SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN ENFORCEMENT, YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR CONSTITUENTS LIKE ME AT RISK. THESE CONCERNS ABOUT UNHOSTED SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE NOT ABOUT ONE OR A FEW BAD HOSTS, MA'AM HOSTS. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. UH, BEFORE YOU START, I WANNA READ THE NEXT 10 PEOPLE. SO THAT'S KEITH ANTHONY [02:40:02] THON N MARLON GU, WADE L STEVE WILKINS, JOHN GKI, DENNIS MANIA, TONY SWINGER, THE ARMY. NEXT. TED, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, PAUL. YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT. UH, MY NAME IS FONG BOWIE AND I'M, UH, REPRESENTING CTRA, THE CALIFORNIA SHORT-TERM RENTAL ASSOCIATION. UM, CTRA REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF STR HOSTS, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS, INDUSTRY OPERATORS AND WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING MANY HERE IN LONG BEACH. UH, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOSTS IN LONG BEACH WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, PRIMARILY 'CAUSE OF WORK OR FAMILY OBLIGATIONS. UM, WE ALSO KNOW THAT MANY OF THE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS ARE RELYING ON STR INCOMES TO AFFORD THEIR HOME AND LIVE IN LONG BEACH. UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOSTS ARE RESPONSIBLE RESIDENTS AND THEY'RE INVESTED INTO THE WELLBEING AND SAFETY OF THEIR GUESTS, NEIGHBORS, UM, AND OF THE OVERALL COMMUNITY. UM, THEY'RE ALSO INVESTED IN SUPPORTING VISIT LONG BEACH INITIATIVES, GENERATING TOT, AND ALSO PREPARING FOR LARGE EVENTS LIKE THE OLYMPICS. UM, AND BEYOND THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS, LONG BEACH HOSTS HAVE BEEN IMPACTFUL, UH, IN EMERGENCY EFFORTS AS WELL. SO ACCORDING TO AIRBNB.ORG, OVER 17,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED BY THE FIRES HAVE BEEN STAYING, UH, THROUGH AIRBNBS. MANY OF THOSE, UM, ARE STAYING HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, AND I THINK ON THAT NOTE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE REDUCTION ON THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GUESTS COULD AFFECT HOST LIVELIHOODS AND ALSO PREVENT SOME HOSTS FROM BEING ABLE TO HOST THE EVACUEES. UM, WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT INCREASED RESTRICTIONS COULD ALSO DETER HOSTS WHO MAY WANT TO OPEN UP THEIR HOMES TO THE LA AND ALTADENA FIRE VICTIMS. MA'AM, YOUR TIMES CONCLUDED. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, . GOOD EVENING. YOU BUSY PEOPLE. YOU GUYS REALLY RUN A THING HERE. I'M A HOST AND I'VE BEEN A HOST FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS. AND, AND I'M AN OLDER WOMAN. I'M 83 YEARS OLD. UNFORTUNATELY, MY SOCIAL SECURITY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP ME IN A, IN BUTTER AND BREAD. IF I DIDN'T HAVE AIRBNB, I WOULD BE IN A BAD WAY. AND I CAN SAY THIS, UM, I AM A CONSTITUENT AND I, I, I VOTE FOR YOU GUYS. I HOPE THE HOTELS ARE NOT TRYING TO SQUASH US, BECAUSE THAT'S SUCH A SILLY THING. AND I THINK THAT WE WILL ADD SO MUCH TO THE, THE, UH, OLYMPICS WHEN THEY DO COME. 'CAUSE WE'LL HAVE SOME GREAT PLACES FOR THEM TO STAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. UH, ANTHONY? YEAH. HI, MY NAME'S TONY. I LIVE OUT IN THE PLAZA AREA IN, UH, MEGAN CURTIS DISTRICT. UM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK THE, THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T ADDRESS DISTANCE, AND I'VE GOT TWO AIRBNBS WITHIN A HUNDRED YARDS OF MY PROPERTY. ONE IS ABOUT A HUNDRED YARDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, AND ONE IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME. BUT THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE MY OTHER NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR JUST INFORMED ME LAST WEEK THAT HE WANTS TO PUT IN AN AIRBNB ALSO. THAT HAPPENS. I'M GONNA HAVE TWO ON BOTH SIDES OF ME AND ONE ACROSS THE STREET. NOW I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY'S POSITION ON THIS, WHETHER YOU'RE FOR OR AGAINST IT, BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE CLUSTERED IN ONE AREA, ESPECIALLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE NEIGHBOR. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF DISTANCE ORDINANCE IN THERE. VEGAS HAS 200 YARDS BETWEEN A, A HOSTED AIR, UH, AIRBNBS UNHOSTED RENTALS. AND I THINK, UM, WE COULD DO A HUNDRED YARDS MAYBE IN JUST ADJACENT PROPERTIES. SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. SO I, I PUT THAT OUT THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, NISHA. THANK YOU EVERYONE, UH, FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO ADDRESS THIS TOPIC. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME AROUND THE BLOCK. AND, UH, LIKE CELESTE, I'VE BEEN HOSTING WITH MY HUSBAND JOSE FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS. AND WE STARTED BY TRAVELING OURSELVES. AND WE'VE DONE HOTELS, WE'VE DONE AIRBNBS. AND DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BOTH HAVE BEEN FAVORABLE FOR US. AND WE FOUND AS GUESTS AND AIRBNBS AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND OTHER CITIES THAT IT'S SO AWESOME TO BE IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY AND ALLOW HOSTS TO RECOMMEND THINGS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE WOULD NEVER CONSIDER. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE IN THE CITY OF ROME, YOU'RE GOING TO STAY AT YOUR HOTEL AND GO IN THE CITY CENTER. BUT IF YOU STAY IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK. AND THOSE, THOSE [02:45:01] HOSTS, THOSE BUSINESSES ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE GUESTS GIVING THEIR BUSINESS TO THEM. AND WE DO THE SAME WITH OUR GUESTS THAT COME AND STAY WITH US. WE'VE HAD A FEW BAD GUESTS, IT'S EXPECTED, BUT WE'RE ON IT. WE HAVE OUR CAMERAS UP, WE HAVE NOISE MONITORS. UH, THE LAST THING WE WOULD WANT IS TO CAUSE TROUBLE. AND WE, WE RESPECT THE RULES WITHIN THE CITY. THE, THE TAXES. 13%, ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE HAPPY TO PAY OUR TAXES, INCREASE THE FEES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENFORCEMENT. ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE ALL FOR THAT. UM, JUST DON'T TAKE AWAY THAT, THAT OTHER SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD THAT HELPS US PAY OUR PROPERTY TAXES AND KEEP OUR PROPERTY NICE AND UPDATED. AS YOU ALL KNOW, EVERYTHING'S GONE UP PRACTICALLY 30, 30 TO 40%. ALL OF OUR BILLS TIMES CONCLUDED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MARLON. MARLON? NO, MARLON. OKAY, THAT'S GONNA WAYNE L WAYNE. OKAY. UH, STEVE. STEVE MORGANS. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS, UH, THE COUNCIL AND THE, UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, MR. BALDWIN. WE HAVE, UH, BEEN OPERATING A-V-R-V-O IN LONG BEACH. IN THE BELMONT SHORE AREA. UH, SINCE, UH, 2018, WE ORIGINALLY HAVE A DUPLEX, UH, WHICH MY WIFE AND I HAVE UNHOSTED, BUT WE HAVE NOTHING EXCEPT FIVE STARS. IN, IN, IN ALL THE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT. WE, WE BOTH WORK THE PROPERTY AND WE ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF ANY CALL FROM ANY RESIDENCE. WE'VE NEVER HAD A COMPLAINT. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THAT WE WERE OPERATING BOTH UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS. AND BECAUSE OF THE ORDINANCE NOW WE ONLY CAN HAVE ONE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE LONG TERM, WHICH IS THE SO RIDICULOUS TO HAVE 31 NIGHTS. THERE'S NO OTHER CITY THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAS 31 NIGHTS. MOST OF 'EM HAVE 28. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT A, A MONTH IN FEBRUARY IS. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS. I WANT TO JUST EXPRESS THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGE. AND ALSO, 'CAUSE WE ARE IN THE COASTAL COMMISSION, COASTAL ZONE, THEY WANT 350. WE ARE READY TO GRANTED ANOTHER LICENSE TO DO THAT. I MEAN, SIR, WE HAVE PAID $50,000 IN, IN REVENUE TO THE CITY. SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. UH, JOHN. NICE TRY. UH, MY NAME'S JOHN GICK AND I'M HERE. I AM REPRESENTING MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT FIVE. UH, I SAY REPRESENTING BECAUSE I'VE MET WITH 40 OF OUR PEOPLE, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS ALREADY. I THINK THE EASIEST THING I CAN DO IS SHARE MY STORY WITH YOU, OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH AIRBNB ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME. WALKED BY A FELLOW WHO CLAIMED HE WAS GONNA LIVE IN IT. TURNS OUT, NO, HE LIVES IN PALOS VERDES. IT'S A DUPLEX. HE HAD IT, UH, SET UP FOR 19 TO, UH, I'M SORRY, 16 TO 19 PEOPLE TO STAY AT THIS PLACE. IT'S A DUPLEX. HAD IT ADVERTISED IN SIGNAL HILL, NOT IN LONG BEACH. ENDED UP HAVING A PARTY WITH, WITH ONE OF THE RAVES. WE HAD, I THINK A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE AT ONE 30 IN THE MORNING, PARTYING ACROSS THE STREET. MY POOR NEIGHBOR WITH TWO BABIES. AND THEY WAS SCARED TO DEATH BECAUSE HER HUSBAND IS A FIREFIGHTER AND ONLY THING SHE COULD DO IS FLASH A FLASHLIGHT OVER TRYING TO GET HIM TO STOP. AND YET SHE COULDN'T DO THAT. SO WHAT DO WE GET FROM THAT? WE HAVE TRASH IN THE STREET. WE HAVE PARKING ISSUES, WE HAVE CARS OUT THERE. THESE, IT'S NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STAYING THERE, BUT IT'S PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT THEM. AND THAT REALLY INCREASES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU'RE GONNA FIND AT THESE AIRBNBS. UH, I'VE PICKED UP TRASH. I'VE HAD PEOPLE BLOCKING A CAR, PARKING SPOTS. I'VE HAD 'EM PARKED ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET. SO IT'S VERY, UH, DISCOMFORTING AND IT'S A FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE. I'VE HAD TWO MORE BESIDES THAT. WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF SEVEN. SO THREE OUTTA SEVEN. WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH, UH, I THINK I'M DONE. THANK YOU BY THE WAY. I'LL, I'LL BE WANTING TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE OF WARDLOW AND WHY THEY PAID $5.4 MILLION FOR THREE COMMERCIAL ODDS. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. UH, ISH. MANALIA. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DENNIS MANDELA. I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR 40 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN A HOST FOR AIRBNB IN DISTRICT TWO FOR THE PAST, UH, 10 YEARS. AND, UM, [02:50:01] I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE HEARING REPEATEDLY IS PERHAPS A LACK OF ENFORCEMENT THAT IS CREATING SOME ISSUES. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN REGULATE OURSELVES OUT OF ANY CONCERNS IF WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY ENFORCING THE REGULATIONS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST. UM, I'VE SEEN LISTINGS THAT ADVERTISED 12 PLUS 14 PLUS. SO JUST ARBITRARILY REDUCING THAT TO EIGHT DOES NOT SEEM, UH, FAIR OR CONSISTENT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE ROADMAP THAT WAS ADDRESSED. UM, SO, UH, DETAILED IN SUCH A DETAILED MANNER TODAY WITH RESPECT TO THE 2028 OLYMPICS. UM, I THINK THAT THE PROVISION IN THE REGULATION THAT PROVIDES FOR A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERSONS TO BE PRESENT AT THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, UM, TO EIGHT, UH, AND TO AN ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM OF EIGHT IS JUST NOT REALISTIC OR, UM, COHERENT AS WRITTEN. UM, IF I GO TO INVESTIGATE A NOISE COMPLAINT, NOW I'M PRESENT. THAT MAKES ME NINE. IF I'VE GOT A REPAIR PERSON TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT'S NOW 10. IF HE BRINGS AN APPRENTICE, THAT'S 11. SO HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THAT? IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. AND, UM, AS SOMEBODY WHO DOES HAVE A FOUR BEDROOM THAT C CAN RENT, UH, TO 10 PLUS, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE ARE A SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS. IT'S REUNIONS, IT'S UM, FUNERALS, IT'S WEDDINGS. THOSE ARE THE FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING TO STAY. IT'S NOT PARTIES. AND I'VE ONLY DEALT WITH THAT FOR A TWO BEDROOM UNIT WHERE THERE'S ONLY FOUR OCCUPANTS IN THAT IN MY 10 YEARS OF DOING THIS. SO I DON'T THINK IT'S, UM, RATIONALLY RELATED TO ANY LEGITIMATE PURPOSE. I YOU, UH, TONY? YES, SIR. GOOD NAME. MIKE. LEMME READ THE LAST, UH, THE LAST GROUP AFTER TONY IS DARBY. DAVID MARYANNE, MESSINA CAMERON AND ETH TAM GUTTER OR WOODARD? RICHARD MAXON. BRAD MICHAELS AND OLGA MICHAELS. GO AHEAD. ALRIGHT. I'M TONY SWAGGER. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR THANKLESS SERVICE. UM, HEARD A LOT OF THINGS AND, UH, DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF SITTING UP THERE AND LISTENING. UM, BEEN A HOST SINCE 2016. I'VE SEEN THE, BEEN A PART OF THIS SINCE THE INITIAL STUDY OF 2017. IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT. STARTED OFF BY, YOU KNOW, JUST REQUIRING A REGISTRATION, THEN REQUIRING TO PAY THE TOT TAXES HAPPILY, TO DO ALL OF THOSE STEPS HAPPILY TO ABIDE BY ALL THE REGULATIONS, EVEN THESE NEW ONES THAT ARE COMING. IT'S A CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT, CONSTANTLY ADDRESSING ALL THE CONCERNS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT COMM THAT THE COMMUNITY BRINGS ABOUT. WE ARE PART OF THAT. WE FULLY SUPPORT THESE EXTRA, YOU KNOW, ENFORCEMENT, UM, ITEMS AS WELL. UM, THERE ARE SO MANY ADVANTAGES THAT, THAT MYSELF AND OUR, MY FAMILY HAS, UH, HAD FROM THIS HAVE GOT LAID OFF, SUPPORTED INCOME. YOU KNOW, KIDS GET TO MEET SO MANY PEOPLE. WE'VE GOT SO MANY, YOU KNOW, LIFELONG FRIENDS NOW THAT HAVE STAYED IN OUR HOUSE, THE OMAN ROYAL AIR FORCE WHO FLY THE PRINCES AROUND. THEY NOW STAY AT OUR PLACE. AND WE'VE GOT SO MANY CULTURES AND EXPERIENCE. AND WHEN WE GET ALL THESE VISITORS WHO COME IN, WE HAVE A CHALKBOARD WITH EVERY SINGLE LOCAL BUSINESS LISTED WHERE ALL THESE FOLKS GO. THEY, THEY WALK TO ALL THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT THEY CAN EAT. THEY CAN GO DO THINGS, THEY CAN DO THIS. SO IT'S A, IT'S A BIG BENEFIT FOR NOT ONLY US WHO LETS US KEEP OUR HOUSE, BUT ALSO TO ALL THE OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THERE. SO THE ONLY REQUEST I HAVE IS THAT YOU JUST, UM, NOT PENALIZE ALL THE HOSTS THAT ARE INCOMPLIANT AND ABIDE BY THE REGULATIONS. MAY YOU, UH, DARBY, UH, DARBY HARDEN. I JUST WANNA THANK THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THESE ST I'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED AND GRATEFUL FOR THEM. UM, I'VE HAD SEVERAL, UM, GUESTS THAT I'VE MET IN PERSON WHO ARE, UH, WE'VE HOSTED PEOPLE THE COLOR OF THE RAINBOW, EVERY GENDER, EVERY IDENTITY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD, UH, TO STAY IN THE BEACH CITY, BUT CAN BECAUSE OF AIRBNB. SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR LONG BEACH FOR THEIR INCLUSION AND, AND THEIR DIVERSITY BY ALLOWING THESE AIRBNBS, THE HOSTS YOU'VE SEEN HERE TONIGHT. WE ARE THE GOOD HOSTS. WE'RE THE RESPONSIBLE HOSTS. I KNOW MY GUESTS, MY NEIGHBORS KNOW. IN FACT, NOT ONLY DO MY NEIGHBORS KNOW, BUT THEY HELP US AND MY NEIGHBORS ACTUALLY RENT OUR AIRBNB WHEN THEIR FAMILIES COME TO TOWN. SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU, THE US HOSTS THAT DO A GOOD JOB, THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE, PLEASE DON'T PUNISH US WITH MORE FEES. 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST GONNA GO ON TO THOSE THAT HAVE A, THAT ARE COMING TO VISIT. SO THE TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, UM, IF WE COULD BRING SOME OF THE FEES DOWN SO WE DON'T HAVE TO THROW THOSE ONTO OUR GUESTS WHO COULD BARELY AFFORD MAY OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. ANYWAYS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, DAVID. OKAY. DAVID? NOT HERE. UH, MARYANNE MESSINA? NO, MARYANNE. OKAY, CAMERON. [02:55:04] HEY EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TONIGHT. MY NAME IS CAMERON HILDRETH. UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF, CITY COUNCIL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS ORDINANCE SO FAR. AND FOR US TO STR HOSTS. UM, I'VE BEEN A HOST FOR FIVE YEARS. I'M IN CAMBODIA TOWN. I'M ON THE BORDER OF DISTRICT. I'M IN DISTRICT TWO ON THE BORDER OF DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OUTSIDE OF MY AIRBNB IN, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN OVER BY THE PORT. SO I'M, UH, WANTED TO SHARE MY LOVE OF LONG BEACH WITH EVERYONE. I, I BUILT MY DUPLEX, MYSELF, I DID A REMODEL ON IT AND ALL OF THAT. AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE BEING A HOST HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, THE SDRS HAVE A DIRECT BENEFIT ON OUR COMMUNITIES, AND I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO, UH, CONSIDER THE IMPACT THAT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE GOOD HOSTS. AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD BE PUNISHING ANY BAD ACTORS THAT ARE NOT GOOD HOSTS. UM, SOME OF THESE HORROR STORIES ARE TERRIBLE, BUT THEY'RE VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH THE MINORITY. UM, CURRENT LONG BEACH POLICY IS VERY BALANCED FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS. AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT MY ABILITY TO HAVE AN AIRBNB IN LONG BEACH KEEPS MY HOME AFFORDABLE AND ACTUALLY HELPED ME CREATE A SMALL BUSINESS THAT NOW EMPLOYS 25 PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. IF I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THAT INCOME AND THAT OPPORTUNITY AS A HOST, THAT WOULD'VE NEVER HAPPENED FOR ME. UM, WE PAY TOT TAXES AND WE'RE, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. WE'RE PART OF THE SOLUTION HERE. UM, AND I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING THE STR PROGRAM AND MAYBE EVEN HELP GROWING IT GOING INTO THE OLYMPICS IS A, IS A GOOD IDEA FOR THE CITY, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH OF THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TAMARA. TAMARA? YEAH. HI, MY NAME IS TAMARA. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS HERE. UM, I'VE BEEN AN AIRBNB HOST, UM, SINCE 2017 BEFORE REGULATION, AS SOON AS THERE WAS REGULATION, WE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A PERMIT. UM, LIKE SEVERAL OF THE OTHER HOST HAVE SAID, WE PAY OUR TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAXES AND DO SO WILLINGLY AND ARE HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. UH, WE SUPPORT REGULATION, STRONG REGULATION, AND INCREASED ENFORCEMENT, AND WE CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND AND SHOWCASE SMALL BUSINESSES IN LONG BEACH TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS. WE ALSO PAY OUR CLEANER A VERY FAIR WAGE, A FAR ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE. WE USE ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR OUR HOME REPAIRS, HBAC, PLUMBING AND OTHER THINGS. UM, MY FAMILY'S BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE MANY BENEFITS. WE'VE MET PEOPLE FOR MANY CULTURES. JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD A FAMILY THAT STAYED FOR A WEEK THAT WAS FROM TURKEY. OVER THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, WE HOSTED DANCERS, UM, FOR THE NUTCRACKER THAT WAS AT THE LONG BEACH TERRACE THEATER. UM, OVER THE SUMMER, WE HOSTED INTERNS FROM RELATIVITY AND CURRENTLY THROUGH AIRBNB.ORG. WE ARE HOSTING EVACUEES FROM THE RECENT FIRES. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORTIVE HOSTS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU. UM, I ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED ENFORCEMENT AND WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT PUNISH HOSTS THAT ARE COMPLYING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, RICHARD, RICHARD MADISON. OH, HELLO. THANK YOU. MY FIRST TIME. UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PATIENCE. BUT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, I'M, UH, REALLY NEW TO THIS BECAUSE I HAVE AN AIRBNB OR A LONG-TERM, A SHORT-TERM RENTAL MOVING IN NEXT DOOR. AND, UH, I JUST PUT UP WITH 30 YEARS OF A REAL BAD RENTER, BUT NOW I'M WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE WORSE. SO, UM, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW, I, I WENT OUT AND MET SOMEBODY OUT THERE AND I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE THE OWNER. AND THEN, UH, THEY SAID, NO, I'M NOT THE OWNER. I WORK WITH THE BANK. SO THEN I TALKED TO DIFFERENT WORKERS AND I EVENTUALLY FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A LONG, A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, AND THEN THE NEIGHBOR ON THE OTHER SIDE QUESTIONED IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS AS WELL, BUT IT WAS ALL KINDA REALLY DOWN LOW. THEY'RE, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR TWO MONTHS. UH, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY CITY PERMITS, WORKERS, ANYTHING GOING ON. AND, UH, ALSO, WE'RE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A A K EIGHT SCHOOL, AND I THINK I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE AS FAR AS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND WHO'S GONNA POLICE THEM AND HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK AND WHO DO WE CONTACT. SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CALLED THE CITY AND DIFFERENT THINGS AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE KIND OF RESULTS THAT THEY WANT. UH, AND SO THE ONE THING I WOULD ASK NOW IS I WOULD AGREE WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE WITH A STRICTER ENFORCEMENT, BUT ALSO WHAT DO YOU DO WITH, UH, SCHOOLS? HOW CLOSE CAN THEY BE? LIKE THIS SCHOOL IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN 50 FEET FROM SIR, YOUR TIME SPEAKER, MY FRONT YARD. [03:00:01] SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, BRAD. AND THEN ON, ON THAT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE IN. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WE, WE'VE OPERATED A SHORT-TERM RENTAL IN BELMONT SHORE FOR SINCE 2017. AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT, KINDA THE HIGHLIGHTS. UM, WE ARE HAVE OVER 200 REVIEWS AT FIVE STARS. WE TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO. WE WANNA PROVIDE THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR WORLDWIDE TRAVELERS. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE FROM GERMANY, ENGLAND, UM, AUSTRALIA, ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE ALSO SUPPORTED, UM, WHEN THE, UH, SOME VICTIMS THAT WERE UP FROM THE FIRE RECENTLY AND SOME OF OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORS THAT HAD THEIR HOUSE BEING TENTED. SO IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A GO-TO PLACE. UM, BEING A, I WANNA GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT A SOMEONE THAT'S INVESTED IN THEIR HOME DOES. WE GO, I SHOULD GO OUT AND CLEAN THE AREA. SO MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS CLEAN, THERE'S NO TRASH, THERE'S NOT A HOMELESS PROBLEM OR PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE AREA BECAUSE I WANT MY GUESTS TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND FEEL COMFORTABLE AND FEEL SAFE. I HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY SEND ME LETTERS SAYING, WELL, IS LONG BEACH SAFE? AND I SAID, OUR AREA IS DEFINITELY SAFE, YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, PLEASE DON'T GIVE, PROVIDE ANY NEW REGS, BUT WE DO SUPPORT YOU GOING AFTER THE BAD ACTORS. AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO, YOU KNOW, INCORPORATE THAT I OPERATE A SMALL RETAIL BUSINESS AND I REALLY WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE, UH, FEES GO UP BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M ALMOST PAYING MORE NOW FOR MY FEE, HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL THAN I DO FOR MY BUSINESS LICENSE FOR MY RETAIL STORES. SO, UH, I KNOW THAT WE PAY QUITE A BIT ON THE SHORT, UH, THE TOT TAX AND I THINK THAT SHOULD SUFFICE TO COVER IT, SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. AND JUST ONE, ONE MORE RECOMMENDATION. IF YOU COULD ALL CLARIFY ON THE WEBSITE THE RENEWAL PROCESS FOR A SHORT TERM RENTALS, IT'D BE VERY HELPFUL WITH TIMELINES, UM, EXPECTATIONS AND OTHER THINGS SO WE CAN OPERATE EVEN MORE EFFICIENTLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ON THAT SPEAKER. MY NAME'S OLGA. UM, YES, WE DO OPERATE, UH, SHORT TERM RENTAL AND WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. AND FOR THOSE, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SUCH BAD EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT I ASSURE YOU THEY ARE PROBABLY THE MINORITY BECAUSE WE ARE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS AND, UH, IN RESPECTING OUR NEIGHBORS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE LOUDER PARTIES THAN OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL. AND, UH, THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I MEAN, YOU CAN HAVE BIG, HUGE PARTIES ALL THE TIME. SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS JUST THE SHORT TERM RENTALS. I THINK WE'RE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS OF THAT. UM, WE ARE PAYING A LOT TTS AND REGISTRATION. WE JUST HOPING THAT, UM, THESE REGISTRATION FEES DON'T GO UP ASTRONOMICALLY. AND ALSO, UM, WE DON'T HOST EIGHT PEOPLE, BUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CONTINUE TO HOST MORE THAN EIGHT, EIGHT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, UM, I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM. MAYBE THERE CAN BE, THEY HAVE TO SUPPLY THE HOUSE OR WITH A NOISE, UH, A NOISE, UH, KIND OF, UH, DETECTOR. UM, BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE PUNISHED BY BRINGING, UH, BRINGING DOWN THE NUMBER OF HOSTS FROM EIGHT UP FROM 10 TO EIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VICE MAYOR FOR MANAGING PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, FOR PARTICIPATING. WE'LL NOW TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. THE MAKER OF THE MOTION IS COUNCIL MEMBER YANGA IRAN. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THIS HAS BEEN A JOURNEY, UH, TO DEAL WITH, UH, STR UH, I'VE BEEN DOING BUSINESS AS WELL ON THE COAST COMMISSION, BUT I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT OUR STAFF HAS HAD IS THAT LONG BEACH HAS A COAST AS WELL AS INLAND, AND THEY'RE NOT THE SAME WHEN YOU COME, HOW YOU TREAT STR. SO I'M HAPPY THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO MANEUVER THAT AND WORK IT OUT TO COME WITH THIS DOCUMENT HERE THAT OH, ADDRESS BOTH. AND, UH, WELL THAT'S ALL BASICALLY GOTTA SAY IS THAT THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE ON THIS AND KEEPING THE, THE FACT THAT COASTAL COMMISSION, THE COASTAL AREAS ARE DIFFERENT THAN INLAND AREAS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. LET'S SEE WHO WAS A SECONDER HERE? UH, ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS [03:05:01] PRESENTATION. I THINK THAT THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE US WILL HELP FURTHER ENSURE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND MINIMIZE THE COM, ALL OF THE NEGATIVE, UM, THINGS THAT WE HAVE. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE AMENDMENTS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. HI. UM, THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS BACK. I THINK WE'VE HAD SO MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS AND I, I KNOW A LOT OF RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMATIC SHORT TERM RENTALS. SO I THINK THIS GIVES US A LOT OF TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. UM, BAD OPERATORS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS. WE'RE HEARING FROM BOTH OPERATORS WHO ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AND THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING WHEN THERE ARE LARGE PARTIES, LOUD GUESTS, ALL NIGHT, MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. WE NEED THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES QUICKLY AND TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO RUN SHORT-TERM RENTALS WHO CAN'T PROPERLY MANAGE THEM. SO IT'S GOOD WE HAVE THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE THAT CAN HELP US ADDRESS THE BAD OPERATORS WHILE STILL ALLOWING PEOPLE WHO CAN OPERATE, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN A REASONABLE GOOD WAY. UM, I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT IF THEY WANT TO PROHIBIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THEIR CENSUS BLOCK, THERE IS A MECHANISM TO DO THAT. BUT SO MANY TIMES THERE ARE JUST ONE OR TWO OPERATORS THAT ARE, UM, THEY'RE THE BAD OPERATORS AND THEY'RE CAUSING A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS. UM, CHRISTOPHER, UH, DIRECTOR KONZ, I WANTED TO JUST ASK ABOUT, I, I KNOW THAT YOU WERE GETTING A DIFFERENT HOTLINE BUSINESS, AND I'M SORRY IF I MISSED THIS BEFORE, BUT DID YOU TELL, DID YOU ADDRESS THAT? I DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT. I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE COUNCIL IS, UH, WE DO, UM, IN OUR HOUSE, IN, IN OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL POSITION THROUGH THE PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION AND THE, UH, BUDGET. UM, SO THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO DO ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS AND, UH, THERE ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS CONTEMPLATED THIS ORDINANCE. UM, WE'RE ALSO USING, UM, OVERTIME TO SEND STAFF OUT AFTER HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS, WHICH WAS A PRIORITY FOR YOURSELF AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, AND WE'RE ALSO GOING THROUGH A PROCESS, UH, TO UPDATE OUR THIRD PARTY VENDOR, UM, THAT'S IN A PROCUREMENT PROCESS, SO I'M NOT GONNA TALK A LOT ABOUT THAT TONIGHT. UM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT AND IN ADDITION TO OUR OWN STAFF THAT WE HAVE A VENDOR, UM, THAT IS, UM, PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE, UH, THAT, THAT WE CAN. AND WE USE THAT OUTSIDE VENDOR, FOR EXAMPLE, TO SCRUB, UM, ALL THE LISTING SERVICES AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE AREN'T, UM, UNREGISTERED UM, RENTALS AVAILABLE OUT IN THE MARKETPLACE. ALRIGHT, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT COASTAL COMMISSION APPROVES THIS APPLICATION. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION TOO. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN. UM, YES, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION, UM, FROM ONE OF MY PROPERTY OWNERS. SO IF I CAN JUST READ THIS TO YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHO, WHO'S, WHO'S, UH, IT SAYS THE QUESTION WAS JUST REGARDING THE NUMBER OF UNITS IN A MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING THAT IS ALLOWED TO DO ST PREVIOUSLY THE RESIDENTS SAID WE ONLY RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF NON-PRIMARY HOW HOSTING ALLOWED. WE ARE NOT ADDING PRIMARY HO PRIMARY HOSTING TO THE RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF UNITS ALLOWED. IS THERE, IF THERE IS ANY BUILDING THAT THAT HA THAT WILL EXCEED THE NUMBER OF UNITS ALLOWED AFTER ADDING PRIMARY HOSTING, WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO GRANDFATHER IN THE PROPERTY TO NOT PUNISH EXISTING PRIMARY HOSTS THAT ARE FOLLOWING THE CURRENT RULES? SO WE DON'T, UH, GRANDFATHER SHORT-TERM RENTALS? UH, THE WAY SHORT-TERM RENTALS WORK IS YOU OBTAIN A ONE YEAR PERMISSION. SO ANYONE THAT HAS A VALID, UM, SHORT-TERM RENTAL APPROVAL TODAY, UM, TONIGHT'S ACTION DOES NOT MODIFY THAT APPROVAL. BUT WHEN IT COMES UP FOR RENEWAL, THEY WOULD NEED TO, UM, SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS TODAY. SO THE CHANGE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS, UM, REFERRING TO, UM, HAS TO DO WITH IN MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS LIKE A CONDO COMPLEX, HOW WE CALCULATE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF A, UH, SHORT TERM RENTALS. UH, WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY LICENSE THAT'LL ACTUALLY BE IMPACTED BY THIS CHANGE. UM, BECAUSE IN YOUR CONDO IT'S, YOU WOULDN'T BE A HOSTED RENTAL BECAUSE YOU EITHER LIVE IN IT OR, OR YOU DON'T. [03:10:01] SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA HAVE THE IMPACT THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL FEARS THAT IT MAY. UM, BUT REGARDLESS, THERE'S NO VESTED RIGHT. ONCE YOU HAVE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL TO FOREVER OPERATE THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL, THE PERMISSION THAT THE CITY PROVIDES, UM, IS FOR A YEAR. AND THEN IT'S SUBJECT TO RENEWAL, UM, UNDER THE CITY STANDARDS, WHICH DO CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME. THANK YOU CHRISTOPHER, FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION. THANKS MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TI UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AND THANK YOU FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION. VERY CLEAR AND THE, THE DOCUMENTATION ON THE ITEM WAS FANTASTIC. UM, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS. SO, UM, 'CAUSE STAFF JUST WALKED THROUGH, IT WAS PRETTY DENSE, SO COULD STAFF WALK THROUGH THE PETITION TO RESTRICT, THAT'S ON PAGE EIGHT, JUST LIKE THE, THE, UM, UNDER THE SECTION THAT SAYS, REQUEST A PETITION TO RESTRICT UNHOSTED SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITHIN A GEOGRAPHICAL CENSUS TRACK BLOCK. CAN YOU JUST WALK THROUGH, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A PROCESS WHERE YOU CAN, YOU CAN GET SIGNATURES, MAIL THEM TO THE, TO THE CITY. COULD YOU JUST KIND OF WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS? YEAH, SO I'M GONNA HAND IT TO SCOTT IN A MINUTE 'CAUSE HE ADMINISTERS THE, UM, PETITION PROCESS. BUT FIRST I WANT TO ANSWER, WHAT DID WE CHANGE? WE DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE. THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE REALLY DIDN'T DEFINE HOW THAT, UM, VOTE COUNTING WAS DONE. UM, IT DIDN'T DEAL WITH WHAT HAPPENS WITH RETURN UNDELIVERABLE BALLOTS. MM-HMM . WHICH WERE MAILING TO PROPERTY OWNERS IS DIFFERENT THAN AN ELECTION OF, UM, VOTERS. SO WE GOT A LOT OF RETURN MAIL AND IT SEEMED UNFAIR TO COUNT THAT AS A NO VOTE, BUT WE NEEDED CLARITY IN THE ORDINANCE TO DEAL WITH THAT TECHNICAL ISSUE. UM, A YEAR AGO WHEN WE WERE TALKING TO COUNCIL, THERE HADN'T BEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THE PETITION PROCESS, BUT WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CENSUS TRACKS OPT OUT OF SHORT TERM RENTALS. AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THERE'S NO SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THAT CENSUS TRACK GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WANTED. SO SCOTT'S GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH FROM THE TIME THAT SOMEONE CALLS US ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL STEP, HOW THE PETITION PROCESS WORKS. UH, SURE. SO OUR APPLICATION IS ONLINE AND IF SOMEONE DOES REACH OUT OR FINDS IT THEMSELVES, THEY CAN FIND IT ONLINE. AND, UM, THE APPLICATION IS A, UH, A ONE PAGE DOCUMENT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE. THEY SUBMIT IT WITH A FEE, UM, UH, I BELIEVE THE FEE'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE AT THIS TIME. UM, WHEN THAT'S RECEIVED BY STAFF, WE, WE WILL DEPOSIT THE CHECK AND THEN WE'LL START OUR PROCESS, WHICH IS IDENTIFYING EVERY, UM, UH, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN THAT CENSUS TRACK BLOCK GROUP, UH, IDENTIFYING A MAILING ADDRESS FOR THEM, USUALLY THROUGH THE COUNTY, BUT WE DO VERIFY IT, UH, UH, WITH OUR OWN RESOURCES. AND THEN WE WILL MAIL IT OUT AND THEY WILL RECEIVE 30 DAYS TO, UM, MAIL IT BACK TO US SIGNED. UM, AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE PROCESS. WE THEN, UM, GIVE SOME TIME FOR STRAGGLER, UH, MAIL TO COME IN, AND THEN WE DO CONDUCT OUR COUNT AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE PROCESS. SO THE IDEA, SO WHEN AND WHEN YOU'RE NOTIFYING THIS IS FROM EDUCATION, SO WHEN YOU'RE NOTIFYING ALL THE HOMEOWNERS, YOU'RE SENDING THEM SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS THEM BASICALLY TO SAY, DO YOU WANNA OPT OUT OF HAVING A, A SHORT TERM RENTAL IN YOUR CENSUS BLOCK? CORRECT. YEAH. SO WE'LL SEND OUT, UM, UH, A, AN ENVELOPE THAT THEY CAN RETURN TO US, UH, THAT'S PREPAID. UH, IT HAS INFORMATION AND IT ALSO HAS A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS, UM, ESSENTIALLY SIGN HERE, UM, UH, AND, AND, UM, UH, LIST YOUR ADDRESS. AND THAT'S, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE DOCUMENT. AND THEN WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD? UM, FOR RETURN PETITIONS THAT SAY THEY WANNA OPT OUT, IT'S 50% PLUS ONE OF THE PETITIONS THAT WERE ACTUALLY DELIVERED. SO AGAIN, WE DON'T COUNT AGAINST THE PETITIONER, THOSE BALLOTS THAT WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO GET TO THEIR INTENDED RECIPIENT. UM, SO SCOTT TALKED ABOUT OUR PROCESS. UM, THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVEN PROCESSES. SO OFTENTIMES WHILE THE CITY IS DOING THAT FORMAL PROCESS, UM, A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR SOME SPONSOR OF THE PETITION MAY BE GOING DOOR TO DOOR. THEY MAY BE PROVIDING INFORMATION TO HOMEOWNERS, THERE MIGHT BE A COMPETING DRIVE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE NOT TO SIGN. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THE PART THAT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IS SENDING OUT THE BALLOT AND, UM, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO OPINE ON. THEN COLLECTING THOSE BALLOTS, UM, COUNTING THEM AND DETERMINING THE OUTCOME. AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S ONLY THE, THE, IT'S ONLY COUNTING THE ONES THAT WERE ACTUALLY DELIVERED. THAT'S CORRECT. SO, AS A REMINDER, EVERYBODY, FRACTIONS MATTER. YOUR DENOMINATORS MATTER. UM, AND THEN THE LAST THING HERE IS THAT IT SAYS THAT, UH, COUNCIL OFFICES WILL BE NOTIFIED. HOW DO COUNCIL OFFICES GET NOTIFIED IF SOMETHING ACTUALLY DOES GET, IF A, A CENSUS TRACK DECIDES TO OPT OUT? YEAH, SO, UH, WHEN THE PETITION PROCESS STARTS AND WHEN IT FINISHES, IT'S A, UM, EMAIL TO [03:15:01] YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF. UM, SO HOPEFULLY YOUR STAFF IS SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU. UM, AND THAT'S HOW THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS WORKS. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN. OKAY. THANKS TO STAFF FOR OUR COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION, AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO TOOK THE TIME TONIGHT TO JOIN US AND, UH, ESPECIALLY TO THE SPEAKERS, I THINK WE CAN AGREE THAT A COMMON THEME WAS ENFORCEMENT, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THAT. UM, TO DIRECTOR KONZ IN ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN, UH, YOU ACTUALLY ADDRESS ONE OF THE COMMENTS MADE AT, AT, UH, FROM THE PUBLIC, SO I'D LIKE TO JUST PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAFF RIGHT NOW. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS TONIGHT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL? JUST FOR THE CLARITY OF THE FULL COUNSEL, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE EIGHT VERSUS 10 OCCUPANTS IN THE VIEW OF STAFF, THAT'S AN INTENTIONAL AND COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE CHANGE. THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN COMPLAINT CALLS AND THE NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS AND A SHORT-TERM RENTAL. A RENTAL IS A RENTAL, IT'S NOT A NORMAL, UM, HOUSING UNIT. UM, BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSING SUPPLY HERE IN LONG BEACH, ONLY 7% OF UNITS IN THE CITY HAVE FOUR OR MORE BEDROOMS. SO WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IMPOSING A LIMIT OF EIGHT INSTEAD OF 10 IS BURDENSOME. WHAT WE DO FEEL IT WILL DO IS ADDRESS, UM, PARTY RELATED NOISE CALLS, WHICH DON'T ONLY HAPPEN IN LARGE OCCUPANCY, BUT ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN LARGE OCCUPANCY SITUATIONS. SO WE THINK THAT, UM, CHANGE IS APPROPRIATE. UM, AND YOU HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY ON A LOT OF TOPICS, SO I WOULD JUST SAY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TONIGHT IS STRENGTHENING OUR ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. AND IF AT SOME FUTURE DATE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL WANTS TO REVISIT ANY OF THE POLICY ISSUES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSED TONIGHT, RANGING FROM HOW MANY RENTALS WE ALLOW, WHERE OR DISTANCES OR WAGE CONDITIONS FOR CLEANING. ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE FAIR GAME FOR A FUTURE TUESDAY. BUT I THINK WHAT STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO DO IT WAS A MORE NARROW TASK OF IMPROVING THE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM AND, AND WE BELIEVE WE'VE DONE THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THRASS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY AND TO OUR GUESTS WHO'VE BEEN HERE THIS EVENING. UM, THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MY QUESTION AS IT RELATES TO THE, UM, MOVE FROM 10 TO EIGHT. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION AND A REMINDER THAT IT CAN BE REVISITED, UM, AND ESPECIALLY AS I THINK ABOUT, UH, HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE, THAT HAVE FOUR OR MORE, YOU KNOW, AND HAVING SOME LEVEL OF EXCEPTION FOR THOSE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE WITH THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS, UH, MORE, UM, VISITORS. AND THEN, UM, I WAS INTERESTED IN THE CONCEPT OF HOW YOU MIGHT, UM, HOW, HOW DO CALLS OR COMPLAINTS TURN INTO CITATIONS, UM, SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT THAT PROCESS IS. SURE. SO WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY VENDOR THAT OPERATES OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL HOTLINE. THEY TAKE IN, UH, COMPLAINTS THE ADDRESS THAT THE COMPLAINT IS AT AND THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINT. AND, UH, THAT'S FOLLOWED UP BY STAFF. UM, THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, WHAT WE WILL LOOK AT WAS, WAS THIS A SERIOUS VIOLATION WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A POLICE REPORT OR OTHER FIRST RESPONDER, AND WE WOULD USE THAT EVIDENCE. IF THERE ISN'T, WE HAVE TO DO AN INVESTIGATION. WE OWE THE PROPERTY OWNER DUE PROCESS AND WE WOULD INVESTIGATE USING CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF WHETHER THAT, UM, ALLEGATION WOULD BE SUSTAINED. SO THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT A THIRD OF ALL COMPLAINTS ARE NOISE RELATED AND SOME ARE SUSTAINED. UM, MANY ARE NOT SUSTAINED. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE WASN'T NOISE, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT WASN'T, UM, UPSETTING OR DISRUPTIVE TO SOMEONE. UM, BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IS WITH EVIDENCE ESTABLISHED THAT IT EXCEEDED THE NOISE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DECIBELS AT A CERTAIN TIME OF DAY. SO IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR US TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT, WELL, SOMEONE WAS TALKING IN THE BACKYARD AND AT THE NEXT TO THE POOL AT 10:00 PM I CAN TOTALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WOULD BE, UH, DISTRESSING TO A NEIGHBOR, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY VIOLATE THE NOISE ORDINANCE. WHEREAS A COMPLAINT THAT MIGHT BE RECEIVED THAT THERE WAS AMPLIFIED NOISE DEEP INTO THE NIGHT AND THERE WAS A RESPONSE EITHER FROM PD OR FROM OUR STAFF, AND THERE'S A WRITTEN REPORT, WE WOULD SUSTAIN THAT COMPLAINT THAT WOULD COUNT AS A VIOLATION AGAINST THE LICENSE. [03:20:01] A CITATION WOULD BE ISSUED, THERE'D BE A CONSEQUENCE FOR THAT CITATION, AND IT WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED WHEN WE RENEW THE LICENSE. SO THAT'S THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT. UM, THE OTHER COMPLAINTS MIGHT RANGE FROM THEY'RE NOT REGISTERED OR THEY'RE PARKING CARS WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO OR ANY HOST OF OTHER ISSUES. EACH ONE IS INVESTIGATED, UM, BECAUSE OF DUE PROCESS. SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE A WHILE, UM, TO WORK THROUGH THOSE, BUT THEY ARE ALL WORKED THROUGH, UM, AND THAT IS THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES, THANK YOU, UH, TO STAFF AND TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR GOOD QUESTIONS. JUST, UH, ONE MORE IN TERMS OF, UM, THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT AN OPERATOR CAN OPERATE. AND SO WE'VE HEARD THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS ONE IN ONE, BUT PEOPLE ARE DOING MULTIPLE. WHAT ARE THE WAYS, UM, THAT YOU WORK ON CHECKING THROUGH OWNERSHIP PLEASE? YEAH, SO WE LOOK AT THE OWNERSHIP RECORDS ON THE APPLICATION AND THE TITLE TO THE PROPERTY. SO THAT MAY BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN, UM, WHAT, HOW THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES OWNERSHIP SO MANY SHORT TERM RENTAL, UH, OWNERS THAN CONTRACT WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRM, WHICH MAY WELL MANAGE DOZENS OF, UH, SHORT TERM RENTALS. BUT THE RESTRICTION IN THE ORDINANCE HAS TO DO WITH THE OWNERSHIP OF THE RENTALS. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE LEGAL PROCESS HAS OPINED THAT CORPORATIONS ARE PEOPLE AND EVERY LEGAL ENTITY IS A DIFFERENT LEGAL ENTITY. SO WE DO OUR BEST AND WE DO INVESTIGATE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT THERE MAY BE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OWNED BY DIFFERENT LLCS AND EACH LLC MAY HAVE SOME COMMON PARTNERS, BUT ALSO SOME DIFFERENT PARTNERS. UM, SO JOHN SMITH MAY BE INVOLVED IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT BUSINESS ENTITIES. UM, SO THE PUBLIC IS CORRECT THAT IT SEEMS LIKE JOHN SMITH OWNS MORE THAN ONE, BUT AS TO KIND OF OUR LEGAL REGULATIONS AND WHAT WE CAN ENFORCE IF THEY'RE ALL OWNED BY DIFFERENT LEGAL ENTITIES, THERE'S DIFFERENT SIGNATURES, THERE'S DIFFERENT PARTNERS. WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SORT OF PIERCE EACH LLC AND INDEPENDENTLY, YOU KNOW, CONDUCT A OWNERSHIP ANALYSIS. UM, WE HAVE TO RESPECT THE LEGAL SYSTEM THAT WE ALL OPERATE UNDER. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM'S WORK ON THIS, UM, AND BEING OPEN TO A CONVERSATION, UH, POTENTIALLY ANOTHER TUESDAY FOR SOME OF THE ISSUES RAISED. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL THAT CONCLUDES, UH, COUNCIL COMMENTS. WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC. I THINK THE MESSAGE HERE TODAY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, LET'S ALL BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. AND IF WE'RE ALL GOOD NEIGHBORS, THE PROGRAM WORKS. WHEN SOMEONE GETS OUTTA LINE, THEY BLOW IT FOR EVERYONE. SO, UH, I WANT THANK THE COUNCIL FOR GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS OVER THIS PAST YEAR AND TIGHTENING UP THE ORDINANCE AND IT COULD, YOU KNOW, IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE CHALLENGES, WE CAN COME BACK TO IT. SO THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. COUNCIL MCCARR, SORRY. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. ITEM 25, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY AUDITOR CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE TIDELANDS FUND GROUP AND RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL DURING THE YEAR END BUDGET REVIEW OR MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT WITH A 200,000 ALLOCATION FROM THE [25. 25-54180 Recommendation to request City Auditor conduct an audit of the Tidelands Fund Group; and Request City Manager return to City Council during the Year-End Budget Review, or Mid-Year Budget Adjustment, with a $200,000 allocation from the Tidelands Fund Group to the City Auditor's Office to conduct an audit of the Tidelands Fund Group.       Office or Department: Kristina Duggan, Councilmember, Third District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TIDELANDS FUND GROUP TO THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE TIDELANDS FUND GROUP. ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, YOU CAN GIVE IT A MOMENT FOR THE ROOM TO CLEAR IF YOU WANT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, IF YOU'RE GONNA, UM, LEAVE, PLEASE DO SO QUIETLY, WE CAN CONTINUE THE LORD OF THE BUSINESS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. OOPS. ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, I BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD BECAUSE I WANNA HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. I'VE ASKED THE CITY CLERK TO PUT UP A MAP OF THE TIDELANDS AREA, AND IF YOU CAN SEE IN THE KEY, UM, I, IT'S HARD TO, IT'S HARD TO REALLY SEE CLOSELY, BUT THE DOTTED LINES ARE THE TIDELANDS AREA. THE, UM, THERE'S CONTIGUOUS AREAS THAT ARE BEACH. YOU CAN, YOU CAN BASICALLY SEE WHERE THE TIDELANDS TRUST IS LOCATED IN LONG BEACH. AND I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, EXACTLY WHERE THE TIDELANDS FUNDS CAN BE SPENT. SO IT SHOWS DIFFERENT AREAS THERE. [03:25:01] I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO BE REMINDED OF AND TO UNDERSTAND. AND JUST LIKE THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BEACH BIKE PATH, THE TIDELANDS AREAS ARE FOR EVERYONE. THEY'RE FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY. AND EVEN THOUGH THE OVERSIGHT REALLY IS ON THE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHOSE DISTRICTS THESE FALL IN ONE, TWO, AND THREE, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE TAKEN THE OVERSIGHT OF THE TIDELANDS VERY SERIOUSLY. I RECEIVED MONTHLY BRIEFINGS ON THE TIDELANDS PROJECT BECAUSE NEARLY ALL OF THE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT THREE ARE IN THE TIDELANDS AREA, FUNDED BY THE TIDELANDS FUND WITH LITTLE SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND. I HAVE RECEIVED REGULAR BRIEFINGS FROM THE MARINE BUREAU WHO, WHO OVERSEES THE MARINAS AND THE BEACHES THAT IS IN THE, IN THE TIDELANDS AREA. BEING ON THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, I WATCHED THE TIDELANDS FUND AND JUST KEPT MY EYE ON WHERE THAT WAS. SO I'M BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD, NOT BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG IN THE TIDELANDS FUND OR BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PROJECTS IN THE TIDELANDS AREA. I'M BRINGING IT FORWARD BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO GET A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE THE TIDELANDS FUND IS CURRENTLY AT, SO WE CAN START SETTING SOME LONG TERM TARGETS WITH THIS FUND. THE CITY HAS CORE OPERATIONS THAT RELY ON TIDELANDS FUNDING, AND THESE OPERATIONS WILL NEED TO CONTINUE WELL AFTER OIL REVENUE GOES AWAY. WE ALSO HAVE MANY PROJECTS WITHIN THE TIDELANDS AREA THAT WILL REQUIRE LONG-TERM FUNDING STRATEGIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNFUNDED. SO HERE'S MY CONCERN. THE OPERATIONS IN THE TIDELANDS AREA OF MANY OF THE PROJECTS IN THE TIDELANDS FUND WILL EVENTUALLY REQUIRE BE REQUIRED LONG AFTER OIL REVENUE GOES AWAY. I DON'T WANT THE CITY TO LOOK BACK IN 20 YEARS WHEN THESE PROJECTS CAN NO LONGER BE PUSHED OFF AND SAY THAT I WISHED WE STARTED PLANNING DECADES AGO. BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS ARE NOW LANDING ON THE GENERAL FUND PROJECTS LIKE THE BELMONT PIER, THE ALAMEDAS BAY WATER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT. THEY'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FUNDING. AND WE CAN'T JUST BOARD UP THE PIER WHEN IT REACHES IT AT THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE. WE CAN'T LET THE WATER QUALITY IN ALAMITOS BAY WORSEN BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT I'M ASKING FOR AN AUDIT INSTEAD OF A MANAGEMENT REVIEW. IN MY WORLD, IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, AN AUDITOR HIRED BY A BUSINESS OWNER IS ON THE TEAM OF THE BUSINESS. IN THIS CASE, THE CITY AUDITOR WAS ELECTED BY OUR RESIDENTS, AND I BELIEVE SHE IS ON THE CITY TEAM. IF THE MONEY FOR THIS AUDIT IS THE CONCERN, THE 200,000, I'M GLAD TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE MONEY WORK FROM THE TIDELANDS FUND. IF AN AUDIT IS TOO BURDENSOME ON STAFF, THEN I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR AUDIT AUDITOR TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OUR STAFF TIME. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACCEPT NOT HAVING THE TIME AS A REASON TO NOT CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF AN ACCOUNT THAT HASN'T BEEN AUDITED IN 20 YEARS. THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE TIME FOR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT. I MOVE TO REQUEST THE CITY AUDITOR CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE TIDELANDS FUND GROUP AND TO CONSIDER $200,000 IN FUNDING FROM THE TIDELANDS FUND TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IN THE NEXT BUDGET REVIEW, WHETHER IT'S AT END OF YEAR OR MID-YEAR. THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL ALLOW OUR AUDITORS OFFICE TO CONDUCT THIS AUDIT WHILE CONTINUING THE VITAL ONES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PROCESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER NAR. THANK YOU. I STAND IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT CHARLOTTE HART. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. I KNOW IT'S GOTTEN LONG. UM, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT OUR ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBER WAS GOING TO SAY, AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS. SO, UH, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EARLIER WE HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS HOW IMPORTANT LA 20 EIGHTS AFFECTING THE ENTIRETY OF OUR CITY. IT'S THOSE SENTIMENTS ARE ACTUALLY REALLY RELEVANT HERE TOO. SO IN THAT NOTE, I'M HERE TO ASK EACH, EACH [03:30:01] OF YOU TO VOTE TO SUPPORT AN AUDIT FOR THE TIDELANDS MONIES. I'M ASKING YOU TO REPRESENT YOUR CONT CONSTITUENTS WHO ENJOY THE LONG BEACH AND ALL THESE ASSOCIATED WATERWAYS. I'M ASKING YOU TO REMEMBER THAT EVERY CONSTITUENT COUNTS ON THIS COUNCIL TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WHETHER THEIR DISTRICT BORDERS WATER OR NOT. THIS AUDIT AND THE TIDELANDS FUNDS ARE A MATTER FOR ONLY THREE DISTRICTS. I'M ASKING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AUDIT OF THE TIDELANDS FUNDS WILL PROVIDE INSIGHTS TO FUTURE SPENDING FOR INVESTMENT WHEN THESE FUNDS END. AND TO REFLECT THAT OUR CITY HAS SOME HISTORY WITH MAKING DECISIONS THAT IN RETROSPECT COST MORE IN THE LONG RUN THAN EXPECTED SOMETIMES FROM LACK OF FORESIGHT. I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AUDITING BUSINESS IS A MATTER OF BOTH RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION. EVEN MY HOA BOARD IS AUDITED ANNUALLY. SO ARE ALL THE NONPROFITS THAT I REGULARLY VOLUNTEER FOR, LET ALONE THE BUSINESSES THAT I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED BY. PLEASE USE FORESIGHT. PLEASE VOTE FOR THE CITY TO BEHAVE AS A RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS. PLEASE VOTE TO PROTECT THE FINANCIAL INST INTERESTS OF YOUR COLLECTED CONSTITUENTS. EACH OF YOU IS RESPONSIBLE TO INFLUENCE TIDELANDS FUNDS AND YOUR VOTE FOR AN AUDIT DEMONSTRATES YOUR AWARENESS OF YOUR FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS. BEING ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, YEAH, THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA. IT'D BE A LOT BETTER THAN LOOKING BACK AND SAYING, I WISH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EXEL. UH, YEAH, I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM, SO, UM, THAT I THOUGHT I COULD HELP, UH, KIND OF ELUCIDATE THE MATTER. SO I KNOW THE, THE TOPIC IS AROUND THE AUDIT FOR TIDELANDS. DO WE NOT DO AS A CITY AN AUDIT OF TIDELANDS OF THE TIDELANDS FUND? YEAH, SO I GONNA HAVE KEVIN WRIGHTER TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF AUDIT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. UH, WE DO AUDIT THE THAILANDS FUNDS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. UH, KPMG UH, COMES AND DOES OUR AUDIT, UH, AND, UH, THEY'RE ACTUALLY CHANGING FIRMS. THAT'S WHO DOES IT RIGHT NOW. AND SO, UH, THEY DO AN AUDIT OF ALL OF OUR FUNDS AND THAILANDS IS ONE OF THOSE. AND THOSE ARE REPORTED ON EVERY YEAR. I THINK THE AUDIT, THE TYPE OF AUDIT THAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE IS, IS MORE OF A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OR, UH, COULD HAVE A DIFFERENT SCOPE, BUT THEY ARE AUDITED EVERY YEAR. KEVIN WRIGHT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD. WHAT THE CITY MANAGER JUST SAID, HE CAPTURED IT PERFECTLY. UM, OKAY. SO WE DO DO, SO WE DO A, AN ANNUAL AUDIT. UM, AND SO THEN MAYBE THIS IS A CONVERS A QUESTION FOR YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, WHAT IS, OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE ALREADY DO AS A CITY, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF THE AUDIT THAT WE DON'T ALREADY GET? WE DO A YEARLY AUDIT, BUT WE WANT TO SEE OVER THE YEARS WHAT HAS HAPPENED. I THINK THERE'S A HISTORY OF THE TIDELANDS FUND USED TO BE THE TIDELANDS AGENCY, SO WE WANNA LOOK AT WHERE THE FUNDING WITH THE TIDELANDS FUNDS IS BEING USED. WE HAVE A, WHEN THE MAP WAS UP, YOU COULD SEE THE DIFFERENT AREAS AND WE HAVE RESOURCES THAT ARE DIRECTED TO THE TIDELANDS THAT ARE SPECIFIC. UM, PD PD HAS $18 MILLION THAT ARE DIRECTED FROM THE TIDELANDS FUND FOR PD. WE WANNA SEE WHERE THOSE NUMBERS ARE. WHAT, WHAT IS EACH DEPARTMENT USING OF THE TIDELANDS FUND? THAT'S, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. OKAY. UM, KEVIN RIPER, BASED ON WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN JUST DESCRIBED, IS THAT OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO AS AN ANNUAL, UM, AUDIT WITH KPMG? IT'S OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WHAT IS PUBLISHED IN THE CITY'S ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. UM, BUT THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM THE ANNUAL AUDIT CONDUCTED BY KPMG FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS AND CROW LLP STARTING THIS YEAR. OKAY. SO THAT IS, THAT IS INFORMATION THAT WE AS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD REQUEST AND ACCESS. THAT'S CORRECT. CURRENTLY. SO, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, DID YOU KNOW THAT? I DID NOT KNOW THAT. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN AUDITOR THAT IS ELECTED TO GO DEEPER THAN SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ON A YEARLY BASIS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, FOR INSTANCE, THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION AUDIT THAT WAS DONE BY THE CITY AUDITOR THAT, CAN YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE DIFFERENCE IN AN AUDIT THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE TIDELANDS FUND? MR. RIPER, UM, THE CITY [03:35:01] AUDITORS CAN AUDIT OF THE CONSTRUCTION DEMOLITION ACCOUNT WAS A, WAS A QUESTION OF CLASSIFYING, UM, DEPOSITS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECORDED AS A REVENUE OVER THE COURSE OF MANY DIFFERENT YEARS. UM, AND SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS KIND OF A MANAGEMENT REVIEW AND PERFORMANCE AUDIT RATHER THAN A, UM, RATHER THAN A FINANCIAL AUDIT ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF THE BOOKS EXCEPT FOR THE CATEGORIZATION OF THOSE DEPOSITS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN REVENUE. UM, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE, UH, ANNUAL EXPENDITURES FOR CAPITAL AND POLICE AND OTHER OPERATING PURPOSES INSIDE THE TIDELANDS. UM, WHICH IS KIND OF A SUBSET OF THE, UM, INCOME STATEMENT THAT'S RECORDED IN THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT EACH YEAR AS PART OF THE FINANCIAL AUDIT. SO THIS IS KIND OF A HYBRID, UH, EXCUSE ME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THE ASSISTANT CITY AUDITOR, UM, ALVIN CHU IS HERE. IF YOU HAD SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU WANTED TO ASK OF HIM, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW HE WAS HERE, SO JUST LETTING YOU KNOW. GREAT, THANK YOU. CITY ATTORNEY. UM, AND THEN, SO YOU SAID IT'S OKAY, SO I WANT, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, SO WE'RE ALL BASED ON THE, THE SAME SET OF FACTS. SO YOU SAID IT'S A HYBRID, KEVIN REER, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU MEAN BY HYBRID? A MIXTURE OF A MANAGEMENT REVIEW AND A FINANCIAL AUDIT. A MANAGEMENT REVIEW BEING MORE DETAILED THAN A FINANCIAL AUDIT USUALLY, UM, PUBLISHES, UM, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY HYBRID. OKAY. AND SO, AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THAT HYBRID IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS, WOULD CURRENTLY BE FOUND IN WHAT KPMG GIVES US CURRENTLY? WELL, ALL THE DATA COME FROM THE CITY'S OWN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. UH, IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF, UM, THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDITORS AUDITING TO SEE IF THE, UH, CITY'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS ACCURATELY COURTING RECORDING TRANSACTIONS IN ANY GIVEN FUND. AND THEN KPMG, NOW CROW, LLP, UM, REVIEWING THE CITY PREPARED COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AND SEEING IF IT FAITHFULLY COMPILES AND PRESENTS THE SUMMARY INFORMATION THAT IS GLEANED FROM THE CITY'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM. OKAY. I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. I KNOW MY TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS. THANK YOU. UM, BEING ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE TITANS, UM, I, I, UM, AM VERY INVESTED IN IN THIS ITEM. I WANTED TO ASK FIRST THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, RICK SODI FOR ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. 'CAUSE IT HELPED CLARIFY MY THOUGHTS. SO, UM, I WAS, MY CONCERN IS DEFINITELY THE $200,000, UM, FROM THE TIMELINESS TO DO AN AUDIT. UM, BUT ALSO, UM, MY CONCERN IS STAFF TIME. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING THOSE $200,000 AND DOING AN AUDIT, UM, WITH STAFF TIME AND HOW DOES THAT LOOK WITH THE ONGOING PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE? I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME BIG PROJECTS, THE ANTHEM THEATER, THE ARENA, THE BELMONT SHORT POOL, UM, BELMONT POOL. SO CAN SOMEONE SPEAK TO THAT PLEASE? WHAT ARE ON, ON TOP OF THE FINANCIAL SETBACK THAT IT WOULD DO? UH, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR STAFF? SURE. SO, UM, I CAN, UH, GIVE A FIRST CRACK AT THAT. SO THE 200,000, AS I UNDERSTAND IS, IS KIND OF THE, THE, UH, DOLLARS THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO DO THAT WORK. AND OFTENTIMES THEY'LL ENGAGE, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENT GROUP OR A FIRM, UH, THEY CAN TALK TO WHAT THAT WOULD, WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FROM THEIR SIDE. UM, WHEN A CITY DOES AN AUDIT, WE DON'T BUDGET FOR THAT. WE DON'T BRING ON ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, BUT ESSENTIALLY DIVERTS THE TIME THAT WE ARE SPENDING ON THE DAYS ON THE THINGS THAT WE DO. SO WE TAKE THE AUDITOR'S AUDITS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. UH, THOSE ARE IN THE CHARTER. SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO, TO AUDIT THOSE THINGS. AND SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE REALLY DO, UM, PUT THAT TO THE TOP OF THE WORK PILE. AND THAT AUDIT, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL THEN AFFECT KIND OF THE WORK THAT WE DO THROUGHOUT THE, THE ORGANIZATION. UM, THAILANDS IS DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF OUR OTHER FUNDS. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX, UH, ONE OF THE MOST, UM, COMPLICATED FUNDS. AND SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN BOTH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND OUR PROJECT MANAGERS THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY DOING A LOT OF THIS EDUCATION AND PROVIDING THE DATA SO THAT THE, THE AUDIT COULD HAPPEN. UM, SO THAT IS WHY THE ITEM ON A BUDGET FISCAL REVIEW DID SAY IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON STAFF BECAUSE IT, IT WILL BE A, A VERY DIFFICULT, UM, UH, TASK TO BRING ALL THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER. IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF INFORMATION REQUESTED. UH, SOME OF OUR AUDITS DO TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS, IF NOT LONGER, UH, TO DO THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. THAT CONTINUES TO BE, UH, MY CONCERN, BUT I'LL WANNA HEAR FROM OUR COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BRALEY. YES. UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS CONVERSATION. AND ALSO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN, UH, RICK OTI FOR THOSE QUESTIONS TOO. UM, [03:40:01] YOU KNOW, I STRONGLY SUPPORT, UM, AUDITS AND I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE AUDITS, ESPECIALLY, UH, COMMEND OUR CITY AUDITOR. UM, LAURA DOWD, I KNOW, UH, SHE HAS A THANKLESS JOB THAT IS A NECESSARY JOB, AND I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE INCREDIBLE WORK, UM, AND THE GOOD WORK, UM, THAT SHE IS DOING. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, SHE'S ALSO DOING, UM, A A LOT OF WORK. IT'S GEN, UH, REVENUE GENERATING STUFF FOR OUR CITY. SO THAT'S ALL GOOD. UM, I, I THINK YOU SAID THE CITY MANAGER, THE THAILANDS FUND IS IMPORTANT, BUT, UH, COMPLEX, YOU KNOW, FUND FOR THE WATERFRONT AND FOR THE TOURISM AREA. UM, AND I JUST WANT TO, UH, TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS FUND IS AUDITED EVERY YEAR. AND SO THOSE THINGS AS FAR AS WHERE THE MONIES ARE GOING, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CLEAR TO ME AS ONE OF THE FOLKS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, ON THE THAILANDS FUND FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. UM, IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME, UM, I, I LOOKED AT THIS AS A, UM, AS AN AUDIT THAT WAS LIKE, UM, YOU WANTED TO SEE LIKE WHAT PERCENTAGE RATES WE'RE GETTING IN CERTAIN FUNDS THAT ARE WITHIN THAT. UM, LIKE THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING WHEN YOU WERE ASKING FOR THIS ADDITIONAL, UM, AUDIT, UM, OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE ALREADY DO, WHICH IS GOOD. I THINK THAT'S GREAT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT, UM, WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE RATES ARE WE MAKING ON CERTAIN MONIES AND CAN WE DO BETTER? AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF I THINK IS GOOD. UM, SO I JUST, IT'S JUST THE URGENCY OF THIS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY. SO, UM, THAT'S MY CONCERN WITH THIS IS LIKE, DO WE NEED TO SPEND $200,000, WHICH IS A LOT OF, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY WHEN WE CAN SAY, OKAY, THESE ARE THE THINGS I SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING. I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE. UM, AND THEN PUT THAT BACK ONTO, UM, THE CITY AUDITORS AND SAY, WHEN, WHEN CAN YOU DO THIS ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY WITH THE, WITH THE WORK WE ALREADY HAVE THAT WORKS WITH, UH, LAURA DOW'S OFFICE. BUT, UM, THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS THINKING. UM, JUST, JUST CONCERNS WITH LIKE, WE NEED TO DO THIS RIGHT AWAY. I DON'T SEE WHAT'S, WHAT'S SO PRESSING. SO THOSE ARE JUST THINGS I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. UH, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR ASSISTANT CITY AUDITOR WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN A YEARLY KPMG AUDIT AND AN AUDIT THAT THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE WOULD DO. AND I'D LIKE PRETTY SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES, IF YOU CAN DESCRIBE THAT PLEASE. SURE. MY NAME IS ALVIN CHI. I'M THE ASSISTANT CITY AUDITOR IN THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE. UM, KPMG. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY DO A FINANCIAL ATTESTATION AUDIT. AND WHILE THE WORD AUDIT REMAINS THE SAME BETWEEN WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT WE DO IN THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, IT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM, UM, THEY'RE NOT ONE AND THE SAME. SO WHAT KPMG DOES IS THEY LOOK TO SEE ARE THE NUMBERS AS REFLECTED IN OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CAN THEY BE RELIED UPON? ONE OF THE MAIN BENEFITS FROM THAT IS THEN THE CITY CAN GO OUT WHEN WE NEED TO GET BONDS. UM, WE HAVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ATTESTED OR CERTIFIED BY A INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY IN THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE. WE FOCUS MORE ON PERFORMANCE AUDITS. SO FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE MENTIONED, THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION AUDIT THAT WE RECENTLY UH, PERFORMED, IT WAS LIKE DIRECTOR KEVIN RIPER EXPLAINED, UM, CLASSIFICATION OF FUNDS, BUT IT WAS MORE THAN THAT. IT WAS LOOKING AT THE PROCESS AT WHICH THOSE FUNDS WERE BEING FORFEITED. DOES IT MAKE SENSE? IS IT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MUNICIPAL CODE? HOW CAN WE IMPROVE ON IT TO DO BETTER? AND OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT CAME ABOUT WAS AN ADDITIONAL $9 MILLION WAS IDENTIFIED AS FUNDS THAT COULD BE IMMEDIATELY USED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS. SO WITH RESPECT TO A POTENTIAL TIDE LENS AUDIT, IT WOULD BE MORE THAN JUST LOOKING AT WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? YES, THAT IS INFORMATION THAT CAN BE GLEANED AND CAN BE USEFUL, BUT HOW ARE THESE FUNDS BEING MANAGED? HOW ARE THEY BEING USED AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE? THOSE ARE THINGS THAT A FINANCIAL AUDIT WOULD NOT LOOK AT WHATSOEVER. DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS COMING IN? HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING OUT THE DOOR? YES. BUT IS IT BEING DONE IN A WAY THAT MAXIMIZES ITS USE? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, OUR OFFICE HAD RECENTLY PERFORMED A REVIEW OF THE, UH, ANTICIPATED ECONOMIC IMPACT RESULTING FROM THE CITY'S TRANSITION AWAY FROM OIL THAT IS A $301 MILLION IMPACT OF WHICH 50% WOULD IMPACT THE THAILANDS FUND BETWEEN NOW AND 2035. IN ANTICIPATION [03:45:01] OF THAT, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THE CITY TO UNDERSTAND, OKAY, WE'VE GOT THIS POTENTIAL DECREASE IF NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN. ARE WE PREPARED TO MANAGE THIS FUND IN A WAY THAT MAXIMIZE ITS ITS DOLLARS WHEN WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO DECREASE IN THE FUTURE? THE OTHER THING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COGNIZANT OF IS THIS IS A EXTREMELY LARGE FUND WITHIN THE CITY'S OVERALL FUNDS AND FUNDS. UM, THE, THE NET BALANCE AS OF FISCAL YEAR 23 WAS $309 MILLION FOR REFERENCE, THE FINANCIAL POSITION FOR THE GENERAL FUND WAS $200 MILLION. AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS JUST THE POSITION THAT DOESN'T REFLECT THE TOTAL REVENUES AND THE EXPENDITURES, BUT IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS FUND. UM, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO PERFORM AN AUDIT VIA OUR PERFORMANCE AUDITS, WHICH AGAIN, ARE DIFFERENT THAN FINANCIAL AUDITS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THAT FUND IS BEING EFFECTIVELY UTILIZED TO BEST SERVE THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR WITH REGARD TO A $309 MILLION, UM, FUND THAT'S LARGER THAN OUR GENERAL, I'M ASKING FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT WITH THE, UM, WITH 1137 TAKING PLACE, OUR LOSS OF TIDELANDS FUNDS, WE HAVE THINGS TO PLAN FOR IN THE NEXT DECADES. LITERALLY WE HAVE THINGS LIKE THE SUBMARINE NEXT TO THE QUEEN MARY. HOW ARE WE GOING TO PLAN OUR TIDELANDS MONEY TO GET RID OF THAT SUBMARINE? WE HAVE OUR PEER, ALL OF DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WALK THE PIER. WE CAN'T AFFORD TIDELANDS CAN'T AFFORD A PEER, AND EVENTUALLY IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. IT'S GOING TO BE A LIABILITY FOR US. I JUST THINK THE SENSE OF URGENCY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE FACING ON A MONTHLY BASIS, SEEING 1137 IMPACTING OUR TIDELANDS FUNDS, LOSING $300 MILLION IN TIDELANDS REVENUE BY 2035. I'M ASKING FOR THIS AUDIT, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN THE YEARLY FINANCIAL NUMBERS AUDIT BECAUSE THIS IS WHY WE HAVE AN ELECTED CITY AUDITOR WHO RUNS A DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK. SO WE CAN PLAN. ALRIGHT, WE'RE ABOUT TO GO AROUND THE SECOND ROUND OF COMMENTS. I JUST WANNA JUMP IN FOR A MINUTE BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE DO THAT. SO WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IS, GIVEN THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FAIRLY NEW WITH TITLES AND GIVEN THE DEMANDS ON TITLES IN THE FUTURE, A DEEPER REVIEW IS WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED THAN WHAT WE DO ANNUALLY. MORE ON THE PERFORMANCE SIDE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE CO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE, UH, ONE THAT, UM, THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS, NOT JUST FROM THE AUDITOR SIDE, BUT ON THE STAFF SIDE. AND SO THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MEETING ON THE MINDS, I THINK BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGERS TEAM AND KEVIN'S TEAM. AND WHO MANAGES TITANS. JOHNNY IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. NO, HALF THE CITY. GO AHEAD. WELL, IT, IT'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FUNDS, BUT, UM, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT IN IT BECAUSE IT IS OUR MOST COMPLICATED FUND. SO, UM, I PERSONALLY DO A LOT OF THE REVIEW WITH THE TEAMS ON THAILANDS. WE'VE GOT A PORTION THAT'S IN FINANCE WITH THE CASH. WE'VE GOT PUBLIC WORKS, MANAGES THE CAPITAL PROJECTS. MM-HMM . UM, AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE MAJOR ASSETS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO IT'S A, IT'S A VERY BRAIDED FUND WITH A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF OVERSIGHT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT, UH, UH, S SO IF I COULD JUST CUT THROUGH AND THEN GO THROUGH ALL THIS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A MEETING OF THE MINDS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT STAFF HAS THE TIME AND CAPACITY TO DO IT RIGHT. SO IT'S NOT JUST THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, WHICH IS A FAIR THING TO ASK. IF YOU WANT IT DONE, YOU WANT IT DONE RIGHT. YOU GOTTA DO IT IN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CITY MANAGER SIDE OF THE HOUSE, AUDITOR'S SIDE OF THE HOUSE. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO, TO KNOW IS LIKE, WILL THIS HAVE AN IMPACT ON SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE WORKING ON AND HOW BEST IS THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE WHAT YOU'RE LOOK WHAT THE COUNCIL SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE ASKING FOR. 'CAUSE WHAT I HADN'T HEARD WAS ANYBODY SAY WE'RE OPPOSED TO AN AUDIT. I ACTUALLY HEARD EVERYONE SAY, WE SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY, WE SUPPORT THESE THINGS. THEIR CONCERNS WERE ONE, THE WHAT THE IMPACT OF TIME, LIKE TIME AND PRIORITIZATION IS. SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. AND THEN TWO, UH, THE 200 K. [03:50:01] NOW THE AUDIT THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER ON THE CLIMATE AUDIT, I ASKED FOR THAT. THAT WAS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, UH, SIGNED ON TO THAT I BELIEVE. UM, BUT WE DIDN'T ASK FOR ANY MONEY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. OUR CITY AUDITOR CAN PICK UP ANYTHING. SHE'S ALREADY INDEPENDENT. SHE HAS A STRUCTURALLY FUNDED BUDGET. SHE COULD PICK UP AND AUDIT ANYTHING. BUT IF YOU WANT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS A PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH WE WE'RE IN, WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. SO I'M NOT MAKING A RECOMMENDATION, A MOTION HERE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU TWO, YOU ALL AREN'T VERY FAR AWAY FROM WHERE YOU NEED TO GO. I THINK BE CONSIDERATE OF, SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME PROJECTS IN DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT TWO AND TIGHTS STAFF IS FOCUSED. LET'S MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS COLLABORATIVE AND LET'S MAKE SURE STAFF CAN HAVE THE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE RIGHT TIMING TO DO THIS LARGER REVIEW THAN OUR NORMAL, UH, THIS LARGER PERFORMANCE REVIEW. THEN THE NORMAL FINANCIAL, WHAT WAS THE WORD YOU SAID? ATTESTATION AUDIT. RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. SO I'M JUST ADDING MY NUDGE TO HOPE. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UM, YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, MAYOR, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY MAYBE A LITTLE MORE ELOQUENTLY, SO I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS FOR THAT ONE. UM, UH, BUT YEAH, I REALLY WAS, IT WAS JUST GONNA BE SOME COMMENTS AROUND, UM, JUST CONSIDERING THIS IN LIGHT OF OUR, OUR SHARED COUNCIL PRIORITIES. UM, AND UM, I WILL SAY IS BUDGET OVERSIGHT CHAIR, I WOULD BE A AMENABLE TO, UM, PERHAPS, UH, AN AMENDED MOTION THAT TALKED ABOUT MAYBE PUTTING THIS THROUGH THE, THE STANDARD BUDGET PROCESS. IS THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? WE CAN MAKE THAT A FRIENDLY, UM, TO, TO, TO LAY THIS PROCESS OVER AND SAY IS IS SOMETHING YOU'D BE WILLING TO CONSIDER 200 KPS, THE 200 K PORTION, UM, FOR THE FUNDING OF IT TO HAVE GO THROUGH OUR STANDARD BUDGET PROCESS, UM, UH, THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR. I WOULD BE AMENABLE TO THAT. THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR BOC TO GO THROUGH. OKAY. EXCELLENT. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEEN ACCEPTED. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN. YEAH. UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA, UM, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK AS WELL. AND THEN I ALSO HAVE A FRIENDLY AS JUST, UM, ASKING, UM, AS WE, YOU KNOW, WE FIND THE 200,000 AND, AND IF NOT MY FRIENDLY WOULD BE JUST TO, UM, TO ASK THE CITY AUDITOR TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AUDIT THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR WHEN HER BUDGET AND TIME WOULD ALLOW IF WE DON'T, UH, HAVE THE 200,000. IS THAT A FRIENDLY THAT'S MY, YEAH. FRIENDLY. YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. OKAY, GREAT. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, UH, YES, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS RICKS ODI AND UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALLEN, THAT, THAT WAS MY QUESTION IS, UH, WE ALLUDED TO THAT THE OFFICE IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN SOME PRETTY HEAVY AUDIT WORK RIGHT NOW. UM, SO MY CONCERN AROUND THE URGENCY IS BECAUSE THERE IS A STRUCTURAL BUDGET IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE ALREADY. UM, I THINK WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID IS, PUTTING THIS IN QUEUE FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE, TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS SEEMS, SEEMS THE COURSE OF ACTION, UM, THAT SEEMS REASONABLE TO ME. UM, AN EXTRA $200,000 AFTER OUT OF A FUND THAT WHILE IS LARGE IS ONE WE ARE SAYING IS PRESSED WITH LOTS OF PROJECT IS OF CONCERN TO ME, UM, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE WORK THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS ALREADY DOING. UM, SO IF THERE'S STRUCTURAL BUDGET OR ONE TIME MONEY THAT NEEDS TO COME THROUGH A PROCESS, I'M MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT THAN A SENSE OF URGENCY OF HIRE MORE PEOPLE, DROP EVERYTHING AND DO THIS AUDIT RIGHT NOW THAT DOESN'T FEEL, UM, THAT DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE FOR ME. SO I APPRECIATE THE FAMILY AMENDMENTS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. UH, AS I HAD STATED PREVIOUSLY, I WAS LOOKING AT A MID-YEAR REVIEW OR AN END YEAR REVIEW ANYWAY FOR THE 200,000. UM, BUT OUR, THE POINT OF THE 200,000 IS SO OUR CITY AUDITOR CAN CONTINUE HER GOOD WORK. SHE'S FOUND FUNDS, SHE'S FOUND REVENUE. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE I WAS COMING FROM. I'M GLAD TO HAVE IT GO TO THE BOC FOR THE 200,000. UM, AND WE CAN SEE, UH, ASK THE CITY AUDITOR WHERE SHE IS. I THINK SHE WOULD BE AMENABLE TO THAT, BUT SHE'S NOT HERE. UH, ASSISTANT CITY AUDITOR, HOW LONG DOES AN AUDIT LIKE THIS TAKE? I'M INTERESTED IN STAFF TIME. UH, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF STAFF TIME, THERE'S UH, TWO SIDES OF THE STAFF TIME. THERE'S THE CITY AUDITOR STAFF TIME, AND THEN THERE'S THE DEPARTMENTAL STAFF TIME. UH, GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE FUND ITSELF, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD INVOLVE MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE INTERVIEWED. DOCUMENTATIONS WOULD NEED TO BE REQUESTED FROM THEM. UM, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE AS A GENERAL POLICY, WE LOOK AT OURSELVES AS COLLABORATIVE. AND SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT [03:55:01] THE CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE DAY-TO-DAY ORDINARY BUSINESS ALONG WITH COUNCIL PRIORITY REQUESTS THAT THEY'RE RESPONDING TO ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND AS SUCH, WE IN THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE TRY AND OBTAIN AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN OURSELVES, INCLUDING CONDUCTING BACKGROUND RESEARCH TO FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES AND WE TRY TO BECOME AN EXPERT IN ANY TOPIC THAT WE'RE AUDITING SO AS TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF CITY DEPARTMENT STAFF TIME NECESSARY. UH, SO GIVEN THAT, UH, I, I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT, UM, BUDGETED EXPECTATION FOR HOW LONG THIS WILL TAKE. I WILL SAY THAT AUDITS TYPICALLY TAKE BETWEEN SIX MONTHS TO NINE MONTHS. AND SOMETIMES WE EVEN SEE BIRTHDAYS FOR AUDITS. HOWEVER, UM, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT AS IF THAT'S 24 7, WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON IT. AUDITS HAVE EBBS AND FLOWS. WE MAKE A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. WE DON'T SAY TO THE CITY DEPARTMENT, DROP EVERYTHING, GIVE IT TO ME WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. WE GIVE THEM, UH, AMPLE LEASH TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US. UH, AND THEN WE, WE, WE REVIEW IT. SO, UM, IDEALLY THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH OF AN IMPACT TO CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, IN THAT IF THERE IS ANY DOWNTIME, THEN THEY CAN RESPOND TO OUR REQUESTS. WE DON'T SAY WE NEED TO BE YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY 'CAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S MANY OTHER PRIORITIES OUT THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, I WILL JUST FINISH BY SAYING IT'S BEST BUSINESS PRACTICE TO HAVE AN AUDIT WITH THIRD PARTY EYES ON, SO I'M HAPPY. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE COME TO SOME AGREEMENT ON THIS. I APPRECIATE IT, ESPECIALLY WITH MY DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT TWO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNCIL OFFICES AND THE PROJECTS WITHIN OUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS. SO, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO JUST TO RECAP WHERE WE ARE. SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTION IS TO, UH, UH, GO THROUGH THE NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS ON THE APPROPRIATION. I THINK WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THAT IS THAT IT ALLOWS, WHEN WE DO THE BUDGET, IT'S BASICALLY A WORK PLAN FOR THE YEAR AND THIS GIVES US SOME TIME ON THE STAFF SIDE, UM, AND THE AUDITOR SIDE TO PLAN FOR WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. 'CAUSE WHAT I HEARD THE, THE, UH, ASSISTANT AUDITOR SAY IS THAT HE MAKE, HE MAKES A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION. AND SO THOSE HAVE TO BE FILLED ON THE STAFF SIDE. TOM, LET ME, LET HELP, HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ON YOUR SIDE. WHEN YOU GET THOSE REQUESTS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ON THE STAFF SIDE TO FULFILL THEM AND WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON YOUR SIDE? YEAH, SO, UM, IT CERTAINLY WILL HELP TO, TO PLAN THAT OUT. UH, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS, UH, PRETTY GOOD WITH LETTING US KNOW. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP AND IT ALLOWS US TO, TO DO THAT A LITTLE BIT. MOST OF THE AUDITS THEY DO, UM, ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THEY ALSO ARE FOCUSED IN AN AREA. THIS, THIS IS A BIG, BIG AREA FOR US. SO THIS WILL APPLY NOT JUST TO LIKE ONE OR TWO STAFF THAT WORK ON THAT, BUT ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. SO HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO HELP PLAN THAT INTO WORKLOAD. UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME MAJOR, MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. UH, TRYING TO FINISH UP THE COLORADO LAGOON, WHICH IS IN CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, THE NAPLES SEA WALLS. WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, THE BELMONT POOL, BRINGING THAT TO COUNCIL, WORKING ON THE AMPHITHEATER, WORKING ON THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, AND ISSUING THE $50 MILLION OF DEBT THERE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF BIG STUFF THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW, SO I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME TIME. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT THERE'LL BE SOME CONSIDERATION OF THAT. UM, AND THEN, UH, AND THEN OF COURSE THERE'S THE BACK AND FORTH IS, IT'S AN ITERATIVE THING. IT'S NOT JUST PRODUCING INFORMATION, BUT IT'S ANSWERING QUESTIONS. SO HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO PLAN FOR THAT. UM, SO THE DOLLARS ARE ONE THING. WE WILL BE COMING WITH SOME DOLLARS, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, TO TALK ABOUT PUTTING THOSE TOWARDS SOME OF THESE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING. AND THEN ALSO TRYING TO THEN THROUGH THE, THE NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS, LOOK AT THE STAFF TIME. SO SOME ADDITIONAL TIME WOULD BE HELPFUL. ALRIGHT, WELL, SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE. UH, MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON THE MOTION WITH INCLUSIVE OF ALL THOSE FRIENDLIES. MOTION IS CARRIED. FANTASTIC. ALRIGHT, MOVING ON. ITEM 27, PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO JOHN L. HUNTER AND ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATES FOR [27. 25-54164 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFQ PW24-459 and award a contract to John L. Hunter & Associates, of Buena Park, CA, for providing as-needed Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit professional compliance and support services, in a total amount not to exceed $3,000,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] PROVIDING AS NEEDED MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM, NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PERMIT PROFESSIONAL COMPLIANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN A TOTAL AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 3 MILLION CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN MOTION IS CARRIED. 28. PLEASE [04:00:01] REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE A LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND RELATED FINANCING DOCUMENTS WITH BANK OF AMERICA PUBLIC CAPITAL CORE FOR FINANCING THE PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF REFUSE AND RECYCLING CONTAINERS WITH [28. 25-54165 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a lease-purchase agreement and related financing documents with Banc of America Public Capital Corp, of San Francisco, CA, for financing the purchase and delivery of refuse and recycling containers, under Contract No. 34856 with Rehrig Pacific Company, a Delaware corporation, payable over a ten-year period at an interest rate to be determined when the agreement is executed and any necessary documents, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] THE PACIFIC COMPANY CITYWIDE. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 29. PLEASE REPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AND ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH E EPIC E-DISCOVERY SOLUTIONS FOR PROVIDING, [29. 25-54206 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Epiq Ediscovery Solutions Inc, of Dallas, TX, for providing noticing and call center services, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for one additional one year period, at the discretion of the City Manager; and       Office or Department:         Suggested Action: ] NOTICING AND CALL CENTER SERVICES AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT IN ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH EXPERIAN FOR PROVIDING CREDIT MONITORING SERVICES CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. WELL NOW GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO. OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE FIVE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. LORD [ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ] IS DIXON RYAN KARE, CHRISTIAN TAPIA. CHARLIE M AND CECILIA, SOA, ARE ANY OF YOU HERE ONE? ALRIGHT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. OKAY. TWO GREAT. ARE YOU LOURDES? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU . WITNESS NOTCHES SENIOR MAYOR REX IS THE VICE PRESIDENT ROBERT RANGA IN. UM, YES, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYBODY. UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS VAR. MY NAME IS LUIS NAVARRO DIXON. YES, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE SEVERAL TIMES. AS FAR AS A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN UNRESOLVED AS FAR AS THE FOOD VENDING, UH, TRUCK VENDORS, UH, THAT ARE OUT THERE SHORELINE OR ACCORDING WAY, THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE SHORELINE CURRENT WAY AREA ERS, RESTAURANT HOOTERS AS AQUARIUM. AND THERE'S A HEAVY INFLUX OF, UH, STREET VENDORS, UH, STARTING FROM HOOTERS TO THE AQUARIUM AREA. YES. UH, TACOS, ET CETERA. YES. THERE'S A MISCELLANEOUS AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT VENDORS, UH, DIFFERENT NATURES. YES. DEL AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED THIS ISSUE. BROUGHT IT UP, BROUGHT IT UP. I LEFT A COUPLE OF VOICE MESSAGES JUST ONE TIME. LIN WARD, LYNN WARD, LIN WARD, I BELIEVE SHE'S THE, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, SUPERVISOR OR HIGHER UP? UM, YES. AND I MET, UH, MS. , UH, AT A BAR, UH, WHEN THE PROPOSITION 36 36 WAS, UH, AND I WAS THERE PRESENT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THAT PERSON MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THE, UH, RIGHT PERSON. YEAH, I, AND I CALLED AND I WAS ONLY WAS GIVEN THIS, UH, CARD TO REACH OUT WITH THE PHONE NUMBER. I LEFT A COUPLE OF MESSAGES, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD AN INTERVIEW OR FORMAL APPROACH. [04:05:04] SO THEREFORE I'M HERE TO ASK RICK RICHARDSON AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE HELP WITH THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THERE'S A HIGHER INFLUX OF STREET VENDORS THAT ARE COMING INCOME AND IS BEEN FOUR MONTHS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOSING INCOME, MORE REVENUE OR MORE. WE PAY A MONTHLY FEE FOR, UH, TO SHORELINE. OH, THE AREA NEXT TO THE AQUARIUM AND TO THE AREA WHERE YOU DO, UH, SITE SEA OF WALES. WE PAID TO SHORELINE. YES, IT'S PAID TO SHORELINE. OKAY. UM, SO THE SITUATION IS THAT A LOT OF THESE VENDORS ARE INUNDATING THE ENTRANCE OF THE AQUARIUM ENTRANCE WITH LARGE SCALE, UH, STREET, UH, VENDORS. AND I HAD MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THAT YOU WOULD VISIT IN ONE OF THESE WEEKENDS IN ORDER FOR YOU TO SEE THE SITUATION DURING THE WEEK IS PRETTY EMPTY . HOWEVER, DURING THE WEEKEND IT'S FULL OF STREET VENDORS LANDING AND IT'S ALSO THEY F UH, INUNDATING THE PAPER LANDING AREA, UH, ICE CREAM TRUCK. OH, ICE CREAM TRUCK AS WELL. IN RED LINE. THEY'RE IN THE RED LINE AND ON THE CURVE THEY'RE CITED, BUT THEY KEEP COMING BACK . SO THEY'LL SEE THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND ONCE THEY'RE, UH, THEY LEAVE THE AREA, THEY'LL, THEY'LL RETURN BACK TO THE STREET AREA. SO, OR RECOMMEND AND I PROPOSE AND OR RECOMMEND, UH, THESE STREET VENDORS ARE GIVEN, UH, PERMISSION TO WORK ELSEWHERE, NOT IN THE, UH, LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONE FOUR. YES. IT'S ONLY 30 MINUTES. UM, THE TIME'S CONCLUDED AND THE HOMELESS ARE ALSO INVADING THE, UH, RESTROOMS, WHICH IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND HOPEFULLY I WILL GET TO TALK TO SOMEONE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HELP ME ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS. HAVE A GOOD . ALRIGHT, I NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HEY, GOOD EVENING. UH, GOTTA GIVE IT UP TO THE STAFF WHO'S STILL HERE WORKING? WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? OH, SORRY. I'M RYAN ALRE. RYAN. GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. MY APOLOGIES. NO PROBLEM. Y'ALL PUT AN EIGHT HOUR WORKDAY BEFORE COMING HERE. THAT'S INCREDIBLE. HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD UNION. OKAY. EVERY, EVERY TUESDAY. SO ROLL RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON RESPECT. OKAY. UH, HEY, I'M RYAN. I GREW UP IN THE IE. AND NOW LIVE IN LA WHERE I WORK AS A LABOR ORGANIZER FOCUSED ON THE INTERSECTION OF LABOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE, I WORK FOR THE DRIVERS WHO TRANSPORT RAIL CREWS. UH, SO, UH, IN SHORT, THEY MOVE THE CONDUCTORS AND ENGINEERS THAT MAKE THE FREIGHT TRAINS MOVE THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY. UH, THAT BEG BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY AM I HERE? TALKING TO ONE OF THE MAYORS OF THE BIGGEST CITIES IN CALIFORNIA? UH, IT'S YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON, UH, THIS THURSDAY YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, AS PEOPLE IN POWER OFTEN DO TO SAVE LIVES. I'M HERE IN RECOGNITION OF THE MASSIVE POWER YOU HOLD OVER THE AIR QUALITY EVERYONE EXPERIENCES IN THE ENTIRE LA AIR BASIN. MR. [04:10:01] MAYOR, YOU MAY VERY WELL CAST THE DECIDING VOTE IN THE APPOINTMENT OF LA COUNTY'S NEWEST REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. ANYONE LISTENING DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE SOUTH COAST A QMD IS, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. AND THAT'S BY DESIGN. ELECTED OFFICIALS PICK OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BE ON THAT BOARD, AND THEY DECIDE HOW MUCH CORPORATIONS ARE ALLOWED TO POLLUTE THE AIR. THAT ALL 17 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT BETWEEN LA, SAN BERNARDINO, RIVERSIDE, AND ORANGE COUNTIES, UH, IS ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU'RE SAYING 17 MILLION, THAT'S LIKE 44% OF THE POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA. I'D SAY, YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT AND YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT MATH. UH, THIS BOARD IS A VERY BIG DEAL AND MAYOR RICHARDSON HAS A BIG DECISION TO MAKE. THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOVE THAT WILL BENEFIT WORKING PEOPLE AND INCREASE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT HERE IN LONG BEACH? OR DO YOU WANNA MAKE A MOVE THAT WILL BENEFIT THE CORPORATIONS WHO POLLUTE CITIES LIKE LONG BEACH AND POISON THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE? I THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE SCALES OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM ARE TIPPED IN FAVOR OF BIG CORPORATIONS AND THEY ULTRA WEALTHY. HERE'S A CHANCE TO TIP THE SCALES THE OTHER WAY. WITH ALL THAT SAID, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE THIS THURSDAY FOR JUAN MUNOZ GUEVARA. HE'S A LABOR ORGANIZER. HE'S ALREADY PROVEN THAT HE'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO STAND UP TO BIG POLLUTERS. AND HE'S ENDORSED BY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS LIKE THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR, UH, REPRESENTED BY DORY EARLIER HERE TONIGHT, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM. UH, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT WAS LARGELY FAILING AND GIVING PEOPLE INFORMATION OR HOW TO REPOPULATE THEIR HOMES AND HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM TOXIC FUMES FROM THE RECENT FIRES, THEY HELD A WEBINAR WITH 4,000 PEOPLE, UH, IN ATTENDANCE TO GIVE THEM LIFESAVING INFORMATION. MAYOR RICHARDSON, I IMPLORE YOU, YOU TO SUPPORT CLEAN AIR CHAMPION JUAN MUNOZ GUEVARA, UH, FOR THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT, UH, DISTRICT BOARD THIS THURSDAY. THANK YOU. THANKS A LOT TAKEN UNDER CONSIDERATION. ALL RIGHT, UH, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, WE'LL NOW GO TO CLOSING COMMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT. WE'RE GONNA START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER NA UH, WHO WANTS TO CLOSE AND RECOGNITION OF ONE OF HIS CONSTITUENTS AND A FORMER FIRE CHIEF. UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025 IN MEMORY OF FORMER LONG BEACH FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT THAT'S LOCAL 3 7 2 AND LONG BEACH FIRE CHIEF HAROLD OELL JR. I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT HAROLD AND I WERE RAISED IN THE SAME DISTRICT FOUR NEIGHBORHOOD [ANNOUNCEMENTS] OF ART CRAFT MANOR, AND THROUGH THE MAGIC OF REDISTRICTING, HE ENDED UP BACK IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. UM, HIS ENDURING IMPACT ON THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS TESTAMENT TO HIS DEDICATION TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I ADD JUST A FEW THINGS. UH, UH, BROTHER HAROLD OELL, UH, HAD HAD AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER. SO HE STARTED IN 1964 WITH THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT COMING OVER FROM COMPTON AFTER SERVING BRIEFLY WITH THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND AF HE HAD AN ILLUSTRIOUS 34 YEAR CAREER AND HE ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS AN ENGINEER, AND HIS FATHER WAS ALSO AN ENGINEER AND A FIRE CAPTAIN AND A BATTALION CHIEF. AND EVENTUALLY LONG BEACH'S FIRE CHIEF FROM 1994 TO 1998. THEN HE RETIRED AND WENT AND BECAME THE FIRE CHIEF IN THE CITY OF INGLEWOOD. SO, UH, HE HAD A BIG HISTORY ACROSS, UH, THE REGION. AND SO WE, I I ALSO WANNA JUST JOIN IN AND RECOGNIZE HIS LEGACY AS, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE GREATS HERE IN LONG BEACH. AND, UM, JOIN IN AND, AND, UH, ANNOUNCING OUR, UH, GERMAN IN HIS HONOR. UH, NEXT WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ZENDEJAS, WHO ALSO, UH, WANTS TO MAKE A RECOGNITION AND THEN TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS QUEUED UP. YOU CLEANED UP, QUEUED UP ON THE WRONG ITEM. YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO QUEUE UP AGAIN UNDER ANNOUNCEMENTS. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, BEFORE I GIVE MY CLOSING COMMENTS, I WANTED TO REMIND OUR, UM, NEIGHBORS THAT CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP IS THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH AT 8:00 AM UM, WE ALSO HAVE OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH RESOURCE FAIR, UM, FEBRUARY 8TH AT MOSAIC DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH FROM 12 TO FOUR. AND ALSO WE HAVE OUR DTLB ALLIANCE ART AND DESIGN WALK THIS SATURDAY, UM, 12 TO, I'M SORRY, TWO TO 7:00 PM YES. BUSY SATURDAY IN THE FIRST DISTRICT. AGAIN. UM, I WANT TO CLOSE TODAY'S MEETING IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES IN LONG BEACH. WE SAY NO TO HATE, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UM, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. [04:15:11] LONG BEACH ANTE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO THE NORTH DIVISION COMMANDER'S FORUM. UH, THAT'S GONNA BE HELD WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, UH, FROM SIX TO 7:00 PM UM, THIS HELP, THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE NORTH DIVISION SUBSTATION AT 48 9 1 ATLANTIC AVENUE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL L LBPD NORTH@LONGBEACH.GOV. AND THEN AFTER THAT, ON THE SAME EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN THE STAR KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHO WILL ALSO BE HAVING THEIR MEETING, UM, THIS WEDNESDAY FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE HOLY TRINITY CHURCH AT 200 EAST 68TH STREET. UM, FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7, OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV. UM, THE FOLLOWING EVENING ON FEBRUARY 6TH FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM WILL BE THE MONTHLY MEETING FOR THE HOUGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. UH, THEY'LL MEETING AT, AT, UM, AT THE HOUGHTON PARK COMMUNITY CENTER, DOORSTOP C ELBERT AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE. AGAIN, YOU CAN CONTACT MY OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION. UM, AND LASTLY, UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO MY SECOND ANNUAL STATE OF THE DISTRICT, UM, THAT WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT THE DORIS AUTOPSY ELVER COMMUNITY CENTER, AGAIN AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE. WE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, UH, IN UPTOWN AND NINTH DISTRICT, AS WELL AS WHAT'S TO COME AND WE'LL BE FEEDING PEOPLE. SO, UM, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH AND TOOK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES. UM, TONIGHT, UH, REPRESENTS OUR FIRST MEETING DURING, UH, FEBRUARY FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. UM, IT'S CERTAINLY A TIME TO REFLECT ON RESILIENCE, SACRIFICES, AND EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THOSE WHO'VE PAVE THE WAY FOR US. UM, AS A BLACK WOMAN AND AS A COUNCILWOMAN, IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BUILD UPON THAT LEGACY. UH, CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND OPPORTUNITY. UM, THE COURAGE THAT THOSE BEFORE US HAVE SHOWN AND THEIR DETERMINATION HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE. AND I CARRY DEEP GRATITUDE, UH, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNCIL WAS SHAPING A MORE INCLUSIVE, JUST AND VIBRANT FUTURE, ENSURING THAT LONG BEACH REMAINS A PLACE WHERE EVERY VOICE IS VALUED AND EVERY RESIDENT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT'LL BE HAPPENING THIS MONTH, OUR VERY OWN QUEEN MARY WILL BE HOSTING A ROOTS AND RHYTHM EVENT. UH, THIS WILL BE HONORING, UM, THE PAST AND CELEBRATING THE FUTURE, UH, FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. JOIN ON FEBRUARY 23RD FROM 11:00 AM TO 6:00 PM UH, GO ABOARD THE SHIP FOR ONLY $15. THERE'LL BE FOOD VENDORS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, ART AND SPOKEN WORD AND MORE. SO THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY TO EMBRACE BLACK CULTURE AND FOR US ALL TO CELEBRATE. UM, MY COMMITMENT TO EQUITY EXTENDS TO EVERY ASPECT OF OUR DAILY LIVES, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION. TODAY IS TRANSIT EQUITY DAY. IT'S A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION THAT ROSA PARKS AND OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS ICONS WHO STOOD AGAINST INJUSTICE BY DEMANDING EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT. THEIR ACTIONS REMIND US THAT TRANSPORTATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT MOBILITY, IT IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY, DIGNITY AND FAIRNESS, AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S ACCESSIBLE, RELIABLE, AND AFFORDABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO CONNECT TO JOBS, EDUCATION, AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES. AS WE RECOGNIZE THIS DAY, WE REAFFIRM OUR DEDICATION TO ADVOCATING FOR EQUITABLE TRANSIT POLICIES THAT SERVE EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. IN THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUE HERE IN THE NORTH DISTRICT. WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR NEW DIVISION COMMANDER ISAIAH HUGHES, UM, IN A NORTH DIVISION COMMANDER'S FORUM. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT TOMORROW EVENING AT 6:00 PM UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND HELP SHAPE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITIES. YOUR INPUT MATTERS, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. I ALSO LOOK FORWARD THIS WEEKEND TO CONNECTING WITH RESIDENTS IN THE NORTH VILLAGE ALONG THE ELM AVENUE AREA, UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ENSURE THAT ALL THOSE VOICES ARE HEARD. AND AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO OUR [04:20:01] CITY. I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL EVENING. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES. UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. UH, I TOO, AS A, UH, PART OF THE NORTH DIVISION COALITION, UH, HAPPENING, WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR FIFTH DISTRICT RESIDENTS, UH, INTERESTED AND WHO ARE PART OF THE NORTH DIVISION TO JOIN FOR THAT MEETING. UM, AND THIS WEEKEND WE INVITE THE RESIDENTS OF BIXBY KNOWLES AND EVERYBODY ACTUALLY. SO THIS, UH, TO THEIR MONTHLY FIRST FRIDAY'S ART WALK IN BIXBY KNOWLES. UH, THE COMMUNITY EVENT WILL BE ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH, THIS MONTH HONORING MUSICIAN BOB MARLEY. FROM SIX 30 TO EIGHT 30 YOU CAN WALK UP AND DOWN ATLANTIC TO ENJOY DINNER, DRINKS, LIVE MUSIC, SHOPPING, ART, AND MORE. WHEN YOU'RE THERE, PLEASE BE SURE TO STOP BY THE EXPO ART CENTER AND FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER THIS WEEKEND. IN ADDITION TO CHECKING OUT THEIR NEWEST EXHIBIT, THE MIDDLE PASSAGE EXPERIENCE, WHICH OPENS FRIDAY EVENING OR FRIDAY THE SEVENTH. YOU CAN RETURN ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, OR IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT ON FRIDAY, YOU CAN GO FEBRUARY 8TH FOR PART TWO OF THEIR BLACK HISTORY MONTH KICKOFF. FROM 12 TO THREE, THERE'LL BE TONS TO DO, INCLUDING BACK HISTORY MONTH, FASHION SHOW, FREE FAMILY PORTRAITS, A SPADES TOURNAMENT, AND MORE. UH, ALSO ON SATURDAY EIGHTH, YOU CAN SPEND TIME ON THE EAST SIDE OF DISTRICT FIVE OVER AT VIKING WAY FOR PARKVIEW VILLAGE, SECOND SATURDAY BLOCK PARTY FROM 11 TO 3:00 PM THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL THAT, UH, CONCLUDES ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING. UH, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.