Feb 18, 2025 City Council - Revised

STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE AND WE'LL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

THE, THE PRESENTATIONS TO ALLOW, UH, PRESENTATIONS ON PETS, UM, IN OUR ANIMAL, ANIMAL, UH, CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN THE HOPES THAT PEOPLE HELP BOOST THE ADOPTIONS.

SO THIS EVENING WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS, A SHORT CONSENT CALENDAR, UH, AND THEN WE'LL GET THROUGH, UH, OUR CHARTER.

WE'LL GO STRAIGHT FROM THERE TO OUR CHARTER COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS AND NON-CHARTER COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.

THEN WE HAVE A HEARING, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA, THEN THE REST, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE AGENDA.

SO LET'S START OFF WITH THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, PET ADOPTION.

AND WHILE THEY SET UP, WE DO THIS ONCE A MONTH, WE OPEN UP, UH,

[ ACS PET ADOPTION]

AND IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS GOING ON TWO YEARS NOW.

I THINK IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS NOW THAT WE, WE BRING THAT THE PETS OUT AND PEOPLE HAVE ADOPTED EVERY PET THAT'S COMING IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THE PRESSURE IS ON FOLKS.

SOMEBODY'S GOING HOME WITH A PUPPY TONIGHT.

IT WAS A WEEK OR LESS IN A WEEK.

IT WAS ONLY IN A WEEK.

HELLO, TEAM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE MAYOR.

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

TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER ROBERT FUSCO AND OUR SHELTER PET OF THE MONTH.

HAZEL.

SO THIS IS HAZEL.

SHE IS A ONE-YEAR-OLD SPADE FEMALE, SIBERIAN HUSKY.

UH, SHE ARRIVED AT OUR SHELTER WITH AN ULCERATED MASS, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN REMOVED.

AND AS YOU CAN TELL, UM, BY THE STITCHES, SHE'S HEALING BEAUTIFULLY.

UM, DESPITE HER HARDSHIP, SHE'S FRIENDLY AND CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT SHE'S, SHE WOULD MAKE A GREAT COMPANION TO ANYONE LOOKING TO ADD A DOG TO THEIR FAMILY.

UM, A FA FEW FUN FACTS ABOUT HER IS THAT SHE IS A LITTLE TALKATIVE.

UM, NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, BUT SHE, THAT MEANS SHE'S JUST REALLY HAPPY.

SHE'S ALSO VERY CUDDLY.

SHE LOVES KISSES.

SHE'S EASY IN THE CAR, UM, VERY TREAT MOTIVATED.

SHE LOVES STRING CHEESE, AND ALSO SHE'S VERY GENTLE.

SO SHE'D JUST MAKE A GREAT ADDITION, UM, TO YOUR HOME.

SO IF YOU WANT, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HAZEL, UM, SHE'S AVAILABLE AT LBAS, UM, AT OUR SHELTER WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY FROM VALENTINE'S DAY THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY, WE HAVE AN ADOPTION SPECIAL TITLED PICK ME, CHOOSE ME, ADOPT ME.

UM, AND YOU KNOW WHERE THAT'S FROM.

GOOD OLD GREY'S ANATOMY .

UM, SO ALL, UM, THROUGHOUT, UH, FEBRUARY, YOU CAN ADOPT ANY OF OUR LONG STAY 30, UM, 30 DAYS OR MORE

[00:20:01]

ANIMALS AT LBAS FOR JUST $14.

UM, COME DOWN AND LET ONE OF OUR ANIMALS BECOME YOUR FOREVER VALENTINE.

AGAIN, WE'RE LOCATED AT 7 7 0 0 EAST SPRING STREET.

KEEP TALKING, UM, ON SATURDAY, MARCH 1ST, WE HAVE A JOINT ADOPTION EVENT, UM, AND VACCINE CLINIC WITH OUR CITY DISTRICT SEVEN.

THE EVENT WILL BE THE FIRST OF THREE IN COLLABORATION WITH CAMP CLINICS AND VICE MARY ROBERT YENGA.

UM, JOIN US AT SILVERADO PARK, UM, FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM FOR OUR FIRST EVENT.

UH, THE CAMP VACCINE CLINIC WILL BE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS, SO MAKE SURE TO GET THERE EARLY, UH, AND NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.

UM, AND AS ALWAYS, LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND CAMP COMMUNITY CLINICS ARE TEAMING UP AGAIN THIS, UH, MONTH TO BRING YOU, UM, LONG LOW COST VACCINE CLINICS BECAUSE EVERY PET DESERVES TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

THE CLINIC IS AN ONGOING EVENT, UM, THAT OCCURS EVERY MONDAY, SECOND FRIDAY AND FOURTH FRIDAY OF THE MONTH.

UM, HOLIDAYS ARE EXCLUDED.

EACH CLINIC IS OPEN TO THE FIRST 60 ANIMALS, UM, NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY, AND IT IS OPEN TO ANY RESIDENT.

WE ALSO WANTED TO MENTION OUR LICENSING PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA AND LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL LAW REQUIRES THAT ALL CATS AND DOGS OVER THE AGE OF FOUR MONTHS ARE LICENSED AND HAVE A, UM, RABIES CONTROL VACCINE.

IF YOUR PET ISN'T LICENSED YET, UM, GETTING YOUR PET LICENSE IS VERY SIMPLE.

YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE OR IN PERSON AT LEX, AND ALL YOU NEED IS A PROOF OF RABIES VACCINE AND A SPAY NEUTER CERTIFICATE TO GET THE PRICE TO $28.

UM, IT IS ALSO $14 IF YOU'RE A SIX.

IF YOU'RE A SENIOR THAT, UM, ABOVE 60 YEARS OLD, YOU CAN LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE@LONGBEACH.GOV SLASH ACS.

AND HERE'S ALL OF OUR INFORMATION.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING, VOLUNTEERING, FOSTERING, OR DONATING, UM, OUR SHELTER IS OPEN FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR INFORMATION ONLINE.

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

SO, REAL QUICK, PAUSE JUST FOR A MINUTE.

LET LET EVERYBODY GET ONE MORE LOOK AT HAZEL.

SO WE HAVE A 100% SUCCESS RATE.

ALL THE PUPPIES THAT COME INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS GETS ADOPTED.

ARE YOU GUYS GONNA LET THIS PUPPY BE THE FIRST ONE THAT IS NOT ADOPTED? ARE YOU GUYS GONNA LET THAT HAPPEN? OKAY.

I HEARD A FEW PEOPLE SAY NO.

MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEY.

I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY.

THANKS FOR BACKING ME UP ON THAT ONE, DAWN.

UH, BUT IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE NEED TO, AND WE, WE DO A LOT OF PET ADOPTIONS.

WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE, AND WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO EXPAND OUR CAPACITY, DO EVEN MORE ADOPTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I, AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD DOG, A FRIENDLY DOG, EVEN THE KIDS IN THE AUDIENCE.

I MEAN, SHE WAS GREAT WITH PE PU, WITH KIDS, NOT PUPPIES.

SHE IS A PUPPY.

SHE WAS GREAT WITH KIDS.

AND I THINK, UH, SHE'LL, SHE'LL MAKE A, A GREAT ADDITION TO SOMEONE'S FAMILY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE FOR ONE MORE TIME.

THANKS.

I DON'T SEE A MOTION AND A SECOND BUTTON BUTTONS.

OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, I DON'T THINK IS IN THE ROOM YET, SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP CONSENT CALENDAR FIRST.

[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 9.)]

THERE WE GO.

THERE IT IS.

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

DO WE HAVE A CLO UH, REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE DO HAVE A REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION.

UM, I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE CITY HAS AGREED TO SETTLE THE MATTER OF P*****K VERSUS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR $155,000 AND VEN IN OCHE VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR $375,000.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT OUT.

IS UH, BEA READY FOR THE PRESENTATION OR YOU NEED A MINUTE? YES,

[00:25:01]

WE'RE READY.

WELL, LET'S QUEUE UP OUR NEXT PRESENTATION FROM THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UH, LED BY COUNCIL DISTRICTS 8, 9, 1, AND SEVEN.

WELCOME.

[ BLACK EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION BLACK HISTORY MONTH]

YOU HAVE A FLOOR.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

TODAY WAS A VERY SPECIAL DAY.

WE WITNESSED THE RAISING OF THE PAN-AFRICAN FLAG FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE CITY'S HISTORY, AND IT SHOWS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO HONORING BLACK HISTORY, CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE, AND FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT WAS REALLY GREAT.

AND THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY OUR ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION.

AND WE HAD A, A DAY FULL OF EVENTS WITH SPEAKERS AND ENTERTAINMENT.

UM, AND SO TODAY WE STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF, UH, LONG BEACH, ALSO KNOWN AS BEA.

WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 30 YEARS.

WE STARTED IN 1995, AND SO WE ARE ALSO, UH, RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIP.

WE DID SO TODAY THROUGH SALES OF T-SHIRTS AND SALES OF LEMONADE.

AND WE STAND BEFORE YOU.

WE WANNA RECOGNIZE A FEW ORGANIZATIONS.

WE'RE NOT SURE IF THEY'RE HERE TODAY.

UM, BUT IT TIES IN WITH OUR GOALS FOR BEA.

WE WANNA RECOGNIZE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT INITIATIVE.

WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE'S, BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER, CS U B'S, BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS, CSBS BLACK RESOURCE CENTER.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE FROM ANY OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS IS HERE TODAY, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT, WE STAND WITH YOU.

WE PARTNER WITH YOU, AND WE CARE ABOUT OUR BLACK YOUTH AND EMPOWERING THEM, AND WE CARE ABOUT THEIR FUTURES.

SO, THANK YOU.

YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING? NO.

AMANDA HALL, DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR.

MAKE SURE YOU GUYS ADD YOUR NAMES.

MICHELLE ROBERTS, PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR.

AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

ALRIGHT, WELL, AMBER AND MICHELLE, THANK YOU.

I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT THE, IT WAS A VERY WELL DONE EVENT.

UH, THE PROGRAM WAS INCREDIBLE.

THE PERFORMANCES WERE GREAT.

THE POETRY WAS FANTASTIC.

UH, THE DANCERS AND THE FOOD, WHICH SAL'S GUMBO SHACK IS ONE OF MY, MY FAVORITES, SLAM DUNK AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON, UH, RAISING THE PAN-AFRICAN FLAG.

IT FELT VERY SPECIAL, VERY UNIQUE MOMENT THAT, THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

AND, UH, I'M SO GLAD THAT WE, IT, IT WAS ALL ABLE TO COME TOGETHER.

'CAUSE WE DON'T ONLY GET 28 DAYS TO FIGURE IT OUT, SO, SO WE GOTTA, YOU KNOW, THE TIMETABLE, YOU GOTTA MOVE, MOVE QUICKLY.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH AND TO ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR .

LET ME GET ALL OF THE MICS.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING BEFORE US TODAY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, UH, TO THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION.

I TOO THOUGHT THAT IT WAS SO WONDERFUL AND FITTING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, CAST OUR VOTE LAST WEEK TO ADD THE PAN-AFRICAN NATIONAL FLAG AS ONE OF OUR FLAGS THAT WE CAN RAISE HERE AT THE CITY, AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO RAISE IT HERE TODAY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION.

UM, THE EVENT WAS FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR EXCELLENCE IN ENSURING THAT WE WERE WELL ENTERTAINED.

UH, THE VISUALS WERE STUNNING, UM, AND WE ENJOYED, UH, THE REFRESHMENT.

SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY REALLY BENEFITED AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU CONTINUE WITH THOSE EFFORTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI.

AM I ALLOWED TO SAY DITTO ? UM, AGAIN, ECHOING, UM, THE MAYOR AND MY, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, UH, AMAZING JOB TODAY.

I THINK I HAD TOLD YOU ALL HOW IMPRESSED I WAS WITH THE PROGRAM, WITH THE VISUALS, RIGHT? HOW IMPACTFUL THOSE VISUALS WENT ALONG WITH THE MUSIC, RIGHT? UM, JUST HIGH LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE.

AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.

'CAUSE I KNOW THESE THINGS ARE LABORS OF LOVE SOMETIMES.

UM, AND SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, TO UPLIFTING THE BLACK COMMUNITY, MAKING SURE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.

UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER THRESH AND TOOK AND MYSELF HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU MENTIONED.

SO THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER, THE CAL STATE, UM, THE C-S-U-L-B, BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER, THE CAL STATE UNIVERSITY BLACK RESOURCE CENTER, AND THE LCCS BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO REC, UH, RECOGNIZE THEM AGAIN, AS YOU MENTIONED IN PARTNERSHIP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE UPLIFTING ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE, ARE UPLIFTING BLACK PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

WE HAD EARLIER OUTSIDE IN THE LOBBY.

NEXT COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, UM, FOR GENDERIZING THIS PRESENTATION AND FOR THE BLACK, UM, HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION THAT

[00:30:01]

UM, THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT YOU BROUGHT WAS INDEED A TRUE DISPLAY OF BLACK EXCELLENCE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HONOR THE LEGACY, THE TRIUMPHS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UM, WE ARE A CITY THAT CELEBRATES OUR RICH CULTURE AND DIVERSITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THE VALUE THAT, THAT IT BRINGS FORWARD, AND IT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER AND MORE EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE.

I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE COUNCILWOMAN THRASH INTO ON MAKING HISTORY TODAY BY LEADING US IN RAISING THE PAN-AFRICAN FLAG FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY LONG BEACH.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJA THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK AS A, I'M VERY EXCITED FOR, UM, THE WORK THAT WE'RE GONNA BE LAUNCHING THIS THURSDAY, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HISTOR DISTRICT FEASIBILITY PLAN.

I THINK BUILDING ON THE LEGACY OF WHAT YOU DO AS EMPLOYEES, MAKING SURE THAT WE LIFT UP, UM, THE WORK, THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS REALLY CHALLENGING TIME.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

UM, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE WE UPLIFT MANY OF THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, LIKE OUR VIP RECORDS, UM, AND THE, AND MANY OTHER UPDATE.

I WAS GONNA DO MY ANNOUNCEMENT LATER, BUT IT'S JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UPLIFT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THIS MONTH, DESPITE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS TIME.

SO, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT THE BLACK EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION DOES.

SO, BLACK HISTORY, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH AGAIN.

COUNCILMAN CARTER.

YES, THANK YOU.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH, EVERYONE.

WE KNOW THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.

IT'S ALL OF OUR HISTORY.

UM, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID TODAY, UM, TO MAKE IT SPECIAL ONCE AGAIN, NOT JUST FOR EMPLOYEES, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

UM, AND HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMAN THRASH UNTUCK.

UM, IN HER FIRST, IN HER FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS A PROMINENT ONE AND AN IMPORTANT ONE.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

AND THANK YOU FOR LEADING US AND LEADING OUR CITY INTO THE WORK AND RAISING OF THE FLAG TODAY.

UM, I ESPECIALLY WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UM, WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND, AND THE NEXT GENERATION AND HOW EDUCATION AND EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR MISSION.

AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENT.

LET'S HEAR IT AGAIN FOR THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION.

CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT, UH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM.

ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM 13 COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS COMMUNICATION FROM MAYOR RICHARDSON.

RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AN APPROVED COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS FOR NON-CHARTER

[13. 25-54371 Recommendation to receive and approve Commission appointments for Non-Charter Commissions. Office or Department: Rex Richardson, Mayor Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

COMMISSIONS.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, TODAY I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER ROUND OF PUBLIC SERVANTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO HELP UP AND HELP, UH, US TO LEAD AND SERVE OUR CITY, UH, AND BE APPOINTED TO OUR OFFICIAL CITY COMMISSIONS.

UH, AS ALWAYS, THIS, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HIGHLIGHT THE INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS COHORT.

I'VE MET WITH MANY OF THEM, UH, AND SOME, SOME I'VE MET JUST TONIGHT.

UH, THEY HAVE A GREAT BACKGROUND, UH, GREAT BACKGROUNDS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF EAGERNESS TO JUST SERVE OUR CITY.

UH, AND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE IMPORTANT.

UH, THEY HELP US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A ACCURATE READ ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THERE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTERS, DIFFERENT AREAS OF EXPERTISE, AND SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON OUR COMMUNITY FOR HAVING THAT, UH, THAT EXPERTISE.

SO THERE ARE 14 NEW AND RETURNING COMMISSIONERS BEING RECOMMENDED TODAY.

UH, THEY ARE QUALIFIED, SMART, AND WELL RESPECTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M GONNA READ OFF JUST A FEW OF THEM BY COMMISSION.

UH, WE HAVE, UH, AT LARGE POSITION ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION.

MARVA THOMAS MARVA MARVA, UH, ACTUALLY IS A VOLUNTEER AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT.

SPENDS A LOT OF TIME AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND INSURANCE AND RISK RISK MANAGEMENT.

UH, AND SHE'S, SHE OVERSAW PROGRAMS AT JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT, SO SHE KNOWS, UH, REGIONAL AIRPORTS.

AND, UH, SHE HAS, UH, SHE'S BEEN, SHE'S A REAL VOLUNTEER.

SHE'S 20 YEARS OF, OF HISTORY VOLUNTEERING WITH AMERICAN RED CROSS.

UH, AND SO SHE'S RECENTLY RETIRED AND WANTS TO SERVE AND WE HAD A GREAT LUNCH AND WE JUST LOVED HER SPIRIT.

AND SO, WELCOME MARVA TO THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION.

ALRIGHT, NEXT.

YEP.

YOU CAN CLAP FOR MARVA.

DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT, SAN DIEGO NATIVE, NATIVE STRONG ACADEMIC BACKGROUND, UCLA, UH, UNDERGRAD AND SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, UH, ONE YEAR GENERAL PRACTICE REV RESIDENCY AT NAVAL HOSPITAL CAMP PENDLETON.

THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION IS A VERY SPECIFIC COMMISSION.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE, UH, CERTAIN BACKGROUNDS IN ORDER TO BE APPOINTED TO DIFFERENT ROLES ON THE COMMISSION.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL AND TO FIND GOOD QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO FILL THESE POSITIONS.

SO ONE SEAT IS FOR A DENTIST.

SO WE HAVE WILLIAM RELA, A

[00:35:01]

AND FOUR YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY AS A DENTAL OFFICER.

UH, AND HIS FAMILY'S DEEP DEEPLY ROOTED IN LONG BEACH, WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL.

SO, DR.

RELA, HIS WIFE TAYLOR, HAVE TWO CHILDREN, ARE COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTING TO THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.

SO, WELCOME WILLIAM.

UH, NEXT IS ERICA BARRIOS, BOARD CERTIFIED O-B-G-Y-N WITH EXPERIENCE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY AND HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT IN THE PHYSICIAN SEAT.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE A PHYSICIAN ON THAT BOARD, UH, HAS WORKED AT, AT MAJOR HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING LONG BEACH MEMORIAL AND ED, UH, SOME OF OUR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.

AND SHE IS A GRADUATE OF UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI MILLER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND COMPLETED HER RESIDENCY AT HARBOR UCLA ME MEDICAL CENTER.

LET'S WELCOME ERICA.

AND THEN WE HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL, WE CLAP FOR ALL THREE.

ONE, LEMME DO ONE MORE.

WE HAVE ANGELA, I THINK ANGELA.

THAT'S ANGELA RIGHT THERE, RIGHT? YEP.

THAT'S ANGELA ANGELA'S HERE.

MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGIST, UH, WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ENTOMOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, AND A PHD IN MEDICAL ZOOLOGY FROM THE UNIFORM SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES.

THIS IS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SEAT, SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT SEAT ON THE COMMISSION CURRENTLY.

SO, SERVES AS ASSISTANT DISTRICT MANAGER AND LABORATORY MANAGER AT NORTHWEST MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL SERVICES IN CORONA.

AND SO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE IN LONG BEACH WITH HER HUSBAND AND HER DOG.

YOU GOT ROOM FOR ONE MORE? .

LET'S WELCOME ALL OF OUR NEW HEALTH, UH, HEALTH BOARD OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTORS.

NEXT IS THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, THE AT LARGE POSITION, ASHLEY JONES.

ASHLEY IS AN ACTIVE LONG BEACH RESIDENT FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON DANCE AND MUSIC EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

FOUNDER AND CURRICULUM DESIGNER AT STUDIO D AT CER SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS, WHERE SHE'S SERVED HUNDREDS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES WITH SOCIAL, COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.

COD RECENTLY WON BEST COMMUNITY PROGRAM AWARD FOR THE REGIONAL CENTER FOR ORANGE COUNTY, ORANGE COUNTY, FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL IMPACT.

SO WELCOME ASHLEY TO THE CITIZEN, TO KCO THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

NEXT IS CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE CITY COMMISSION.

UH, IN DISTRICT EIGHT, IT IS MICHAEL BENNETT.

MICHAEL WAS, WAS RAISED AND ATTENDED SCHOOL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM UC, BERKELEY, A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC POLICY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

UH, LIVED LIVED AROUND THE WORLD FOR SEVEN YEARS, SEVEN SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE RETURNING IN 2022.

HOPES TO PUT HIS SKILLS TO USE IN HELPING THE RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH ADAPT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMACTIC STRESSES AND STRAINS THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS BRINGING US TO US HERE IN CALIFORNIA.

SO, MICHAEL, WELCOME, UH, THAT'S RIGHT NEXT ON THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

ONE OF OUR NEWEST COMMISSIONS IS SOPHIA CHIM, DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT.

UH, YEP, THAT'S RIGHT.

SOPHIA WAS BORN, RAISED IN EDUCATING CAMBODIA, WHERE SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MANAGEMENT AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT.

15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UH, OR ORGANIZATION, WORLD VISION CAMBODIA, UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, AND UNITED NATIONS AGENCY IN CAMBODIA.

UH, SHE IS A ACTIVE VOLUNTEER AS WELL AND WORKS FOR UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY AS SENIOR, SENIOR COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR, WHERE SHE SUPPORT PARENT EDUCATION, PARENT ADVOCACY, PARENT ENGAGEMENT, AND CASE MANAGEMENT.

THAT'S A, THAT IS GREAT.

AS A PARENT, THAT IS A GREAT PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE ON THAT, ON, ON THE COMMISSION.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT, THAT WE CAN ALL, WE CAN ALL LISTEN TO OUR PARENTS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

UM, UH, MESSAGE TO MY KIDS.

UH, NEXT ON THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AT LARGE, RICKY DOCKERY.

WHERE'S RICKY? IS RICKY IN? OKAY, I SEE RICKY.

STAFF TO FORMER MAYOR ROBERT GARCIA, AND PRIOR TO THAT, MANAGED AND PRIOR TO THAT, MANAGED THE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING DIVISION AT LONG BEACH STATE.

SO AT LARGE DISTRICT THREE, RESIDENT RICKY IS A LONG TIME LONG BEACH RESIDENT.

HIS FATHER WORKED IN THE NAVAL SHIPYARDS.

HE WORKS IN FINANCIAL SECTOR, FORMERLY A CEO OF AN INSTITUTION NOW WORKING WITH FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORS.

HE EVEN WORKED FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH 10 YEARS AGO AS A BUSINESS LIAISON, HAS BEEN AN ACTIVIST IN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN NONPROFIT BOARDS, SERVING ON MUSICAL THEATER, WEST BOARD FAIR HOUSING FOUNDATION, AND CALIFORNIA CREDIT UNION LEAGUE.

SO LET'S HEAR IT FOR RICKY.

RICKY DOCKERY.

NEXT UP LONG BEACH TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIRECTORSHIP NUMBER ONE SEAT.

JAMES AL MATA.

JAMES ALMA IS NO STRANGER TO CITY HALL, UH, IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY CEO OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE.

IN THIS ROLE, ALMA HELPS TO LEAD THE TEAM IN DEVELOPING LONG RANGE PLANS IN IMPLEMENTING THE BIDS RENEWABLE OBJECTIVES.

PRIOR TO JOINING THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, JAMES JAMES WORKED AS CHIEF OF

[00:40:01]

SO, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE ON THE LONG BEACH TRANSIT BOARD.

THANK YOU, JAMES.

NEXT IS ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JAMES.

NEXT, THE MARINE ADVISORY COMMISSION.

ROBERT BLAIR, DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.

BORN AT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, RAISED IN LONG BEACH.

BOB GREW UP ON THE WATERS OF ALAMITOS BAY.

I LOVE THE WAY THIS WAS WRITTEN, BUT, UH, I LEARNED TO SAIL AT LEE.

I LEARNED TO SAIL AT LEEWAY SAILING CENTER, AND I WAS A JUNIOR LIFEGUARD AT BOTH 37TH AND 56TH PLACE AS A YOUTH.

AND IN COLLEGE I SKIED THE MARINE STADIUM AND IT'S ALL IN FIRST PERSON TOO.

YOU KNOW, HE WROTE THIS BOATING WAS A FAMILY HO HOBBY AND THUS AFFORDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE WATERS OF ALAMITOS BAY.

HIS TIME ON LOCAL WATERS HAVE ALLOWED HIM TO MAKE, UH, MAKE HIS CAREER THERE AS WELL.

HE'S BEEN LONG TIME, HE'S BEEN LONG WORK.

HE'S BEEN WORKING ON THE LONG WATERS SINCE 1992.

FIRST CATALINA EXPRESS, THEN FO MARITIME, THEN LAST 21 YEARS AS A HARBOR PILOT HERE IN THE PORT OF LONG BEACH FOR JACOBSON PILOT SERVICES.

HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN TENANTS AT ALAMITOS BAY AND CONTINUE AND CONTINUE CONTINUOUSLY FOR ROUGHLY THE LAST 20 YEARS.

THEIR THREE KIDS HAVE SAILED, LEEWAY, SAILING, TAKING MOMMY AND ME SWIM LESSONS AT THE BELMONT POOL, PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL SAILING REGATTAS, INCLUDING BEACH TO BEACH TO BAY.

WET WEDNESDAYS, WET WEDNESDAYS, TUESDAY, TWILIGHTS CONGRESSIONAL CUP.

YOU GUYS LIKE TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

I SEE.

SO WELCOME TO THE MARINE, UH, ADVISORY COMMISSION, BOB BLAIR.

ALRIGHT, NEXT, PACIFIC GATEWAY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT NETWORK.

THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SEAT GOES TO DAPHNE LEAK.

DAPHNE LEAK SERVES AS A DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION, LOS ANGELES SOUTH BAY DISTRICT.

SHE BRINGS MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES.

IN HER ROLE, LEE OVERSEES THE STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO OBTAIN COMPETITIVE GRANT GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

LEE LAUNCHED HER CAREER AS A REHABILITATION COUNSELOR SERVING THE UNDERSERVED AND UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND ADULTS.

SHE DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR ADVOCATING FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENCE.

SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH, LONG BEACH STATE GOLD BEACH.

UM, LEE ALSO HOLDS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN REHABILITATION COUNSELING FROM SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY AND IS A CERTIFIED REHABILITATION COUNSELOR.

VERY IMPRESSIVE.

DAPHNE.

WELCOME TO SERVICE HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, IT'S NOT GONNA BE CALLED PACIFIC GATEWAY ANYMORE.

IT'S GONNA BE CALLED THE LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INVESTMENT NETWORK IN SHORT, LONG BEACH WIND.

ALRIGHT, AND OUR FINAL, UH, FINAL APPOINTMENT AT LARGE MORGAN WHEELER.

MORGAN'S A TECH EVANGELIST LONG BEACH NATIVE AND EARLY PRODUCT OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AT LAKEWOOD HIGH.

THIS IS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION COMMISSION, THE DISTRICT FOUR SEAT.

HE HAS, UH, UH, AN MBA FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH, GO BEACH, AND IS THE VP OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE FOR F AND M BANK, WHERE HE OVERSEES AI DATA AND ANALYTICS.

THAT'S A LONG BEACH COMPANY.

MORGAN HAS BUILT SMART, SECURE IT ORGANIZATIONS, UH, SMALL TO LARGE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, SERVING IN TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT ROLES.

HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED FOR 10 YEARS ON THE SUSTAINABILITY CITY COMMISSION AND DID A GREAT JOB.

UH, YOU DON'T GET APPOINTED TO A NEW COMMISSION IF YOU DON'T DO WELL ON THE FIRST ONE.

JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.

COMMISSIONERS, UH, MORGAN VOLUNTEERS AND THE ENGINEER AB BO ABORT, THE QUEEN MARY AND THE NAVY SURFACE WARFARE CENTER ON THE BATTLESHIP IOWA MORGAN.

WELCOME.

CONGRATULATIONS.

AND THEN THERE ARE TWO REAPPOINTMENTS ON NON-CHARTER COMMISSIONS.

THERE'S, UM, ON THE TENANT SEAT ON HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR LONG BEACH.

UH, ANTHONY TORONTO IS BEING REAPPOINTED TO A SECOND TERM.

AND, UH, THE LONG BEACH TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS EDDIE ANGELIS IS BEING REAPPOINTED TO A SECOND TERM THAT MAKES UP THIS GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS.

UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN DEJA, ANYTHING? DID YOU SIGN UP ON THIS ITEM, ? NO, NO, NO, NO.

YOU, YOU'RE PROBABLY ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS IS ABOUT THE, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

YEAH, SURE THING.

MAYOR, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDAY HOUSE.

COMMISSION NEW COMMISSIONERS, AND FOR YOU TO REAPPOINT, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE BEEN SERVING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS SO EXCITING.

I LOVE THIS PART OF BEING ABLE TO, UM, HAVE OUR RESIDENTS BE PART OF, UM, SHAPING A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE FOR LONG BEACH.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, UM, THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE, UM, PUTTING INTO THESE COMMISSIONS ALL THAT WE THEY HAVE LEARNED, THEIR EXPERTISE, THEY BRING WITH THEM.

UM, I'M JUST VERY THRILLED, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO APPOINT TODAY, UM,

[00:45:01]

I WANT TO, UM, THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, FOR YOUR HARD WORK, FOR YOUR TIME, FOR YOUR DEDICATION, AND FOR HELPING US MOVE LONG BEACH FORWARD.

AS A FORMER CHAIR OF CACO CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY, AND AN APPOINTED FOR FORMER BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR LONG BEACH TRANSIT.

I JUST WANNA SAY A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO ASHLEY JONES, WHO IS BEING APPOINTED TO K COD.

AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU WILL BRING WITH YOU IN THIS NEW ROLE.

UH, ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS TO JAMES ALMADA, DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT FOR BEING APPOINTED TO LONG BEACH TRANSIT.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOUR PASSION AND DEDICATION TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AN ENDLESS COMMITMENT TO BETTERING OUR CITY, WILL HELP YOU BRING INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO LONG BEACH TRANSIT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE REAPP APPOINTEES AND THE NEWLY APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS AND BOARD MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FUTURE WORK.

AS NEW COMMISSIONERS AND THE REAPPOINTED COMMISSIONERS PUTTING THE TIME IN, THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY TO BEING A COMMISSIONER.

AND I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE WILLING TO PUT IN THE TIME, USE YOUR EXPERTISE AND WORK FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE RESIDENTS OF HERE IN LONG BEACH.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

YES, THANK YOU.

I WANNA ADD MY THANK YOU AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMI COMM NEW COMMISSIONER AND REAPPOINTED COMMISSIONER.

YOU KNOW, UH, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO SIT ON A COMMISSION SOME MORE THAN OTHERS, BUT NONETHELESS, UM, IT TAKES YOUR TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR WORK.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND IN THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL YOU BRING IS WHAT MAKES LONG BEACH SO WONDERFUL.

AND, UM, JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING UP, ALL STEPPING UP.

SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN EVERYONE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.

YEAH, I JUST WANNA, UH, SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, COMMITMENT.

UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

UM, AND ALSO JAMES, I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU GOING ON THE TRANSIT BOARD AND A SHOUT OUT TO MY DENTIST, DR.

GOLA.

HE'S AMAZING AND HE'S JUST GONNA MAKE ANOTHER GREAT ADDITION, UM, TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW AGAIN.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO SOPHIA CHIM, UM, SIXTH DISTRICT RESIDENT FOR HER FIRST TIME SERVING ON A COMMISSION, AND PARTICULARLY THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

ALRIGHT, GREAT.

SO WE'RE GONNA VOTE AND THEN WE'RE GONNA WELCOME THE COMMISSIONERS NOW TO COME TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

ALRIGHT, WE WELCOME THE COMMISSIONERS NOW SO WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO.

DON'T BE SHY.

THAT'S RIGHT HERE, RIGHT? JUST GOT BETTER.

ALRIGHT, AGAIN.

1, 2, 3.

[00:51:06]

NOW ALWAYS .

OKAY, LET'S KEEP GOING WITH THE PROGRAM.

UH, NEXT WE'RE GONNA PULL UP, UH, ITEM NUMBER 14, PLEASE.

COMMUNICATION FROM MAYOR RICHARDSON, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW, CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE.

RECOMMENDATION TO WORK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND OTHER KEY CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ESTABLISH A NEW CITYWIDE SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES THAT HELP RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND REINFORCE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND REFER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE FOR INPUT AND DISCUSSION.

WE'RE GONNA GIVE, WE'RE JUST GONNA JUST GIVE IT A MOMENT WHILE THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, UH, MAKE THEIR WAY OUT THE ROOM.

YOU KNOW WHAT, BEFORE WE DO THIS ITEM, WE'RE GONNA DO PUBLIC COMMENT.

LET'S GET PUBLIC COMMENT OUTTA THE WAY WHILE THEY'RE EXITING.

IN PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED TO SPEAK.

[ 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. ]

RICHARD LAMBERTI, DAVID FREEMAN, AND LAURA FOY.

IS RICHARD HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

UM, WHEN CALIFORNIA APPROVED THE CANNABIS CULTIVATION, THE LARGEST CULTIVATION CANOPY WAS 22,000 SQUARE FEET.

UH, THE STATE MAX WAS, UH, REMOVED ON JANUARY 1ST, 2023, ALLOWING FOR AN UNLIMITED SIZE.

CURRENTLY LONG BEACH IS LIMITED TO THE OLD 22,000 SQUARE FEET.

AND TO REMOVE THIS LIMIT, THE CITY WOULD NEED TO ADD THE NEW CANOPY TYPE TO, UH, THE ORDINANCES.

THIS WOULD ALLOW EXISTING FACILITIES TO, UM, EXPAND THEIR CURRENT CANOPY AND WOULD ALSO ALLOW, UH, LARGER FACILITIES TO MAKE THEIR WAY INTO, UM, INTO THE CITY.

I'M, I AM REPRESENTING A COUPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS, ONE THAT IS EXPANDING A FACILITY, AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE A LARGE, UM, WE WOULD END UP HAVING SOMEWHERE AROUND 50,000 SQUARE FEET WITHIN THAT FACILITY.

AND IT WOULD ALSO CUT OUR COSTS AT THE STATE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO HAVE TWO, UH, MEDIUM INDOOR CANOPIES IN ORDER TO GET IT DONE.

UM, I'M INSIDE OF, I THINK, DISTRICT FIVE, AND I ALSO REPRESENT A COMPANY INSIDE OF DISTRICT NINE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE IDEA TO YOU GUYS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO MUCH EFFORT ON THE SIDE OF THE CITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.

I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY EASY TO DO.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE IN 2018, IT WAS TO CHANGE, HELP CHANGE THE, UH, THE DISTRIBUTION TAXES.

AND I THINK THE CITY HAS BENEFITED FROM THAT.

I KNOW THAT IN ONE OF THE FACILITIES I REPRESENT, I CAN'T EVEN USE ALL OF MY TABLES AND THERE'S ONE ROOM THAT I'M NOT USING, WHICH I COULD USE.

AND I CAN ALSO, AS WE'VE STREAMLINED OPERATIONS, WE COULD PROBABLY ADD ANOTHER FOUR OR 5,000 SQUARE FEET JUST TO THAT FACILITY ALONE.

SO I THINK THERE'S REVENUE IN HERE, REOCCURRING REVENUE, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FOR THE CITY.

UM, I CAN'T QUANTIFY HOW MUCH THAT'LL BE, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD MORE THAN PAY FOR THE COSTS OF DOING ANY TYPE OF ASSESSMENT THAT YOU GUYS WOULD NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

THANKS.

NEXT IS DAVID FREEMAN.

[00:55:07]

HELLO EVERYBODY.

UM, I'M DAVID FREEMAN, UH, LONGTIME EAST LONG BEACH, UH, PERSON.

AND, UH, UH, AND I'LL TURN RETURN IN 84 THIS YEAR.

WHEN I RETIRED, I DECIDED THAT, UH, I WOULD, UH, CO-FOUND, UH, HOUSING AS A HUMAN RIGHT IN ORANGE COUNTY.

AND THEN I ALSO BECAME A MEMBER OF, UH, WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE DEFUNCT HOMELESS COALITION OF LONG BEACH.

AND, UM, AND THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY, BUT ONE OF THEM IS EVERY YEAR, THE DECEMBER 21ST LONGEST NIGHT IS CELEBRATED IN LONG BEACH.

MY ARTWORK, MY PHOTOS HAVE BEEN PART, AND MY FILMS HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT EVENT.

UH, THIS LAST, UH, CHRISTMAS, THERE WASN'T, UH, ONE MEMBER OF OUR COUNCIL ATTENDING FOREST LAW AND TO HONOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WE LOST LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE MEGAN KERR AND HER LOVELY HUSBAND ANDY ATTENDED, AND I THINK IT'S A CRYING SHAME.

ALSO, IN ORANGE COUNTY, THEY USED THE COLOR PURPLE IN OTHER, IN ALSO OTHER STATES IN THE, IN THE UNITED STATES.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PORT OF LONG BEACH TO LIGHT THE, THE BRIDGES WITH PURPLE JUST FOR THAT ONE NIGHT ON THE DECEMBER 21ST.

UM, AND, UH, I WOULD ALSO, LIKE, IIII JUST HAVE TO MENTION WHAT'S TRANSPIRED SINCE ALL OF YOU TOOK OVER.

HOMELESSNESS HAS GONE SKY HIGH.

YOU HAVE NOT DELIVERED ON TINY HOMES ON, ON THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ON THE STREET TO AND TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET.

I'M ON, I'M, I'M, LIKE I SAID, I'M 83 YEARS OLD AND I CARRY THIS EIGHT POUND CAMERA AND I, I WAS OUT ALL DAY TODAY AND, AND I'M DOING MY PART TO CREATE THE AWARENESS AND TO HOPEFULLY SHOW YOU HOW ABSOLUTELY AWFUL IT IS ON THE STREETS.

AND REX, PLEASE, IF I DO ANOTHER MOVIE, PLEASE SUPPORT IT.

YOU SUPPORTED MY LAST MOVIE.

I AM SOMEBODY AND, AND YOU SAID YOU'RE GONNA SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I SUPPORTED YOU.

AND GUESS WHAT YOU DID, YOU PUT IT ON FACEBOOK, BUT ON MESSENGER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS LAURA FOY AND LAST LA LA LAURA'S OUR LAST SPEAKER ON PUBLIC COMMENT.

HI.

I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS TO BE SUCH A HEARTWARMING EXPERIENCE.

I'M ACTUALLY REALLY SHOCKED.

I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING SINCE I WAS LIKE A 19.

YOU SHOULD COME BACK MORE OFTEN.

WE'RE HERE EVERY TUESDAY.

I WILL.

THERE WERE PUPPIES, THERE WAS LAUGHTER, THERE'S GOOD VIBES.

UM, AND WE NEED THAT RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.

AND WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL EVENT YESTERDAY.

IT WAS A MARCH.

THERE WAS A RALLY, THERE WAS AN OPEN MIC WHERE PEOPLE GOT TO COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.

WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE WORLD, UH, WE'RE HAVING A HOSTILE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER AND IT IS TERRIFYING.

AND NONE OF US KNOW WHAT'S COMING NEXT.

WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL DIVERSITY IN THIS ROOM THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNTRY.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POSITION TO STEAL SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE NAMES.

ONE OF THEM IS ELON MUSK, WHO IS POSITIONED TO EXPAND HIS RENTAL AT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH FOR HIS SPACEX PROJECT.

NOW IS NOT A TIME FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THIS IS A MOMENT TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND STAND GOVERNMENT, UH, SORRY.

GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS ALREADY TAKEN A STAND AGAINST ELON MUSK TO NOT MAKE HIS BUSINESS EASIER FOR HIM.

WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THIS LYING DOWN.

WE NEED TO MAKE A STAND NOT ONLY WITH ALL

[01:00:01]

OF THE AMERICANS.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK IN DC RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE IN A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CRISIS, AND I SEE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM DOING REALLY GOOD WORK.

IF WE LOSE SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASED HOMELESSNESS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASED CRIME.

ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN LONG BEACH WILL BE THRASHED.

SO THIS IS A TIME TO TAKE A REALLY GOOD STAND FOR WHAT OUR VALUES ARE, THAT WE DON'T STAND FOR FASCISM.

THAT THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR CENSORSHIP.

THAT MONEY THAT WILL BE COMING INTO LONG BEACH IS MONEY THAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE STOLEN FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

MY MOTHER IS 81, SHE LIVES ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

MY FATHER IS 90.

HE LIVES IN A MEMORY CARE FACILITY, UM, FUNDED BY HIS VA BENEFITS.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

I AM A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

THE MAJORITY OF MY PATIENTS ARE LOW INCOME.

THEY PAY ME WITH MEDI-CAL AND MEDICARE.

IF WE CAN'T PAY OUR BILLS, THAT MONEY SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO AN EXPANSION OF ELON MUSK'S PROJECT IN LONG BEACH.

THAT'S NOT HOW WE REALLOCATE FUNDS.

AND I DON'T SEE THAT AS BEING WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO IN YOUR HEARTS.

SO I THINK THERE'S A REALLY GREAT MOMENT TO REALLY LEAN INTO YOUR SPINE AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO HELP RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND REINFORCE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO THAT, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO ITEM 14, PLEASE.

COMMUNICATION FROM MAYOR RICHARDSON, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW, CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO WORK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND OTHER KEY CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ESTABLISH A NEW CITYWIDE

[14. 25-54372 Recommendation to request City Manager to work with Economic Development Department and other key city departments to establish a new citywide Small Business Rebound initiative to develop and expand innovative strategies that help recruit, retain, and reinforce local small businesses, include recommendations in the FY 26 budget development process to support these strategies, and refer to the Economic Development and Opportunity Committee for input and discussion. Office or Department: Rex Richardson, Mayor; Suely Saro, Councilwoman, Sixth District, Chair, Economic Development and Opportunity Committee Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

AND REFER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE FOR INPUT AND DISCUSSION.

RIGHT.

WELL, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, AT THE STATE OF THE CITY, WE CALLED ON OUR CITY TO DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

UH, WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE HAD DIFFICULT TIMES SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

UH, AND WE'VE SEEN A, A, A LOT OF STEPS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, GONE OUT TO HELP LIKE OUR VIP GRANTS.

AND THIS WEEK WE ANNOUNCED OUR LEVEL UP LB SMALL BUSINESS BOOTCAMP PROGRAM, ALL THESE, UH, DIFFERENT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.

UH, BUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS NOW TO EMBARK ON A PROCESS TO THINK MORE COMPREHENSIVELY ABOUT, UH, REALLY THREE KEY AREAS, UH, OF FOCUS IN THIS SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND REINFORCEMENT.

AND SO AND SO, THIS MOTION TODAY, I WANNA, I WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, COMMITTEE.

SO WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN VICE MAYOR URANGA, OR MAYBE I GOT THOSE COMMITTEES WRONG.

MARY COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

YES, THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS NEW CITYWIDE SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE.

SO WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO TAKE THIS ON IN YOUR COMMITTEE AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF WORK, ENGAGE WITH SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.

AT THE SAME TIME.

WE'RE ASKING BO AND THE CITY TEAM TO ALSO ENGAGE WITH STAKEHOLDERS, THE CHAMBER, THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS, SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS PACKAGE TO MAKE SURE IT ACTUALLY RESPONDS TO SOME OF THEIR NEEDS.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY OF THESE BUSINESS LEADERS ALREADY.

THEY WELCOME THIS.

WE HAD A GREAT MEETING LAST MONTH IN JANUARY WITH THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.

THEY CERTAINLY WELCOME THIS.

AND SO, UH, THIS IS A COMMITMENT WE MADE TO THE STATE OF THE CITY TO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS MOTION DOES.

IT, IT'S ASKING YOU TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE THREE AREAS OF FOCUS.

UH, AND THROUGH THE UPCOMING FFY 2026 BUDGET PROCESS, THE COUNCIL WILL ITEMIZE AND LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN DEVELOP OR EXPAND THE SUPPORT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, CAN BENEFIT FROM.

SO WHEN WE TALK, REINFORCE WHAT ARE THE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT THAT HARDEN, UM, UH, BUSINESSES MAKE IT LESS, MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SOMEBODY TO BREAK IN OR DO CASHLESS, POINT OF SALE TRANSACTIONS, UH, SYSTEMS. OR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UM, RETENTION.

WE HAVE A GREAT LEGACY BUSINESS PROGRAM.

HOW DO WE NOW BOOST IT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SHOWING UP AND STEPPING UP FOR OUR LEGACY BUSINESSES? THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, AND SO THAT'S THE IDEA HERE.

WE TAKE IT TO COMMITTEE AND WE TAKE IT THROUGH THE STAFF PROCESS.

UH, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIFFERENT BUSINESS GROUPS THAT, UH, HAVE SUBMITTED LETTERS OF SUPPORT HERE.

UH, I SEE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT.

ZARIA SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT HERE.

WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM.

BELMONT SHORE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THEY SPIN'S BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, UH, DLBA, DT DTLB ALLIANCE, SORRY, THEY CHANGED THEIR NAME.

UM, AND THEN WHOEVER'S HERE FROM PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WANNA THANK YOU, UH, FOR SUBMITTING LETTERS.

AND NOW WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

[01:05:02]

YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, WHEN MAYOR RICHARDSON BRINGS FORWARD AN IDEA, HE ALSO MAKES SURE THERE'S RESOURCES THAT COME WITH IT.

SO THERE IS A GOAL TO BRING IN INVEST A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE UPLIFTING OUR BUSINESSES.

AND I KNOW THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES VALUE OUR SMALL BUSINESS AS THEY ARE THE HEART OF OUR CITY'S ONGOING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND VITALITY.

AND WE WANNA SEE THEM THRIVE.

AND SMALL BUSINESSES ACCOUNT FOR 52% OF JOBS IN THE CITY, MAKING IT THE BACKBONE OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY, UH, UH, COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DEJA AND COUNCILMAN ALLEN IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE AS WE DISCUSS AND PROVIDE INPUT ON THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIES, UM, THAT MAYOR RICHARDSON JUST MENTIONED THAT WILL MAXIMIZE IMPACT AS WELL AS BENEFIT FOR LONG BEACH SMALL BUSINESS.

AND THAT IS THE RECRUITMENT PART.

WE KNOW THAT WE WANNA CONTINUE TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY VACANT BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT, NOT OUR CITY, INCLUDING MY DISTRICT, THE SIXTH DISTRICT.

UM, AND WE WANNA LOOK AT THE FIRST YEAR, UH, FREE INITIATIVE AND, UM, FIRST YEAH, FIRST YEAR FREE.

UH, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE CONSIDER WHAT WE CAN DO TO RETAIN THOSE BUSINESSES WHO SAID YES TO LONG BEACH, TO DOING BUSINESS HERE.

AND, AND THAT IS PRESERVING OUR CITIES.

AND ONE OF THAT IS PRESERVING OUR CITY'S MOST HISTORIC AND ICONIC LOCAL BUSINESSES.

UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CONSIDER INVESTING IN PROJECT, UH, EQUITY, WHICH I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN TIN HAS BEEN A PART OF.

UM, IT WOULD'VE BEEN REALLY HELPFUL TO HAVE IT UP AND RUNNING BECAUSE WE HAD A REALLY, A LEGACY BUSINESS BABE BET THAT WOULD'VE, UM, YOU KNOW, NEEDED THE RESOURCES TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY DIDN'T WANNA KEEP THE BUSINESS GOING, HOW ELSE COULD THEY HAVE MAYBE SUPPORTED STAFF TO MAYBE TAKE OVER THE BUSINESS.

UM, THIRD, UH, WAS JUST REINFORCEMENT.

WE KNOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT BUSINESS TO LOOK AT PROACTIVE CRIME PREVENTION ME MEASURES, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CONSIDER LOOKING AT ORGANIZING, UH, A NEW, UH, RETAIL THEFT TASK TASK FORCE.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHILE THERE IS FUNDING FOR THE VIP GRANT PROGRAM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ALSO RESOURCES TO DO CRIME PREVENTION.

SO, JUST WANTED TO REITERATE AGAIN SOME OF THE THINGS THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT AND MAYBE WE MIGHT EVEN DO SOME POP-UP CONVERSATION AND TAKE THE COMMITTEE ON THE ROAD.

SO, UH, LOOK OUT COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

IT'S GONNA BE FUN THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER THRA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

UM, SO I WAS PLEASED TO SECOND THIS MOTION, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW.

UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I EVERY DAY WORK TO ENSURE AND CHAMPION ON BEHALF OF, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES, LOCAL, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THOSE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

UM, AND THIS PROGRAM, TO ME, REALLY IS THE RIGHT NEXT STEP AS WE, UM, HELP OUR BUSINESSES REALLY DO REBOUND, UM, FROM A NUMBER OF ECONOMIC, UH, UPS AND DOWNS.

UM, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN PARTICULAR, UH, I'M PLEASED WITH THE RE, UH, RECRUITMENT ASPECT OF THIS PROGRAM.

UH, TO GROW THE LONG BEACH, UH, FUND.

UH, I HAVE A DEFINITE INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THE COMMITTEE AND ITS EFFORTS AND ENSURING THAT BUSINESSES KNEW, UH, AND ONGOING HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL, UM, AND ANY OTHER, UH, KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION AND CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO, TO THRIVE AND GROW.

I TOO, AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS A DISTRICT THAT, UH, HAS TOO MANY VACANT STOREFRONTS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO PUTTING SUCH A RECRUITMENT PROGRAM TO WORK, UM, IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO RETENTION, UM, I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR RECOGNIZING MY WORK.

UH, PRIOR TO BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AS A CIVILIAN, I WORKED WITH THE CITY AND THE LEADERSHIP HERE, UH, AMONG OUR CITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR MANY LEGACY, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES.

WITH THIS PROGRAM AND THE, UM, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RETENTION PROGRAM, UM, I DO BELIEVE WE WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, SET IN MOTION SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED SO THAT ON AN ONGOING BASIS, OUR BUS, OUR LEGACY BUSINESSES, ARE AWARE OF WHAT KINDS OF, UH, SUPPORT WE HAVE FOR THEM BEFORE THEY GET INTO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND NEED TO SELL OR NEED TO, UM, EXIT THE BUSINESS.

'CAUSE WE WANNA KEEP THOSE JOBS AND THOSE BUSINESSES HERE IN LONG BEACH.

UM, SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE AND OFFER MY SUPPORT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THE COMMITTEE'S WORK AND OF COURSE SERVE AS A COLLEAGUE, UH, RESOURCE FOR YOU HERE, UM, AS NEEDED.

[01:10:01]

COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS.

THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AS WELL AS DR.

SORO.

UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE, WHICH I AM SO HAPPY AND THRILLED TO BE PART OF AS WELL.

UM, THERE IS A VALUABLE STATISTIC REFLECTED IN THIS REPORT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.

SMALL BUSINESSES ACCOUNT FOR 52% OF JOBS WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.

SMALL BUSINESSES ACCOUNT FOR 52% OF JOBS WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

WHAT WAS THAT PERCENTAGE? WHAT WAS THAT PERCENT? ? YES.

I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

UH, SMALL BUSINESSES ACCOUNT FOR 52% GOT IT.

OF JOBS WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH THAT IS TRULY SIGNIFICANT.

OUR SMALL BUSINESSES NOT ONLY SUPPLY GOODS AND SERVICES AND GENERATE REVENUE HERE IN THE CITY, BUT THEY ALSO CREATE JOBS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY CREATE COMMUNITY.

I AM HIGHLY IN FAVOR OF ESTABLISHING A LONG BEACH SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME THAT US AS A CITY, THAT WE FO FOCUS ON RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND REINFORCEMENT, AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY CAN THRIVE AND BE SUCCESSFUL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.

AS A PART OF THE RETENTION EFFORTS, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE INCLUSION OF FOCUSING ON WORKER RETENTION BY SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES.

I AM OBVIOUSLY IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.

FANTASTIC, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.

UM, WELL THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, SO MANY WAYS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND ALSO TO MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN SORROW, WHO IS OUR NEWEST CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, FOR INTRODUCING THIS ITEM.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, UM, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS REMINDING EVERYONE THAT 52% OF JOBS TOO, UM, ARE IN THIS CITY, UH, ARE, UM, FROM, FROM SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND, UM, FOLKS KNOW SOMEONE I, YOU KNOW, I OWNED AND OPERATED THREE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THIS CITY AND EMPLOYED LOCAL FOLKS.

IT'S HARD, IT'S REALLY HARD.

AND, UM, AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN, IN SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THIS IS JUST ONE WAY WE CAN DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE FACING, UM, RISING, UH, COMMERCIAL RENTS.

UM, NOT ONLY INSURANCE COSTS, BUT EVEN JUST SOME OF THE RULINGS FROM INSURANCE, UM, THAT THEY HAVE, UH, NO CONTROL OVER HAS REALLY BEEN IMPACTFUL TO, UM, SOME OF MY LOCAL BUSINESSES, UM, ON THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR.

UM, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ACCESS, THE, THE CAPITAL IS REALLY, REALLY TOUGH.

AND I HOPE THAT, UM, SOMEONE WHO'S, WHO'S BEEN THROUGH THE CITY PROGRAMS AND BEEN THROUGH THE CITY, UH, IT'S, IT'S, UM, I HOPE THAT WE HAVE EASIER ROUTES FOR PEOPLE TO GET FUNDING.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I REMEMBER LOOKING AT, UH, ONE OF THESE STUDIES, AND IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS AND IF YOU'RE A PERSON OF COLOR OF WOMAN, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET FUNDING.

AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW, UH, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UM, WITH PEOPLE HAVING ACCESS TO, UH, TO CAPITAL.

UM, ALSO WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR PORT AND, AND, UM, OUR WATER DEPARTMENT.

A LOT OF OUR BIGGER CITY, UH, ENTITIES THAT DO CONTRACTING.

MAYBE THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, UM, AS WELL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING, UM, IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE.

SO, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS AT THIS, UH, THE STATE OF THE CITY, AND, UM, I WAS JUST, UM, REALLY PLEASED TO SEE, UH, THIS COMING, UM, ON, UM, THE AGENDA.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT IS, UM, THE 2028 OLYMPICS.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN WORK WITH, UM, A LOT OF OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS.

UM, THERE'S GONNA BE SO MANY CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING, UM, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT, UH, IN, IT DOESN'T HAVE JUST HAVE TO BE LONG BEACH.

MAYBE WE WORK WITH SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES TO SOME TYPE OF APP OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

UM, BUT I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE.

I'M ALWAYS, UM, I'M ALWAYS ON THE YES BOAT, UH, FOR, UM, FOR ANYTHING SMALL BUSINESS.

SO THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SORROW.

LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, UM, ON THESE INITIATIVES.

ALL RIGHT,

[01:15:01]

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.

ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.

UH, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE PERCENTAGE, 52% OF LONG BEACH'S ECONOMY.

AND I'M EXCITED FOR THIS ITEM TO HAVE A FOCUSED DISCUSSION ON HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

SMALL BUSINESSES PROVIDE JOBS, CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY'S UNIQUE CHARACTER, AND MANY SMALL BUSINESSES TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR SURROUNDING AREAS JUST AS RESIDENTS DO.

THE SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE IS A STEP TOWARDS RECOGNIZING AND ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT THIS PROPOSAL TAKES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

FINANCIAL RELIEF IS ALWAYS POPULAR, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO INVEST IN LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES.

IDEAS LIKE WAIVING BUSINESS LICENSE FEES, EXPANDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL, AND CONTINUING BUSINESS GRANTS, ALL HELP BUSINESSES OPEN AND OPERATE IN LONG BEACH.

BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVING MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY, I WANNA OFFER A COUPLE OF POINTS OF DISCUSSION AND ASK THAT CITY STAFF CONSIDER THESE POINTS AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM FIRST.

AND ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS I HEAR FROM SMALL BUSINESSES IS THAT THEY WANT PREDICTABILITY FROM THEIR CITY GOVERNMENT.

THEY WANNA KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR THEM TO OPEN THEIR BUSINESS, WHAT COST IT'S GOING TO BE, WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED COMES UP, AND THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THEIR CITY.

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT, MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS THAT WE CAN LEARN IS FROM OUR OWN PROGRAM, THE SIDEWALK VENDING PROGRAM.

THE CITY IS COVERING NEARLY ALL COSTS UPFRONT, WAIVING FEES, PAYING FOR PERMITS, PROVIDING FREE, FREE CARTS AND REDUCING STARTUP EXPENSES.

BUT MANY OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THE, THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WANT TO OWN A SMALL BUSINESS ARE NOT REGISTERING.

AND THIS TELLS US A BIT ABOUT THE BURDEN OF REGULATION AND THE COMPLEXITY OF COMPLIANCE.

IT'S MUCH MORE PROHIBITIVE THAN THE ACTUAL STARTUP FEES.

THIS APPLIES TO ALL SMALL BUSINESSES.

IF A NO NEW OWNER FEELS THE CITY, UM, PROCESSES FOR PERMITS, INSPECTIONS AND 10 IMPROVEMENTS ARE TO COMPLICATED OR TIME CONSUMING.

THE BUSINESS OWNER RISKS LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH IN RENT AND LOAN PAYMENTS BEFORE THEY EVEN OPEN THE DOOR.

AND ULTIMATELY, THE UNCERTAINTY OF TIMELINES AND COSTS, THEY BECOME THE BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN OPENING A BUSINESS.

AND IT'S KILLING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN MY VIEW.

WE SHOULD BE ASKING OUR BUSINESSES WHAT PAIN POINTS ARE THERE FOR OPENING? HOW CAN WE SIMPLIFY THE CITY PROCESSES TO MAKE IT QUICKER AND EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO OPEN AND NOT BE HOLDING LOANS THAT THEY CAN'T PAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE REVENUE? COME IN, LET'S CUT THE TIME IT TAKES FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO OPEN PREDICTABLE TIMELINES.

THE BASICS FOR INSPECTIONS AND APPROVALS, BUSINESS LICENSE.

THIS CAN SAVE THEM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND IT'S WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEIR NEW BUSINESS.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING GREAT THAT THE CITY CAN GIVE.

UM, SECOND, A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING IS SAFETY AND SECURITY.

THE PROPOSAL'S SAFE AND SECURE GRANT PROGRAM IS REALLY A GREAT START.

FUNDING THINGS LIKE SECURITY CAMERAS, SHATTERPROOF WINDOWS, THIS ALL MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

BUT I THINK THE GREATEST THING THAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IS FOCUSING ON PROVIDING A CLEAN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BUSINESSES TO OPERATE.

BRICK AND MORTAR HAVE TO COMPETE WITH ONLINE RETAILERS, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES IS THEM OFFERING A BEAUTIFUL, WELCOMING, CLEAN, SAFE, IN-PERSON ENVIRONMENT.

PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, WHETHER IT'S DUE TO LOITERING, OPEN DRUG USE BREAK-INS, THEY'RE GONNA STAY AT HOME OR THEY'RE GONNA GO TO SECOND AND PCH OR LBX, WHICH ARE ENTIRELY PRIVATE WITH SECURITY.

NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S A BAD THING, BUT WE WANT TO

[01:20:01]

MAKE OUR SMALL BUSINESS FEEL SAFE AND SECURE.

ALSO, WHEN SAFETY CONCERNS FORCE BUSINESSES TO ADD SO MANY SECURITY MEASURES, THAT IT BECOMES A BURDEN YOU HAVE TO BUZZ EVERY TIME YOU WANT A RAZOR OR SOAP OR THINGS AT THE DRUGSTORE, THROW UP YOUR HANDS AND YOU WALK OUT.

I'LL GO FIND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

ALONG WITH THIS, UM, MANY BUSINESS OWNERS FEEL THEY HAVE TO STAFF WITH EXTRA EMPLOYEES, ALWAYS HAVING SOMEONE ON SITE.

AND I KNOW THIS HAPPENS WITH SOME OF OUR YOUNGER EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF SECURITY CONCERNS, AND WE'VE SEEN THE STATE LEVEL PUSH THIS, INCREASED STAFFING LEVELS IN CERTAIN CERTAIN RETAIL SETTINGS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

THIS IS KILLER.

THIS REALLY ISN'T FEASIBLE FOR A SMALL BUSINESS TO ADD THE EXPENSE OF ONE OR TWO MORE EMPLOYEES.

IT'S MORE THAN A GRANT CAN COVER FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

SO, SO COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU LAND THE PLANE SOON.

I JUST WANT TO, I DONE.

I'M ALMOST OKAY.

GO AHEAD.

I'M ALMOST DONE.

UM, IF A WINDOW'S BROKEN, IT TAKES TIME TO BOARD UP.

IT COSTS FOR THE BOARDING TO BE, UM, PUT ON THE WINDOW AND IT'S HARD TO OPERATE WHEN YOU HAVE PATRONS LOOKING AT THE BOARDED, UH, WINDOW.

AT MY BUSINESS, I HAD A PERSON SLEEPING BY THE FRONT DOOR.

THIS WAS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR OUR PATIENTS WALKING IN.

WE OFFERED RESOURCES, WE TRIED TO HELP THEM, BUT EVENTUALLY WE HAD TO CALL THE POLICE AND WE'RE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTICE.

UM, THIS WAS DIFFICULT.

WE HAD A LOT OF STAFF, A LOT OF HOURS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.

SO I CAN GO AHEAD AND QUEUE UP AGAIN AFTER THE NEXT PERSON.

IT, OH, WELL, GIVE ME, WELL, I HERE WORKING TOWARDS REAL SOLUTIONS.

TWO THINGS.

LET'S QUEUE UP.

FIVE.

WHILE BUSINESSES CAN INNOVATE, THEY CAN FIND FUNDING AND THEY CAN NEGOTIATE LEASES ON THEIR OWN.

THEY CANNOT HANDLE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES ON THEIR OWN.

WE CAN'T BE ASKING EMPLOYEES AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO BE FIRST RESPONDERS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTOXICATED ON DANGEROUS DRUGS OR SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

THESE CLEARLY FALL ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE CITY, AND I BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON OUR SMALL BUSINESSES BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A CLEAN, SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK THIS NEEDS TO INCLUDE A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT.

PROP 36 VOTERS MADE IT CLEAR THEY WANT CONSEQUENCES FOR DRUG USE AND RETAIL THEFT AND THIS INITIATIVE WAS WIDELY SUPPORTED BY SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW WE WANNA TRANSFORM FROM SITE AND RELEASE FOR THEFT AND DRUGS TO A SYSTEM THAT CAN MAKE ARRESTS FOR THESE CRIMES AND LET THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DETERMINE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT CASE.

CLOSING THOUGHTS? MAYOR .

I LIKE THE SMALL BUSINESS RE REBOUND INITIATIVE BECAUSE IT LAYS A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVER AND GROW.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

THIS PROPOSAL OFFERS ROOM FOR INPUT.

AND AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, MY INPUT IS THAT WE PROVIDE PREDICT PREDICTABLE COSTS AND TIMELINES, WHICH I'M DEALING WITH BY HAVING TO CALL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO HELP MY BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE A CLEAN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO OPERATE.

SO I THINK THESE ARE TWO GREAT THINGS FOR A GOOD INITIATIVE.

OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, UH, BECAUSE IT'S A CHANGE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

YOU GOT IT ALL OUT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE ITEM AND WE LIKE TO DO IT THAT WAY.

AND A FOCUS ON REINFORCEMENT IS ASKING THE CHIEF AND OUR PROSECUTOR TO LOOK AT WHAT THE NEW PARAMETERS ARE.

THE, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.

PROP 36 IS THE LAW OF THE LAND, BUT ALSO WE DO HAVE OUR OWN LOCAL PROSECUTOR WHO HAS CONTROL OVER THINGS LIKE DIVERSION AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THE IDEA HERE IS HOW CAN WE COLLABORATIVELY WORK TOGETHER ON, UH, UH, UH, A RETAIL THEFT STRATEGY THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S LEADERSHIP AND THE PROSECUTOR.

THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY, WASN'T PLANNING ON SAYING IT, BUT, UH, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROP 36.

A LOT OF THAT'S GONNA BE DEPENDENT ON THE STATE'S BUDGET PROCESS THAT THEY'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

EVERYTHING FROM FUNDING THE COURTS TO FUNDING JAILS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

RIGHT NOW IT'S SILENT IN THE STATE BUDGET.

SO THERE'S A LOT

[01:25:01]

BUT MOST OF THAT IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION IS GONNA BE IN THE COURTS, THE COUNTY, AND AT THE STATE.

SO REALLY, UH, FOR US, IT'S REALLY ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND, AND IN THIS MOTION IS DIRECTION FOR THE CHIEF AND THE PROSECUTOR TO WORK ON THAT ISSUE.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGN UP TO SPEAK.

CELESTE WILSON AND ALEX CHER, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

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

MY NAME IS CELESTE WILSON.

I AM THE NEW GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR THE LONG BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS THE CHAMBER'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE.

AS THE OFFICIAL VOICE FOR NEARLY 900 BUSINESSES ACROSS THE GREATER LONG BEACH AREA.

WE UNDERSTAND HOW VITAL SMALL BUSINESSES ARE TO BOTH THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR CITY.

THIS INITIATIVE IS A SMART FORWARD THINKING APPROACH TO SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ITS KEY COMPONENTS DIRECTLY ADDRESS SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES FACING LOCAL BUSINESSES TODAY.

FOR INSTANCE, THE GROW LONG BEACH FUND WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO MUCH NEEDED CAPITAL, ENABLING BUSINESSES TO SCALE AND THRIVE.

WAIVING BUSINESS LICENSE FEES FOR INCOMING BUSINESSES IN THE NEARLY 400 VACANT STOREFRONTS SEEN ON THE COUNCIL'S.

NEW VACANCY TO VIBRANCY MAP WILL NOT ONLY INCENTIVIZE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUT ALSO HELP REVITALIZE UNDERUTILIZED SPACES IN OUR CITY.

EXPANDING THE LEGACY BUSINESS PROGRAM TO OFFER INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSELING SERVICES IS ANOTHER CRITICAL STEP.

BY PROVIDING TAILORED RESOURCES, OUR CITY CAN ENSURE THAT BUSINESSES WITH DEEP ROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE THE TOOLS TO ADAPT AND GROW.

ADDITIONALLY, CONTINUING THE VIP GRANT PROGRAM WILL HELP BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY PROPERTY CRIME RECOVER MORE QUICKLY.

WHILE THE CREATION OF SAFE AND SECURE GRANTS GIVES BUSINESSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THEIR SECURITY MEASURES, OFFERING PEACE OF MIND AND HELPING DETER FUTURE INCIDENTS.

EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, RETAINING BUSINESSES, AND MAKING LONG BEACH A SAFER AND MORE WELCOMING PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

WE BELIEVE THAT BY SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES IN THESE WAYS, WE ARE CREATING A MORE VIBRANT AND RESILIENT LONG BEACH.

FOR EVERYONE ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER, I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR CONTINUING TO CHAMPION PROGRAMS AND STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

NEXT IS ALEX CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

ALEX CHAIR HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND OUR A HUNDRED PLUS MEMBERS, STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE, UH, OF THE ITEM IN THE SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE.

THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RESTAURANTS.

UM, OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, UH, CITY STAFF TOM BO.

DAWN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN ENGAGING, UH, THE RESTAURANT OWNERS.

THEIR CONCERNS ARE ALIGNED, UH, WITH WHAT'S BEEN OUTLINED IN THE INITIATIVE, INCLUDING THE GROW LONG BEACH FUND, UH, WAIVING OF CERTAIN BUSINESS LICENSE FEES, EXPANDING THE LEGACY BUSINESS PROGRAM, CONTINUING THE VIP GRANT PROGRAM, AND CREATING THE SAFE AND SECURE GRANT.

AGAIN, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE.

OKAY, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM 10, PLEASE.

10.

RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD.

CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT

[10. 25-54297 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution continuing the Bixby Knolls 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 Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association for a one-year term. (Districts 5, 8) Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

RESOLUTION.

CONTINUING THE BIXBY OLDS PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA ASSESSMENT LEVY FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

DISTRICT'S FIVE AND EIGHT.

AND THIS ITEM AND OATH IS REQUIRED, RIGHT? YES.

THIS ITEM REQUIRES AN OATH.

PLEASE STAND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TESTIFY ON THE ITEM.

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

BOUNDARIES, PROPOSED ACTIVITIES, AND BUDGETARY INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE METHOD AND BASIS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE ASSESSMENT.

A CM WALKER? YES, MS. ROLL.

THANK.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

WE HAVE JULIAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF REPORT.

OUR MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE BIXBY KNOWS PARKING BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 1989.

THIS ALLOWS FOR THE LEVY OF AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT TO BE PAID BY BUSINESSES LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT.

THE CON UH, THE CITY CONTRACTS WITH THE BIXBY KNOWS BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION TO MANAGE THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS SERVES AS THE ADVISORY BOARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE DISTRICT STATE LAW GOVERNING THIS DISTRICT REQUIRES THAT AN ANNUAL REPORT BE APPROVED OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE ANNUAL REPORT DESCRIBES

[01:30:01]

THE ANNUAL REPORT PROPOSES NO CHANGE TO THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES METHOD OF ASSESSMENT AND NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES.

STATE LAW ALSO REQUIRES THAT A PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD ON THE PROPOSED PROGRAM AND ASSESSMENT.

AT ITS JANUARY 21ST, 2025, MEETING CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION GRANTING APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL REPORT, DECLARING THE INTENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO LEVY THE ASSESSMENT AND SET.

TODAY AS A DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING, CITY COUNCIL SHALL HEAR AND CONSIDER ALL PROTESTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BIXBY MILLS PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA AGAINST THE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM OR BOUNDARIES OF THE AREA AS PROPOSED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT.

THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS REPORT? NO.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARR? YES.

UH, THANK YOU STAFF FOR THE REPORT AND APPRECIATE JUST A SHOUT OUT OF APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT THE BIXBY MILLS BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

I WANT TO THANK BLAIR COHEN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STAFF, AS WELL AS CRYSTAL ROGERS AND BJORN REESE, WHO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THAT ASSOCIATION AND ALL THEY DO TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.

COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH.

AND TOOK, UH, MY REPORT IS DITTO MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN KERR.

UH, AND MY COMMENTS ARE TO BLAIR.

UH, YOU GOTTA COME DOWN HERE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA PROVE IT NEXT TIME, .

SO, UH, MAKE SURE YOU GET HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BLAIR AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AT B-K-B-I-A.

KEEP UP THE INCREDIBLE WORK AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT FIRST FRIDAYS.

UH, UH, MEMBERS PLEASE CATCH YOUR VOTE.

SO WHAT CAUSES FLOODING, UH, AS THE CITY HAS BUILT OUT OVER THE YEARS, THE IMPERVIOUS AREA HAS ALSO INCREASED, BUT THE SIZE OF THE STORM SYSTEMS THEMSELVES THAT CAPTURE ALL THAT WATER HASN'T ALWAYS INCREASED.

GO TO ITEM 18.

PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REGARDING LOCAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT AND STORM PREPARATION AND RESPONSE CITYWIDE.

ALRIGHT, IT IS STORM SEASON.

ALRIGHT, YOU READY?

[18. 25-54226 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Public Works Department regarding local flood management and storm preparation and response. (Citywide) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

YEAH.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT THIS CAMPAIGN STORM SMART.

SAY IT AGAIN.

WHAT IS IT? STORM SMART LB, IS THAT WHAT IT'S WELL, PART OF THAT? SO THIS IS THE ITEM THAT THE COUNCIL ASKED FOR.

UH, THIS WAS, UH, REQUESTED TO COME BACK AND DO A PRESENTATION ON ALL THE THINGS THAT THE CITY THINKS ABOUT AND GETS PREPARED FOR, UH, WHEN THERE'S MAJOR STORM ACTIVITY.

SO, UM, UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST 10, TWO YEARS.

UH, THE TEAM REALLY COMES TOGETHER.

WE HAVE A STORM INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, UH, AND, UH, EVERY TIME, UH, WE GET, UH, WEATHER, THEY'RE PREDICTING, THEY'RE THINKING AHEAD, THEY'RE DOING ALL THE THINGS WE DO BEFORE, AND THEN WE MANAGE DURING THE INCIDENT, AND THEN WE LEARN AFTER THE INCIDENT.

SO WE JUST HAD ONE A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND, UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT.

THAT WAS A LIGHTER STORM, BUT, UH, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR TEAM TO, TO GO THROUGH AND, AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUE UH, COUNCIL'S QUESTIONS.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

UH, THIS WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR DIRECTOR ERIC LOPEZ, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE GOT, UH, THE FLU FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.

SO UNFORTUNATELY HE COULD NOT BE HERE.

UH, BUT YOU'VE GOT MYSELF, JOSHUA HICKMAN, AND, UH, WE'VE GOT THE TEAM HERE, MARK WRIGHT AND KEITH HOEY, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT, UH, SUPPORT THE RESPONSES TO, UH, FLOODING AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS DURING A STORM.

SO THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, WE'LL SPRINKLE IN SOME OF THE FACTS FROM, AND SOME OF THE STATS FROM LAST WEEK THAT, THAT TOM HAD MENTIONED, WE RESPONDED TO, WE PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER PRIOR TO THAT EVENT, SO WE WILL SPRINKLE IN SOME OF THOSE DETAILS THROUGHOUT.

BUT OVER, UH, JUST OVERARCHING, WE HAD ABOUT 1.8 INCHES OF RAIN.

WE HAD 50 REQUESTS FOR SERVICE AND CALLS 18 FLOODED LOCATIONS, AND WE RESPONDED TO 12 LEAKS AT CITY, UH, FACILITIES.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH, UH, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SLIDES, BUT WE'LL GO THROUGH 'EM, UH, RELATIVELY QUICKLY HERE.

WE'VE GOT SOME BACKGROUND ON RAINFALL AND CAUSES OF THE FLOODING.

WE'VE GOT SOME PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION AND HOW WE, UH, PREPARE FOR OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

WE ALSO WILL GET INTO HOW WE PREPARE FOR STORMS THEMSELVES AND ACTIVE OPERATIONS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS DURING THE STORM.

SO ON THE SCREEN YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RAINFALL FOR 2023 AND 2024, UH, EXCEEDED THE, THE NORMAL RAINFALL IN ANY GIVEN YEAR.

UH, 2022 TO 23, YOU COULD SEE IT, IT WAS NEARLY DOUBLE, UH, WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY SEE DURING A GIVEN YEAR.

LAST YEAR ALONE IN FEBRUARY, 2024, UH, JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE HAD 12 INCHES OF RAINFALL.

SO THAT ALONE IS EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF RAIN.

[01:35:01]

SO THAT LEADS TO THE LOCALIZED FLOODING AND ISSUES IN SPECIFIC REGIONS OR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE DEBRIS CLOGGING, UH, 16 OF THOSE EXAMPLES THAT I, I HAD PROVIDED AT THE TOP OF THE PRESENTATION, 16 OF THE 18 JUST FROM LAST WEEK, WERE RELATED TO DEBRIS CLOGGING WITHIN THE CATCH BASINS AND THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

AND PICTURES ALWAYS TELL A THOUSAND WORDS.

SO YOU CAN SEE HERE EXAMPLES OF LOCALIZED FLOODING DUE TO DIFFERENT REASONS.

SO, A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

UH, ONE, ONE THING THAT THE ENGINEERS ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND ME OF, UH, THE, THAT THE STREETS THEMSELVES ARE ACTUALLY PART OF THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

SO WHEN THE WATER FLOODS WITHIN THE STREET UP TO THAT TOP OF CURB, THAT IS INTENDED TO CAPTURE SOME OF THAT WHILE THE SYSTEM ITSELF ADDRESSES ALL OF THE WATER WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

AND WHAT THIS INFOGRAPHIC IS, IS TRYING TO CONVEY IS THAT NOT ONLY DO YOU CAPTURE WATER WITHIN THE STREET AND THE ROADWAY ITSELF, BUT IT, UH, CONVEYS IT THROUGH PIPES TO CHANNELS AND LOCAL CULVERTS, ET CETERA.

UH, IN ADDITION TO THE PIPES THEMSELVES, THERE MAY ALSO BE A PUMP STATION.

SO THAT LITTLE DOGHOUSE LOOKING, UH, ITEM WITH THE PS ON IT REPRESENTS A PUMP STATION THAT'S REQUIRED TO PUMP WATER FROM LOW LYING AREAS OUT TO THE RESPECTIVE WATER BODY.

SO AS PART OF PLANNING, UH, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, WE'VE GOT A, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE WANTED TO GO THROUGH.

SO THIS SLIDE IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE NEXT FEW SLIDES THAT WE WILL DIVE INTO SOME SPECIFICS OF PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DESIGN, PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PLANNING AND PROJECTS THAT WERE RECENTLY COMPLETED ON THIS SLIDE HERE IS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE PROJECTS IN DESIGN, UPGRADING AND INSTALLING NEW STANDBY GENERATORS AT SIX PUMP STATIONS THAT WILL HELP ADDRESS ANY SORT OF ELECTRICAL OUTAGES THAT COULD OTHERWISE SHUT DOWN A PUMP.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE WRAPPING UP THE DESIGN AND GOING OUT TO BID HERE LATER THIS YEAR.

ANOTHER PROJECT IN THE DESIGN PHASE, WE'VE GOT A, AN EFFORT TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AT AN ADDITIONAL FOUR PUMP STATIONS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE STORM DRAIN, UH, SYSTEMS THEMSELVES.

SO REPRESENTED ON THIS SLIDE ARE THOSE FOUR STUMP, UH, PUMP STATIONS, RECEIVING IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS THE STORM DRAINS.

WE'LL GO INTO A COUPLE OF THE PROJECTS IN THE PLANNING PHASE.

SO THIS ONE HERE REPRESENTS TWO INTERSECTIONS AT SEVENTH STREET AND CEDAR AND SEVENTH STREET AND CHESTNUT, BOTH OF WHICH ARE PRONE TO FLOODING, UH, BOTH OF WHICH HAD, UH, AN ISSUE WITH WATER AT THIS LAST STORM EVENT LAST WEEK.

AND, UH, TWO PL PUMPS WERE DEPLOYED AT THESE LOCATIONS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THIS LOCALIZED FLOODING.

ANOTHER PROJECT IN THE PLANNING PHASE, WE'VE GOT THE STORM DRAIN MASTER PLAN UPDATE.

SO THE LAST TIME THE MASTER PLAN WAS UPDATED WAS BACK IN 2005.

UH, THERE WERE SOME MINOR REVISIONS BACK IN 2018, AND THIS IS AN EFFORT TO REVAMP THE MASTER PLAN AND GET IT UP TO, TO CURRENT, UH, SITUATION AND ASSESS THE, AND EVALUATE OUR SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

AN EXAMPLE OF A RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECT, THIS IS THE 68TH PLACE STORM DRAIN REPAIRS.

AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT, THIS IS A VERY, UH, IMPACTFUL TYPE EFFORT.

SO ANYTIME YOU HAVE TO DIG UP THE STREETS TO REPLACE STORM DRAINS, IT CAN BE QUITE INTRUSIVE AND CAN BE QUITE IMPACTFUL FOR, FOR THE NEARBY AREA.

BUT WHEN WE'RE ALL DONE, YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT IT'S, UH, LOOKS REALLY QUITE NICE.

THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED PROJECT, THE CREST ALLEY, UH, GREEN ALLEYWAY.

SO PROJECT OR PICTURE ON THE LEFT SHOWS THE PREVIOUS CONDITION, AND THEN THE, THE PHOTO OR THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE COMPLETED PROJECT.

THIS PROJECT WAS ALSO COMPLETED LAST YEAR.

[01:40:01]

SO STORM DRAIN SYSTEM FUNDING, WE, WE HAVE A, A PRETTY BIG NEED AND THAT NEED IS PROBABLY GONNA GROW AS WE GO THROUGH THAT MASTER PLAN EFFORT.

UH, BUT THE 2018 NUMBERS WERE IN THE 332 MILLION RANGE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE, UH, A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE AREAS OUT THERE THAT, THAT NEED THE SUPPORT.

SO NOW WE'RE GONNA JUMP INTO THE PRE-STORM PREPARATION AND THEN WHAT DO WE DO DURING A STORM? AND THEN WHAT DO WE DO AFTER A STORM? SO PRE-STORM PREPARATION, WE, WE REALLY TAKE, UH, AN ALL HANDS APPROACH TYPE EFFORT IN PUBLIC WORKS.

WE GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER, WE MAKE SURE THAT THE THE PLAN IS IN PLACE AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET EVERYBODY WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AHEAD OF TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO AS, AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO PREPARE FOR THE STORM.

SO THAT INCLUDES CLEANING OUT OVER 5,000 CATCH BASINS AND MAKING SURE THE STORM DRAINS ARE FLOATING TO THE BEST, UH, THE BEST WE CAN, DOING WHATEVER SORT OF INSPECTIONS WE CAN.

OF COURSE, PRIOR TO THE RAIN COMING, WE ACQUIRE SANDBAGS, UH, AND THE SAND TO FILL THE SANDBAGS.

SO THE GOOD GOOD STAT FROM LAST YEAR, THE 714 TONS OF SAND THAT WAS NOT ONLY USED LAST YEAR, BUT SAND DOESN'T GO BAD.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO, TO KEEP IT FOR THIS YEAR AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO DEPLOY, UH, FOR THE MOST RECENT STORM.

SO ADDITIONAL STORM PREP.

WATCH, WATCH THE, UH, THE FORECAST AND THE WEATHER OF COURSE, MAKE SURE WE HAVE ON-CALL FOLKS.

MAKE SURE THAT THE GENERATORS ARE OPERATIONAL.

MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONTRACTORS AND CITY STAFF READY TO RESPOND AS NEEDED TO WHATEVER IT IS THAT MAY COME UP.

THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, UH, PHOTO REPRESENTING THE STANDBY GENERATOR FOR PUMP STATION 13.

SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S A PRETTY MASSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT IF AND WHEN THE PUMP STATION GOES DOWN, THIS GENERATOR'S AVAILABLE TO, UH, BACK, BE A BACKUP SUPPLY, BRING THAT PUMP STATION BACK ON, MAKE SURE THE AREA ISN'T FLOODING.

PART OF OUR EFFORTS AND PART OF OUR CIP PROJECTS THAT, THAT WE JUST REVIEWED WILL BE TO INSTALL GENERATORS AT SIX OF THOSE PUMP STATIONS THAT WILL MITIGATE THE NEED TO BRING THESE ONSITE TRAILERS IN.

SO IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE DO AT PUBLIC WORKS, OUR COLLEAGUES AND PARKS, REC AND MARINE DO A GREAT JOB OF FORTIFYING THE AREA ALONG THE PENINSULA.

THESE IMAGES HERE SHOW ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO TO, UH, BUILD THE BERM AND MAKE SURE THAT THE WATER FROM THE OCEAN SIDE ISN'T GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITIES ENTITIES.

SO DURING A STORM, UH, WE'VE GOT INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE FULL-TIME RESPONDING AS NEEDED TO WHATEVER IT MAY BE THAT COMES UP.

SO THAT MAY BE A PUMP STATION GOING DOWN THAT MAY BE A DOWN TREE THAT MAY BE LOCALIZED FLOODING MAY BE TRAFFIC SIGNAL, OUTAGE.

UH, WE'VE GOT FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

UH, WE'VE GOT A CALL CENTER THAT'S STAFFED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DEPLOYING AND DISPATCHING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT LOCATION TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE, A PUMP THAT MAY DE MAY BE DEPLOYED TO A LOCAL FLOODING TYPE AREA.

AND SOME STATS FROM LAST YEAR.

WE HAD SEVEN HIGH VOLUME PUMPS THAT WERE RENTED AND DEPLOYED ACROSS THE CITY.

AND AT ONE POINT WE HAD ALL, ALL, ALL SEVEN OF 'EM OPERATIONAL.

SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL TO HAVE THEM ALL HERE.

AND, UH, MARK AND THE TEAM WERE ACTUALLY SHUTTLING THEM BACK AND FORTH IN, IN SOME, UH, SOME AREAS, MORE IMAGES OF THE PUMP.

LAST YEAR, FOR LAST YEAR'S STORM, WE HAD FIVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE MONITORING OVER THE WEEKEND, THE CALL CENTER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD, UH, AGAIN, EVERYBODY DISPATCHED TO THE RIGHT LOCATION TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THIS YEAR, UH, TO, TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IT WOULD BE ON A MORE REGULAR TYPE STORM.

WITH THAT 1.8 INCHES OF RAIN, WE HAD THREE PEOPLE, UH, A AVAILABLE JUST MAINTAINING THAT THE CALL CENTER.

ALRIGHT, AS PART OF THE LAST YEAR'S STORM RESPONSE, 20 OUT OF THE 23 PUMP STATIONS REMAINED FULLY OPERATIONAL.

THE OTHER THREE HAD SOME, UH, ISSUES THAT HAD TO BE ADDRESSED EITHER IN REAL TIME

[01:45:01]

OR SOON THEREAFTER.

SO PUMP NUMBER FOUR WAS OPERATIONAL, BUT ONE OF ITS FOUR MAIN PUMPS.

SO WITHIN EACH PUMP STATION, THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE PUMPS.

UH, ONE OF THOSE IN THIS SITUATION, OF THOSE FOUR PUMPS WENT DOWN, UH, THAT JUST MEANS IT REDUCES SOME OF THAT CAPACITY WITHIN THE PUMP STATION ITSELF.

UH, WE ALSO HAD SITUATIONS OF FAILED BREAKERS AND FAILED ELECTRICAL.

SO WE HAD TO GET THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE OUT THERE TO, UH, EITHER REPLACE THE BREAKER OR ADDRESS WHATEVER ELECTRICAL NEED THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AF AFTER THE STORM.

UH, OUR CREWS DON'T PACK UP AND, UH, GO HOME AFTER THE STORM.

WE STAY OUT THERE, WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ADDRESSED.

WE TRY TO GET EVERYTHING BACK UP AND OPERATIONAL TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN.

SO IT'S READY FOR THE NEXT STORM.

UH, BUT WE'RE ALSO OUT THERE FILLING POTHOLES.

SO AS, AS WE SEE AN INCREASE IN RAIN, THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH THE NUMBER OF POTHOLES THAT WE SEE OUT THERE.

UH, LAST YEAR THE NUMBER INCREASED UP TO 60,000.

WE GOT THAT BACK DOWN NOW THAT WE HAD A A, A WET WEEK LAST WEEK.

WE'LL START TO SEE THAT NUMBER TICK UP.

AND WE, WE TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT AT A REASONABLE LEVEL.

UH, WE'LL HAVE CREWS OUT THERE NOT ONLY FILLING POTHOLES, GETTING THE SLURRY SEAL DOWN, BUT WE'LL ALSO BE PICKING UP JUST PALM FRONS THEMSELVES.

SO PALM FRONS, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT 15 TO 25,000 POUNDS OF PALM PALM FRONS ARE.

SO IT'S ABOUT THE EQUIVALENT OF SIX TO SEVEN OR SO FULLY COMPACTED RA TRASH TRUCKS JUST IN PALM FRONS ITSELF.

UH, WE'RE ALSO OUT THERE MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE STREET LIGHTS, STREET SIGNALS ARE ALL BACK UP AND OPERATIONAL.

A COUPLE IMAGES DOWN TREE, NOT ONLY IS IT A DOWN TREE, BUT THERE'S IMPACTS TO, UH, PRIVATE PROPERTY, IN THIS CASE A, A VEHICLE.

AND WE, THERE WAS IMPACTS TO THE SIDEWALK ITSELF.

SO WE'VE GOTTA GET OUT THERE, NOT ONLY CUT UP THE TREE, BUT ADDRESS ALL THOSE OTHER SITUATIONS AS WELL.

SO IN SUMMARY, WE REALLY TAKE AN ALL HANDS ON DECK TYPE APPROACH, MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE READY TO, TO GO WHEN THE STORM, PRIOR TO THE STORM ARRIVING.

WE GET OUT THERE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONDING AS, AS BEST WE CAN, UH, BOTH DURING AND POST-STORM AND START ACTIVELY PREPARING AND GET READY FOR THE NEXT ONE.

'CAUSE WE KNOW THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ONE COMING.

AND SHAMELESS PLUG FOR GO LONG BEACH APP.

IT'S A GREAT TOOL FOR US.

SO ANYBODY THAT'S LISTENING, PLEASE, IF YOU SEE ANYTHING OUT THERE, MAKE SURE TO ADD IT TO THE GO LONG BEACH APP.

IT'S A GREAT, GREAT TOOL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE OUR WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'RE ADDRESSING EVERYTHING WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE, TO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.

THAT CONCLUDES STAFF PRESENTATION.

AND WE'RE HERE AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, JOSH AND, AND, AND TEAM AND MARK AND, AND EVERYBODY.

YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY LAST YEAR, UM, WE DEFINITELY STEPPED IT UP IN TERMS OF OUR RESPONSE LAST YEAR.

WE GOT A LOT OF RAIN AND, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, THE FIRST RAIN CAME, YOU KNOW, AND THEY SHOWED THAT IMAGE ON THE NEWS OF LIKE A CAR THAT WAS LIKE UP TO UP TO THE ROOF.

AND, AND WE HAD A LITTLE BREAK IN BETWEEN THAT FIRST RAIN, THAT SECOND RAIN, AND YOU GUYS FIGURED OUT YOU CAL RECALIBRATED OR SOMETHING.

BUT YOU GOT TO THOSE PUMP STATIONS, YOUR CREWS WERE WORKING AND WE HAD, I MEAN, WE, IT WAS, IT WAS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY THAT, THAT, UH, THAT SECOND RESPONSE EFFORT.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, AND I TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE STATE OF THE CITY, PEOPLE THINK THAT WHEN YOU SIMPLY POINT AND CLICK AND THE POTHOLE GETS FIXED OR THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CURB GETS FIXED OR THE DRAIN GETS CLEARED, BUT THEY, THEY'RE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO GO OUT AND DO THIS AND THEY'RE HIGHLY MOTIVATED.

AND I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE CULTURE IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU ALL HAVE CREATED, UM, BECAUSE IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THAT, RIGHT? AND SO I, I CERTAINLY WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN, UM, THE WET SEASON AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA BE APPROACHING THAT WE KNOW RAIN, YOU KNOW, APRIL SHOWERS MEANS MAY, FLOWERS, IT ALSO MEANS POTHOLES AND IT ALSO MEANS TREE, TREE BRANCHES AND PALM FRONDS AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

AND WE ARE A CITY THAT'S AT THE END OF TWO RIVERS, MULTIPLE WATERSHEDS.

WHEN IT RAINS IN THE REGION, IT FLOODS IN LONG BEACH.

AND SO THAT JUST ADDS A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESSURE FOR US TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WE'RE GONNA KEEP DOING, KEEP MAINTAIN OUR FOCUS ON BEING RESPONSIVE AND RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR, OUR RESIDENTS.

WE'RE ALSO GONNA DO SPRING CLEANING AGAIN THIS YEAR, LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE THANKS TO ALL THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT HELPED.

UH, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT JUST COLLECTIVE IMPACT.

WE ALL WENT OUT AND DID WHAT WE

[01:50:01]

COULD, UH, DURING THE SPRING AND IT HELPED US TO GET THE CITY TIDY AND READY FOR SUMMER.

SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF FOLKS WHO WANNA SPEAK ON THIS.

I DON'T HAVE A MOTION OR A SECOND UP HERE.

I DON'T SEE IT DAY.

OKAY, WELL, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DAY HOUSE, I'M JUST GONNA TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.

YEAH, IT SHOWS UP THERE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, THANK YOU MR. HICKMAN FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, UH, WE KNOW THAT THE RAINY SEASON IS CRAZY AND THAT, UH, AND WE KNOW WHAT IT DOES TO OUR SUNNY LONG BEACH.

UH, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF OUR CLIMATE CHANGE EACH YEAR I HEAR FROM MY RESIDENTS HORRIFIC STORIES OF THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO STEP OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEIR STREET IS FLOODED.

AND IT ALSO ABSOLUTELY BREAKS MY HEART TO HEAR THAT OUR CHILDREN AND PARENTS HAVE TO DO REROUTING THEIR WALK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE CERTAIN STREETS ARE UN WALKABLE.

UH, FOR MANY USING MOBILITY DEVICES, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE THE FLOODS.

THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO BRING THIS PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL.

WE KNOW WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR CITY DOES TO RESPOND.

I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR LOPEZ AND HIS TEAM, UM, FOR BEING QUICK AND ALWAYS READY TO RESPOND TO MANY ISSUES OUR RESIDENTS FACE DURING RAINS AND MAJOR STORMS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO FINALIZING THE STORM DRAIN MASTER PLAN AND TO THE WORK THAT IS COMING TO SEVENTH CHESTNUT AND CEDAR.

UM, MAY STOP.

PLEASE SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW THE LOCATIONS FOR THE PUMP STATIONS ARE SELECTED.

AND ALSO ARE WE SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PUMP STATIONS? UH, SURE.

SO, UM, LIKE WE MENTIONED IN THE, IN THE PRESENTATION, PUMP STATIONS ARE IN THE LOW LYING AREAS OF THE CITY, SO AREAS WHERE WE HAVE TO PUMP, UH, THE WATER, YOU KNOW, TO GO UPHILL AND GET TO ITS, UH, THE CHANNEL OR THE RIVER.

UM, BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER PUMP STATIONS IN THE CITY, NOT JUST CITY PUMP STATIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE COUNTY PUMP STATIONS AND OTHER PUMP STATIONS AS WELL.

SO THERE ARE STRATEGICALLY PLACED, UM, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DRAIN THE OVERALL CITY AS BEST WE CAN.

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU COUNCIL.

OH, AND ARE WE SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THOSE PUMP STATIONS? UH, YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY ENHANCEMENT OF OUR PUMP STATIONS IS PART OF OUR, UM, STORM DRAIN MASTER PLAN.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE A, UH, PUMP STATION ASSESSMENT REPORT.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE, UH, PUMP STATIONS, UM, AND WE WANT TO GET THOSE, UH, ADDRESSED AND, UH, OPERATIONAL, FULLY OPERATIONAL AND ENHANCED AND UPDATED AS BEST WE CAN.

UM, BUT OF COURSE WE'RE ALWAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING IF, IF THERE'S OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS WHERE A PUMP STATION CAN HELP OUT.

UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOMETIMES WE HAVE PUMP STATIONS, LET'S SAY AT LIKE, UH, EL DORADO BY THE DUCK POND FOR INSTANCE.

SO, UM, WHENEVER OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES AND THERE'S A NEED, UM, WE DO IMPLEMENT AS NEEDED.

YEAH.

SAW FIRE, I SAW THEM ALL FIRSTHAND HELPING IN THE FLOODED AREAS IN MY DISTRICT, MARK WRIGHT'S TEAM ALWAYS OUT THERE, THE POTHOLDERS OUT THERE AT THE END.

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.

UH, JOSH, THANKS FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT ARE OFTEN LOOKING AT.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL STORM DRAIN PLAN.

THEY'LL FIND 50-YEAR-OLD MAPS THAT, THAT HAVE THESE SORTS OF THINGS LISTED ON THEM.

I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF, UM, PUBLIC WORKS PRE-STORM PLANS, AND THEY'RE ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH TO THIS BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE DOING THE PRE-STORM PREPARATION WITH PALM FRONTS, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO CLEAN OUT THEIR DRAINS.

THIS ALL HELPS BECAUSE, UM, IN THE END WITH NINE INCHES OF RAIN LAST FEBRUARY, IT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO GO OUTSIDE THEIR HOME.

BUT I WAS EDUCATED BY PUBLIC WORKS THAT THOSE CURBS ARE PART OF THE PROCESS OF DRAINING THE RAIN.

AND I KEEP REMINDING RESIDENTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO WORK ON OUR PART TO MAKE SURE THOSE DRAINS ARE, UM, CLEAR IF WE CAN DO IT.

AND I TALKED WITH ERIC ON FRIDAY, I BELIEVE, AND HE MAY BE SICK BECAUSE HE WAS OUT DOING PRE-STORM PREPARATION.

SO I KNOW HE WAS OUT THERE WORKING AND HE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY CREWS WERE OUT.

SO LAST YEAR WE SAW THE COLLABORATION OF PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, REC AND MARINE.

WE SAW LIFEGUARDS, WE

[01:55:01]

SO I JUST THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO RESIDENTS TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR PREPARATION AND WHERE STORM DRAINS ARE AND EDUCATING THEM ABOUT STORM DRAIN PUMPS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.

I ALSO THANK YOU, UH, JOSH FOR THAT DETAILED PRESENTATION AND SENDING, UH, WELL WISHES TO ERIC LOPEZ FOR HEALING.

UM, I WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS FOR ASKING ME TO SIGN ON TO THIS AND SUPPORT THIS BACK IN IN NOVEMBER.

UM, I KNOW, UH, WHEN IT DOES RAIN, UM, MY OFFICE RECEIVES A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, UM, FROM THE RESIDENTS REGARDING FLOODING, STORM DRAINS AND, UM, A LOT OF THE DEBRIS, UM, THAT'S ON, UH, THE BEACH.

AND SO I THINK THIS, UH, PRESENTATION PROVIDES JUST SOME VALUABLE, UH, INFORMATION THAT ALLOWS US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN HELP AS A COMMUNITY.

SO, UM, JUST TO CONFIRM IT, PEOPLE CAN GO, YOU CAN REPORT A STORM DRAIN BLOCKAGE OR ANYTHING ON GO LONG BEACH, CORRECT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

SO, UM, I KNOW WE GET A LOT OF CALLS IN MY OFFICE, SO, UM, JUST REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, MANY HANDS, UH, MAKE LIGHT WORK.

SO IF YOU DO SEE THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU CAN ALWAYS REPORT THOSE ON GO LONG BEACH.

UM, STILL HAPPY TO YOU, UH, TO, UH, PUT IT THROUGH FOR YOU, BUT, UM, THAT, THAT CAN BE REPORTED ON, ON GO LONG BEACH.

UM, I KNOW, UM, JUST, UH, THIS WEEK WE HAD, UH, THE COUNTY BOOM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THAT INTENSE WATER FLOW AND, AND, UM, AND UH, AND I KNOW THAT THAT WASN'T WORKING.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE, UM, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE MORE RAINFALL.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T GET OVER, YOU KNOW, UM, JUST STOPS WORKING AGAIN, OR IT GETS OVERLOADED? YEAH, I'LL JUMP IN.

SO A COUPLE THINGS.

UM, ONE, UH, WE WANNA TRY TO GET AS MUCH OF THAT TRASH OUT DURING LOW STORM FLOWS.

AND SO THAT IS A PROJECT THAT THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED IS, UH, LOOKING AT TRASH HEATERS, LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN CAPTURE THE LITTLE STUFF THAT COMES DOWN BEFORE IT GETS ONTO OUR AREA.

SO, UM, BUT UM, ALL THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT DURING THOSE HIGH STORM FLOWS, A MACHINE LIKE THAT LIKELY HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE WATER.

SO WE'RE STILL ACTIVELY PURSUING THAT.

BUT DURING THE STORM FLOWS, YOU NEED TO REMOVE THAT OUT.

IT IS INCREDIBLE THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT COMES DOWN.

UM, AND SO THAT, UH, THE COUNTY BOOM BREAKING HAS UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

UM, THEY'VE TRIED TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOOMS AND, UM, SO WHEREVER WE CAN, WE TRY TO KEEP THAT CAPTURED THERE.

UH, BUT THEN WE ALSO NEED TO REALLY WORK PROACTIVELY WITH OUR CITIES UPSTREAM BECAUSE THEY REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HAVING ANY TRASH, UH, COME INTO THE, TO THE LA RIVER.

THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STUFF.

THERE'S THE TRASH THAT COMES FROM THE CITIES THAT REALLY IS PROHIBITED UNDER THEIR STORMWATER PERMITS AND, UH, WE'RE EXPLORING COMPLIANCE MECHANISMS ON THAT.

THE OTHER IS JUST DEBRIS FROM NATURAL, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A LOT OF TREES AND, AND BRUSH THAT, THAT'S MORE NATURAL, THAT DOES COME DOWN AS WELL.

SO, UH, AND THOSE ARE ONES WHERE ARE LIKELY EITHER OUT THE CAPTURE IN A BOOM OR, UM, OR THEN PICK UP WHEN IT HITS THE SHORE.

AWESOME.

AND I KNOW TOM, YOU AND I HAVE HAD SOME, UH, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO STRENGTHEN THAT AS WELL.

UM, BIG SHOUT OUT TO BRENT DENNIS AND TO, UM, AND HIS TEAM PARKS AND MARINE AND ALSO ERIC LOPEZ.

'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DEBRIS ON THE BEACH AND THEY'RE WORKING NONSTOP OUT THERE.

I MEAN, UH, TO WATCH THE, THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES, GOES IN, UM, UH, TO CLEANING THINGS UP AFTER A BIG STORM IS JUST REMARKABLE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR ALL THAT, THAT YOU DO.

UM, ONE MORE QUESTION.

SO YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ROUTINE, A ROUTINE CLEANING OF THE STORM SYSTEMS. WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO YOU JUST HAVE CERTAIN AREAS YOU GO AND YOU CHECK THAT, LIKE HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? YES.

IN CITY OF LONGWOOD STREET HAVE 5,800 CATCH BASINS STARTING AUGUST 1ST, OUR GOAL IS TO CLEAN EACH AND EVERY STORM DRAIN OR CATCH BASIN BY JANUARY 1ST BEFORE THE STORM, THE FIRST STORMS HIT.

WE ALSO HAVE ABOUT FIVE MILES OF OPEN, UM, TRENCH STORM DRAINS.

AND SO WE CLEAN 1.2 MILES EVERY YEAR SO THAT WE CLEAN THE WHOLE SYSTEM, UM, ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY, UM, UTILIZING.

THEY KEEP OUR STORM DRAIN CLEAN PRE-STORM, AND THEN DURING THE STORM, UM, ALL OF OUR STAFF ARE MONITORING ALL OF THE SENSITIVE CATCH BASINS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL.

WOW, THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND YOUR TEAM THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S INCREDIBLE AND ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING TO PREVENT A LOT OF PROBLEMS, UH, DOWN THE ROAD.

SO THANK YOU.

UM, AS WELL AS ALL THE TEAM'S HARD WORK.

COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

WELL, THANK YOU MR. HICKMAN FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TO DIRECTOR LOPEZ,

[02:00:01]

I KNOW THAT, UM, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF, UM, PROCESS TO, UH, MANAGED UNPRECEDENTED STORM RAINFALL WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WASN'T BUILT FOR THAT AMOUNT OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE TEAM'S WORK.

I DID HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I ALSO SIT, UM, AS A DIRECTOR ON THE LA COUNTY SANITATION, UH, DISTRICT.

AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP WAS AROUND THE SEWAGE SPILL.

SO I THINK IT WAS, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT WAS FLOODED WHERE THE, THE MAYOR MENTIONED A PICTURE OF THE CAR KIND OF SUBMERGE IN ONE OF THE NEWSPAPER.

UM, AND ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED WAS SOMEBODY HAD OPENED A PERSON HOLE AND THAT IT KIND OF WENT INTO THE SEWAGE VERSUS IT BEING A GENERAL, UH, DRAINAGE THAT GOES INTO THE OCEAN.

SO, UM, SO MY QUESTION IS, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD RAISED WAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU MAKE SURE TO DO SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T JUST OPEN THOSE PERSON HOLE? RIGHT? UM, I KNOW IT WAS A, THEY CALL IT MANHOLE, BUT I'M GONNA CALL IT PERSON HOLE.

SO HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN, .

SO, UM, THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA SEAL IT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK, IS THAT WHAT ARE WE MAKING SURE TO DO TO PREVENT SEWAGE SPILL? YEAH, SO I MEAN, UH, WE JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT AND CONFIRM THAT THE, UH, STORM DRAIN SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT THAN THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM.

UM, MAYBE SOME RESIDENTS, THEY'RE NOT ALL AWARE OF THAT, OF THAT.

AND SO EDUCATION, UH, AND ENFORCEMENT IS IMPORTANT.

UM, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT, UH, WHEN THERE ARE HEAVY STORMS AND WE HAVE OVERFLOWS, UM, WHEN THE WATER ENTERS OUR SEWER SYSTEM, UH, SOMETIMES YOU COULD HAVE OVERFLOWS IN THAT SEWER SYSTEM, UM, AND WHAT'S IN THEM CAN RUN OUT AND, AND THEN, UH, INTO THE STREETS AND, AND OVERFLOW.

UM, BUT I KNOW THAT OUR LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT IS, UH, DOES HAVE A PROJECT, UM, THEY'RE DOING, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BIDDING IT OUT SOON, IF NOT ALREADY.

UM, AND THEY'RE BASICALLY SEALING OFF A LOT OF THE MANHOLE, UM, SO THAT THEY WILL BE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO PREVENT, UH, YEAH, SOME OF THESE SEWER OVERFLOWS FROM THE STORMS. THANK YOU.

THAT'S, UM, I MEAN MY, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED SOME GREAT QUESTION ALREADY, BUT THAT WAS THE ONE ISSUE.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DOESN'T OCCUR BECAUSE SOME RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE SEEING IT'S FLOODED.

THEY SEE, OH, WELL MAYBE I JUST NEED TO PULL THIS COVER OFF, RIGHT.

AND THEN IT'LL DRAIN.

SO, UM, BECAUSE IT'S CONTRIBUTED TO SOME OF THE CONCERN WE HAD AROUND OCEAN CONTAMINATION AND OUR WATER CONTAMINATION BECAUSE OF THE SEWAGE SPILL DURING STORMS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.

I WAS LOOKING AT, UM, I THINK IT'S SLIDE 14 THAT TALKS ABOUT THE, UH, THE GREEN PERMEABLE ALLEY, UM, INSTALLATION.

AND I JUST WANTED, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOU CHOOSE WHICH ALLEYS IN ORDER TO INSTALL, UM, THAT TYPE OF PAVEMENT AND LIKE, KIND OF WHAT, WHAT IS THAT A REQUEST FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER? HOW DOES THAT WORK? YEAH, SO THE, THAT PROJECT HAD, UM, SPECIFIC ISSUES WITH SOME, UH, SOIL EROSION, YOU KNOW, GOING DOWN THE HILL.

UM, AND SO, AND THAT WAS ALSO A DIRT ALLEY.

AND SO THAT PROJECT WAS MEANT TO STABILIZE THAT EROSION, BUT ALSO ALLOW WATER TO PERCOLATE INTO, AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT A GREEN ALLEY, UM, PERCOLATE THROUGH THE, UH, THE DRAINAGE ROCK AND THEN INTO A SUB DRAIN TO THEN BRING THAT OUT TO A STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

UH, BUT A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS OF THAT PROJECT WERE ALSO TO STABILIZE THE SLOPES AND PREVENT A LOT OF THAT EROSION AS WELL.

UM, SO CAN YOU TELL ME, WALK ME THROUGH MAYBE THE DECISION MAKING, 'CAUSE I, I WOULD IMAGINE MOST PEOPLE WOULD JUST ASSUME LIKE, OH, YOU HAVE A DIRT ALLEY, LIKE WE SHOULD GO IN AND PAVE IT, RIGHT.

AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING DOWN GRAVEL OR SOMETHING THAT'S PERMEABLE.

SO WHY THE CHOICE OF THE, THE PERMEABLE, UM, GROUND SCAPE AS OPPOSED TO JUST PA PAVING IT WITH ASPHALT? YEAH, IT, IT WAS A PILOT PROJECT, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FUNDING, UH, MEASURE W WHICH COULD FUND STABILIZING THE STREET TO PROVIDE A SURFACE THAT COULD BE DRIVEN ON MAYBE NOT WITH A LOT OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, UM, BUT ALSO WOULD PERCOLATE WATER AND DRAIN IT OUT.

AND THEN, UM, ALLOW THE, THE, AGAIN, THE STABILIZATION OF THE, UH, THE SOIL EROSION THAT WAS EXPERIENCED THERE, WHICH A NORMAL PAVING PROJECT, UH, WOULDN'T DO THAT.

AND SO WE WANTED TO PILOT THIS, UH, PROJECT BECAUSE THIS ALLEY WAS EXPERIENCING, UH, SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND, UH, SO WE FELT THIS PILOT PROJECT WOULD BE A GOOD SOLUTION FOR THAT.

EXCELLENT.

AND THEN HOW DID THE, HOW HAS THE PILOT GONE SO FAR? UH, IT'S, IT'S COMPLETE AND SO WE'RE GONNA MONITOR HOW, HOW EFFECTIVELY IT WORKS.

UM, COUPLE OF GOOD RAIN SEASONS, UM, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THAT IT'S WORKING AS INTENDED.

DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'M, I'M VERY INTERESTED 'CAUSE I GET A LOT OF RESIDENTS ASK ABOUT GREEN ALLEY, SO I'M ACTUALLY VERY INTERESTED IN THE OUTCOME OF THE PILOT.

HOW LONG ARE YOU ALL GOING TO OBSERVE, UM, HOW WELL THIS WORK? UM, WE'LL PLAY THAT BY YEAR MAYBE.

UM, I'M IN A GOOD YEAR,

[02:05:01]

DO YOU PLAN ON PILOTING THIS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY? UH, IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, UM, WE'LL LOOK AT IT, UH, BUT IT'S GOTTA HAVE THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, I THINK, UH, OTHER ALLEYS.

UM, BUT THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT TREATMENTS, UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT ALLEY IS EXPERIENCING.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IN THE INTERIM, DEPENDING ON THE FUNDING, WE MAY BE DOING ADDITIONAL GREEN ALLEYS AND PILOTING THOSE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AS WELL? WELL, THERE'S NOT TOO MANY DIRT ALLEYS REMAINING.

UM, I THINK MOST OF THE ALLEYS REMAINING ARE JUST, UH, DETERIORATED ALLEYS, SO WE DON'T HAVE MANY UNPAVED ALLEYS LEFT WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY DO A PILOT LIKE THAT.

UNDERSTOOD.

WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER BERNO.

UH, THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION TO STAFF.

UM, I WANTED TO MENTION, UM, A RAINSTORM THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT, UM, IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF FEBRUARY 7TH.

AND IT WAS ACTUALLY RAINING WHEN A, UM, 24 INCH WATER MAIN BURST IN BIXBY HILL AND AT A RATE OF 14,000 GALLONS PER MINUTE, THE AREA WAS FLOODED SUDDENLY.

AND, UM, THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THESE FLOODING, UH, SITUATIONS AND WE CERTAINLY HAD THAT ON ON FRIDAY MORNING, BEGINNING FRIDAY MORNING.

AND, UH, CITY STAFF DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.

AND I WAS ALSO IMPRESSED WITH THE NUMBER OF MANAGEMENT LEVEL PERSONNEL ON SITE THAT DAY.

AND WE ACTUALLY MADE A LIST OF SOME OF 'EM IN OUR NEWSLETTER, UM, ON, UH, VALENTINE'S DAY, AND WE LISTED 20 MANAGEMENT LEVEL PERSONNEL OUT THERE, AND A FEW OF 'EM ARE HERE TONIGHT.

AND THAT WOULD BE, UH, OUR CITY ENGINEER, KEITH HOY, UH, MANAGER OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE BUREAU, UM, MARK WRIGHT AND ALSO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, DON MCINTOSH WAS OUT THERE ON THE SITE.

SO THAT WAS JUST VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE, UH, A GREAT REACTION TO THAT AND, AND WE THANK THEM FOR THAT.

UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ONE THING THAT, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS 'CAUSE OF THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT, UH, COMMUNICATION, UM, WE HAD A COUPLE OF GLITCHES THERE, AND THAT IS, IN PARTICULAR, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOW IN SUCH A UNIQUE EVENT, GUESS WHAT? THE NEIGHBORS GOT AHOLD OF ME VIA TEXT IMMEDIATELY, SO I WAS AWARE OF THE SITUATION, BUT I WOULD JUST MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT IN ANY TYPE OF FLOODING SITUATION, WHATNOT, UM, THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOTIFIED.

WE ACTUALLY HAD A NOTIFICATION GO OUT THAT WENT TO ALL THE CHIEFS OF STAFF THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH NO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

I ALSO GOT A TEXT TODAY ABOUT AN ERRONEOUS, UM, MESSAGE THAT WENT OUT FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TODAY, UH, ABOUT, UH, A BALLOT MEASURE THAT, UH, YOU HAD A LIMITED TIME TO VOTE ON, WHICH DIDN'T APPLY TO ANYBODY IN LONG BEACH.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT, SOMEONE SAID, BOY, THIS REMINDS ME OF THAT FIRE SITUATION WHERE WE WERE TOLD TO EVACUATE.

SO IT DOESN'T APPLY PARTICULARLY TO ANYONE PRESENTING TONIGHT, BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY HAVE TO TAKE A VERY STRONG LOOK AT, UM, MOVING FORWARD, UM, JUST HOW THOSE NOTIFICATIONS GO OUT.

BUT A GOOD STARTING POINT WOULD BE GET THE MESSAGES DIRECTLY TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, OH, YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO INCLUDE CHIEFS OF STAFF OR ALL MY STAFF UNIQUE PART ABOUT OUR OFFICE.

IF YOU, IF YOU EMAIL IT TO DISTRICT FOUR LONGREACH.GOV, EVERYBODY SEES IT.

IF YOU WANT IT LIMITED, THEN YOU CAN DO THE CHIEF OF STAFF, BUT DON'T FORGET THE COUNCIL MEMBER.

ALRIGHT, THANKS A LOT.

AND, UM, WE HAVE BE BEEN BECOMING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH, UM, THE LACK OF A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

UH, WELL NOW GO TO, GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE HAVE, LET'S SEE, SIX MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

YOU HEAR YOUR NAME PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MICHAEL SHARON ELISE.

SHARON RYAN WOLF, SIERRA WOLF, CELINE WOLF, AND LAURA MOZO.

HI MICHAEL.

HI.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HUMANIZE WHAT IS NOT A VERY GLAMOROUS ASPECT OF CITY COUNCIL WORK, I'M SURE IN PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, BUT WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PUT OUR FACES, UH, WITH SOME OF THE EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN TO, UH, COUNCIL WOMENS AND DE HASSAN TO OTHERS IN THE CITY AND IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE ONGOING PRO PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD ON SEVENTH STREET.

MY FAMILY HAS BEEN A RESIDENT THERE, UH, IN THE BLOCK BETWEEN CEDAR AND CHESTNUT FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.

MY GRANDMOTHER PURCHASED THE PROPERTY ORIGINALLY IN 76.

MY MOTHER, UM, INHERITED THE PROPERTY AND I'VE BEEN HELPING HER WITH RECOVER FROM SOME HEALTH ISSUES SHE'S HAD THE LAST FEW YEARS.

SO OUR CONTACT THERE HAS BEEN LONG TERM AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN LONG TERM.

UM, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN FLOODING OF SOME DEGREE IN THAT PART OF, OF SEVENTH STREET IN THAT PART OF OUR CITY.

UM, BUT IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE, SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

[02:10:02]

SO FIRST OF ALL, WE REALLY WANT TO EXTEND OUR THANKS TO THE PUBLIC WORKS AND TO THE COUNCIL FOR ADDRESSING THIS AND FINALLY LOOKING TOWARDS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION AND RESOLUTION TO SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN, UM, NOT ONLY, UM, AN INCONVENIENCE BUT HAS BEEN UNHEALTHY, UH, WITH THE SANITARY ASPECTS OF IT, UM, OR UNSANITARY ASPECTS OF IT AND UNSAFE.

UM, AS YOU'LL HEAR FROM SEVERAL OF OUR NEIGHBORS, CHILDREN AREN'T ABLE TO GET TO SCHOOL.

MY MOTHER'S NOT ABLE TO LEAVE HER HOME.

UM, OUR TENANTS HAVE, UH, CARS THAT ARE FLOODED, UH, IN THE STREET IF THEY'RE PARKING, AS WE ALL KNOW IS, UH, AN ISSUE IN THAT PART OF TOWN AS WELL.

SO IT'S, IT CAUSES A LOT OF, OF OTHER ISSUES BESIDES JUST, UM, THE MOMENTARY RAINSTORMS AND FLOODING THAT SUBSIDES AND EVERYBODY THINKS WE ALL GO BACK TO NORMAL.

IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE.

SO MORE THAN ANYTHING WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS THAT THIS IS FINALLY COMING TO THE FOREFRONT.

WE BEG YOU TO PLEASE PRIORITIZE THAT SECTION, UH, THAT'S IN THE, IN THE PLAN ON SEVENTH STREET.

UM, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT RECOGNIZED.

UM, IF, UH, I THINK, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDAY HAS HAS MY EMAIL AND CONTACT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US TOO.

AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT IT'S, UM, MORE COMPLICATED BEING A STREET THAT'S ACCESSED ONTO THE SEVEN 10 FREEWAY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO, UH, REQUIRE FOR THE CITY AND IT'S PLANNING, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE JUST REALLY GRATEFUL THAT IT'S COME TO THE FOREFRONT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO FINALLY GET SOME RESOLUTION FOR THIS IN THE LONG TERM.

THE PUMPS ON THE CORNER ARE GREAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, BUT OBVIOUSLY EVERY TIME THEY COME OUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AND NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE LONG TERM.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

IS ELISE HERE? SHE'S MY MOTHER.

SHE ASKED ME TO JUST SPEAK ON HER BEHALF, BUT THANK YOU.

HEY, MS. ELISE.

UH, WELL NEXT IS RYAN.

ARE SIERRA AND CELINE WITH YOU? ARE THOSE YES, THEY ARE.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE BACK UP.

THEY'RE MY BACK UP SINGERS.

LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT AS AN OPTION AND WE WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY ON THAT AND PULL PEOPLE OUT.

SO GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

RYAN WOLF.

UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND SEVENTH AND CHESTNUT.

I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE WILMORE CITY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.

AND, UH, TO BEGIN WITH, I DO WANT TO REALLY EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR PUBLIC WORKS, BRINGING THE MOBILE PUMPING STATION.

UM, WE MET WITH THEM EARLY LAST YEAR DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE RAINY SEASON, AND THAT WAS A GOOD FIX, A TEMPORARY FIX TO GO AHEAD AND, AND BRING THINGS FORWARD.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN DURING THIS LIKE RELATIVELY LIGHTER RAIN EVENT THIS LAST WEEK, EVEN WITH OUR EFFORTS, WE WERE STILL EXPERIENCING FLOODING OVER THE SIDEWALKS.

UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE IS JUST VERY OLD, VERY NARROW.

THE, THE DRAIN PIPES ARE ABOUT THAT, THAT WIDE.

UM, AND AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE RAINS, IT'S ACCELERATED THE DECAY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, WHEN WE FIRST MOVED IN ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, YOU COULD WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND THERE WAS MAYBE A FEW PIECES MISSING.

NOW ENTIRE SECTIONS ARE DISAPPEARING WITH EVERY SINGLE RAIN, AND THAT WATER STANDS THERE FOR DAYS.

UM, IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE A HIGH PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CARS WHO ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS, WHO ARE ELDERLY.

WE HAVE SENIOR HOUSING NEAR US, WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UH, AND, AND YOU WATCH AS PEOPLE TRY TO NAVIGATE THIS DURING THE HEAVY RAINS AND IT'S DRASTIC AND SCARY.

I THINK ULTIMATELY IT'S PROBABLY JUST A MATTER OF TIME, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT FOR SOMEONE WHO'S REALLY HURT, UM, THE CARS TRANSIT THROUGH THAT AREA GOING 30, 40 MILES AN HOUR AND IT THROWS SOMETIMES EIGHT TO NINE FOOT WALLS OF WATER OVER THE SIDEWALK AND ONTO PEOPLE.

UM, PEOPLE WILL CROSS DIAGONALLY TO AVOID IT.

IT'S JUST DIFFICULT TO TRANSIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, IN ADDITION TO RIGHT THERE IN SEVENTH AND CHESTNUT AND SEVENTH AND CEDAR, I WILL SAY THAT THE FLOODING EXTENDS UP TO EIGHTH AND CHESTNUT AND CEDAR AND ALSO NINTH AS WELL.

SO IT, IT IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE ISOLATED, UM, PORTION OF THAT AREA.

SO REALLY WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO SEE FIXED MOVING FORWARD.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE EVENTS ARE JUST BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON.

I WORK FOR SCAG, THE REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY AND RUN THE SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE SEEING THIS HAPPEN ALL OVER THE REGION AND IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE SEEN THE DEVASTATION WITH WILDFIRES.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT RAIN CAN PRODUCE SIMILAR TYPES OF, OF BIG IMPACTS AND WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE BIG RAIN EVENT THAT WILL COME IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WHICH CAN REALLY IMPACT OUR AREA AS WELL.

SO I WANTED TO OFFER THAT.

ONE THING I MIGHT SUGGEST, YOU HAD MENTIONED THE SPRING CLEANING.

PERHAPS WE COULD DO A PRE RAIN SEASON CLEANING SO THAT WE COULD ADD OUR RESOURCES TO THAT OF PUBLIC WORKS SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH AND CLEAN, NOT JUST TRASH THE TRASH IN THE BASINS, BUT THE TRASH THAT BUILDS UP IN OUR ALLEYWAYS AND OUR STREETS, WHICH ALSO AS SOON AS IT RAINS, GOES DOWN THERE AND FILLS THOSE BASINS.

SO I'D

[02:15:01]

UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD JUST EMPHASIZE MORE BROADLY IS LIKE LET'S BECOME A SPONGE CITY WHERE WHEN WE DO DEVELOPMENTS, LET'S MAKE SURE OUR SIDEWALKS HAVE PLACES FOR TREES.

LET'S MAKE SURE WE HAVE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND BILE SWELLS, ESPECIALLY ON SEVENTH STREET, WHICH IS GONNA BE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT AND WILL BE A FACE OF THE OLYMPICS FOR US AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

THANKS BRIAN.

ARE THE WOLF PACK COMING UP TO SPEAK THE REST OF THE PACK? AND THIS IS SIERRA.

SIERRA, YOU'RE UP.

YOU GET THREE MINUTES.

HI COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM ONE OF THE KIDS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON SEVENTH AND CHE AND CHESTNUT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE FLOODING.

WHENEVER I GET ON THE BUS.

ON RAIN DAYS, WE HAVE TO WALK ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE THE ROAD AND SIDEWALKS ARE FLOODED AND SOME DAYS THERE'S SO MUCH WATER THAT MY MOM AND DAD HAVE TO USE A CAR TO DRIVE THROUGH THE WATER TO THE BUS.

WE'VE ALWAYS MADE STOK THAT WE HAD TO TAKE A BOAT TO GET ACROSS IT, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THAT FUNNY BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE.

I FEEL BAD FOR OUR BUS DRIVER.

IT ALSO PUTS STRESS IN THE DRAIN CAUSE THE DRAIN AND GOES IN THE OCEAN.

I WANT PEOPLE TO FIX OUR DRAINS.

OUTSTANDING.

CELINE, YOU'RE UP.

ALRIGHT, GET GET UP THERE.

HI.

I'M ALSO ONE OF THE KIDS FROM CHESTNUT IN IGN STREET.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FLOODING.

I DON'T LIKE THE FLOODING BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN GET HURT.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND IN WHEELCHAIRS CAN'T GET THROUGH THE AREA SAFELY.

ALSO, IT IS HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE A DISABILITY TOO.

I ALSO DO NOT LIKE THE FLOODING.

IT IS RUINING OUR STREETS AND CURBS.

I GO TO SCHOOL AT LOWELL AND I SEE HOW NICE EVERYTHING IS THERE.

I WISH IT WAS LIKE THE HERE.

I WANT OUR DRAINS FIXED SO IT IS SAFE FOR EVERYONE AND OUR AREA LOOKS NICE TOO.

LAURA MOSO OUR FINAL SPEAKER.

WE WANNA ALRIGHT, WELL, OH, SORRY.

PLEASE CONTINUE.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS LA MOSO AND I LIVED IN THE WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD FOR MANY YEARS.

FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING DANGEROUS FLOODS, INADEQUATE STREET LIGHTING, AND STREET BLOCKS IN BAD CONDITIONS.

SOME OF THESE STREETS, UH, WITH ISSUES TO NAME A FEW WOULD BE LOCUST AVENUE PINE, THE 14TH AND UH, LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.

THESE SERIES OF ISSUES HAVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED MANY FAMILIES AND ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES INCLUDE MINE RESULTING IN MY FAMILY'S AND MY HUSBAND'S, UH, FALLING INCIDENT.

ONCE IT'S RAINING, THE ROADS LEADING TO SCHOOL SITES ARE NOT SAFE.

AND THE KIDS' SAFETY AS WELL AS THE ELDERLY'S, UH, SAFETY IS AT STAKE DUE TO POOR STREET LIGHTING.

I ASK YOU TO PLEASE KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN MIND AND THE WELLBEING OF ALL THE FAMILIES BEING AFFECTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HOPEFUL, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP OUT VERY SOON.

THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING THE PETITION INTO THE RECORD.

LET'S DO NUMBER 11, QUICKLY REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION

[02:20:01]

CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL

[11. 25-54298 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation, including the petition, into the record, conclude the public hearing, and request City Attorney to prepare an amendment to the Long Beach Municipal Code, to expand Preferential Parking District “U” as recommended by the City Traffic Engineer. (District 4) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

CODE TO EXPAND PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT U AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER DISTRICT FOUR.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

UH, WE DO HAVE A, A QUICK STAFF REPORT.

WE'LL KEEP IT PRETTY BRIEF.

UM, IN SHORT, RESIDENTS IN THE AREA HAVE PETITIONED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE EXISTING PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT AS THERE IS A HIGH DEMAND FOR PARKING IN THE AREA.

UH, OUR CITY ENGINEER, KEITH HOEY, IS WITH ME AND HE CAN PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS FOR THIS ITEM.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING.

UH, TONIGHT WE ARE REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AN EXPANSION OF PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT U AND COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR, THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANINE AVENUE BETWEEN GARFIELD STREET AND THE ALLEY TO THE NORTH BETWEEN GAR STREET AND BRITON DRIVE, WHICH IS NINE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES REQUESTING AN EXPANSION OF PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT U TO PROVIDE ON STREET PARKING RELIEF DUE TO OVERFLOW PARKING GENERATED BY CAL STATE LONG BEACH.

THE EXISTING DISTRICT RESTRICTS PARKING TO ONE HOUR BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9:00 AM AND 9:00 PM EVERY DAY MONDAY, UH, EVERY DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WITHOUT A VALID PERMIT.

UH, PARKING STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN 2016 WHERE 83% OF ON STREET PARKING SPACES WERE OCCUPIED IN THE EXPANDED DISTRICT.

AND WHILE THAT MAY BE SOME TIME AGO, THERE IS NOT A SHIFTING USE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE IS STILL HIGH DEMAND AND THIS IS A VERY MINOR EXPANSION OF NINE HOMES ON THE VERY EDGE OF THE EXISTING DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF HOMES.

A PETITION WAS CIRCULATED AND RECEIVED A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT FROM RESIDENTS OF THE PROPOSED EXPANSION AREA AND NO PROTESTS WERE RECEIVED.

THAT'S IT.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANKS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE LIKE THIS CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

TWO MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

UH, KEVIN LARSON AND CHRISTIAN VARGAS.

IS KEVIN HERE? IS CHRISTIAN HERE? OKAY.

SEEING NONE BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER.

SUPER.

UH, THANK YOU TO, UH, CITY STAFF AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, UH, ERIC LOPEZ.

HE'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

ERIC, YOU DID A LOT OF WORK ON THIS AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT COMING FORWARD.

IF YOU WONDER, UH, ANY, ANY QUESTION ABOUT WHY THAT RECEIVED A HUNDRED PERCENT, THIS IS EXACTLY THE PROPOSAL THE RESIDENTS ASKED FOR AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO DO BUSINESS.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO, UH, CITY STAFF FOR THE GREAT WORK WE STAND AND SUPPORT.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.

I SUPPORT THIS.

THANK YOU MEMBERS.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

MOTION IS CARRIE.

NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 21, 12 OR 21.

THERE'S A, THERE'S ANOTHER, THERE'S A WHAT? THERE'S A HEARING.

GO TOGETHER.

YEAH, LET'S DO THAT ONE.

REPORT.

REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING THE PETITION INTO THE RECORD.

CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO EXPAND PREFERENTIAL PARKING, DISTRICT Z AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER DISTRICT FOUR.

ALRIGHT, STAFF REPORT PLEASE.

YES, WE HAVE KEITH HOEY, CITY ENGINEER AGAIN.

ONLINE, ONE OUTSIDE THE EXPANSION AREA THAT AND DID NOT PROVIDE A REASON AND THE OTHER WITHIN THE EXPANSION AREA, WHO CITED THE ANNUAL FEE OF $34 PER PERMIT AS THE REASON.

SO WE ARE REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AN EXPANSION OF PARK PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT Z IN, IN COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR, THE RESIDENCE OF FIDDLER AVENUE BETWEEN LICHFIELD AVENUE AND 2076 AND 2077 FIDDLER AVE TO THE NORTH, WHICH IS 10 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES REQUESTED AN EXPANSION OF PARKING DISTRICT Z TO PROVIDE ON-STREET PARKING RELIEF DUE TO MISUSE OF ON STREET PARKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY NON-RESIDENTS.

THE EXISTING DISTRICT PROHIBITS PARKING BETWEEN 2:00 AM AND 6:00 AM EVERY DAY, MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WITHOUT A VALID PERMIT.

A PARKING STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN 2009, WHERE 95% OF ON-STREET PARKING SPACES WERE OCCUPIED IN THE EXPANDED DISTRICT.

AND AGAIN, WHILE THAT MAY BE SOME TIME AGO, THERE WAS NOT A SHIFTING USE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE'S STILL VERY HIGH DEMAND FOR PARKING, AND THIS IS A VERY MINOR EXPANSION OF 10 HOMES ON THE VERY EDGE OF THE EXISTING DISTRICT.

A PETITION WAS CIRCULATED AND RECEIVED 90% SUPPORT FROM RESIDENTS OF THE PROPOSED EXPANSION AREA.

THERE WERE TWO PROTESTS SUBMITTED

[12. 25-54299 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation, including the petition, into the record, conclude the public hearing, and request City Attorney to prepare an amendment to the Long Beach Municipal Code, to expand Preferential Parking District “Z” as recommended by the City Traffic Engineer. (District 4) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT .

[02:25:01]

SO THAT CONCLUDED THE STAFF REPORT.

GOT IT.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS HEARING? SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CASH YOUR VOTE.

COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN KERR.

ALL RIGHT, NOW LET'S GO TO ITEM 21, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN.

RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST A REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL AT THE MARCH 4TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON

[21. 25-54395 Recommendation to request a report to City Council at the March 4th City Council meeting on the status of the Rescue 2 Peak Load Staffing program and funding options for City Council to consider to extend and enhance the pilot for both FY 25 and in future budget years. Office or Department: Cindy Allen, Councilwoman, Second District; Daryl Supernaw, Councilman, Fourth District; Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

THE STATUS OF THE RESCUE TO PEAK LOAD STAFFING PROGRAM AND FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THE, FOR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TO EXTEND AND ENHANCE THE PILOT FOR BOTH FISCAL YEAR 25 AND IN FUTURE BUDGET YEARS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.

UM, I FIRST OF ALL WANNA SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN SUBINA AND COUNCILMAN KERR FOR SIGNING ON AND SUPPORTING, UM, THIS VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY ITEM.

LONG BEACH IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER-RESOURCED IN EMS SERVICES COMPARED TO NATIONAL STANDARDS WITH ONLY ONE A LS AMBULANCE PER 55,000 RESIDENTS.

WHILE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS ONE PER 21,000 RESIDENTS RESCUE TWO WAS LAUNCHED AS A 12 HOUR PEAK LOAD UNIT IN JANUARY, 2024.

TO ADDRESS THIS GAP, RESPONDING TO CALLS IN DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, AND SIX, AND ALSO PROVIDING RELIEF FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

DESPITE ITS LIMITED HOURS, RESCUE TWO HAS HANDLED OVER 2,800 CALLS IN JUST 10 MONTHS.

AVERAGING NINE EMS CALLS PER SHIFT EXCEEDING THE NATIONAL 24 HOUR AVERAGE OF SEVEN EMS. DEMAND HAS NEARLY DOUBLED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

YET THE NUMBER OF PARAMEDICS ON DUTY AND AVAILABLE RESCUE UNITS HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED, CREATING DANGEROUS DELAYS IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

LONG BEACH FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCES OUT OF RESCUE SITUATIONS.

THIS MEANS THAT ALL AVAILABLE AMBULANCES ARE IN USE, LEAVING OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WAITING LONGER FOR CRITICAL CARE.

AND WITHOUT IMMEDIATE EMS TRANSPORT, RESCUE TWO HAS PROVEN TO BE A VITAL RESOURCE, RESPONDING TO HIGH CALL VOLUMES AND FILLING CRITICAL GAPS IN EMS COVERAGE, ESPECIALLY DURING PEAK DEMAND PERIODS.

WE MUST EXPLORE OPTIONS, FUNDING OPTIONS TO SUSTAIN RESCUE TWO, BECAUSE WHEN OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS CALL 9 1 1, THEY DESERVE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

INVESTING IN PUBLIC SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE TIMELY EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PROTECT LIVES, AND STRENGTHEN LONG BEACH EMS SYSTEM AS THE DEMAND GROWS.

SO I, UM, WOULD, UH, I WOULD HOPE THAT, UM, MY COLLEAGUES, UH, WOULD, UH, SUPPORT THIS, UH, UH, PEAK TO LOAD, UH, LOAD STAFFING PROGRAM AND FUNDING OPTIONS.

ABOUT WAYS OF BEING MORE FLEXIBLE, MORE NIMBLE, UM, AND PROVIDING THE RESOURCES TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

COUNCILMAN KERR? YES.

UH, THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN ALLEN FOR ASKING ME TO SIGN ON.

UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE REPORT ON THE FOURTH.

I THINK AS WE HEAD INTO BUDGET SEASON, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHERE WE STAND, UH, WHERE OUR NEEDS ARE AS THEY HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ASSISTING OUR RESIDENTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN THOSE REALLY DIRE MOMENTS.

SO, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCILMAN ALLEN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE REPORT ON THE FOURTH COUNCIL MEMBER.

WANNA ADD MY THANKS TO COUNCILMAN ALLEN, UM, KERR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, FOR BRINGING THE ITEM FORWARD.

I'M IN SUPPORT OF, UM, THIS, BECAUSE I REALLY THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT ALL THE WAYS THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO MEET THE SAFETY NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS.

UM, PARTICULARLY I KNOW THAT THIS, UM, THE AMBULANCE TO TWO WOULD, RESCUE TWO WOULD BE ABLE TO, UM, NOT ONLY ADDRESS NEEDS OF THE CITY, BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE DISTRICTS THAT WERE MENTIONED, 1, 2, 3, AND SIX.

IT'S HIGHLY CONCENTRATED, UM, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS ARE GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY NEED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL POSSIBLE OPTION, UH, FOR US TO LOOK AT.

SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, THE REPORT BACK ON MARCH 4TH.

UM, I'M JUST GONNA ECHO WHAT MY, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUE SAID, WHICH I THINK THIS IS A REALLY TIMELY CONVERSATION, UM, AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW BETTER TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS, UH, AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

UM, I KNOW DURING BUDGET SEASON, WE HAD A RECOMMENDATION IN BOC AROUND THE, THE PARAMEDIC ASSESSMENT UNIT, RIGHT? SO WE'RE THINKING

[02:30:01]

SO I THINK THIS IS TIMELY AS WE THINK ABOUT BEING CREATIVE, RIGHT AROUND OUR FUNDING STRUCTURE, UM, AND, AND, AND OUR PRIORITIES.

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PRESENTATION WHEN IT COMES BACK.

TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.

WELL, THAT CONCLUDES THE COUNCIL'S COMMENTS.

I'LL JUST ADD, UM, I SUPPORT THIS.

UM, I SUPPORTED THE PEAK LOAD STAFFING PILOT.

IT'S BEEN A SUCCESS, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO FUND IT.

I ALSO THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI NAILED IT.

AND WE HAVE TO BE THINKING, I THINK RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE FOCUS ON FIRE AND, UM, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, WE HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MORE STRUCTURALLY SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE, UM, FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES IN THE CITY.

UM, SO WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO KEEP DOING OUR, OUR RESEARCH ON WAYS TO, TO DO THAT LONG TERM.

LIKE I'VE SEEN SOME STUFF HAPPEN IN THE COUNTY COUNTYWIDE, AND THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US.

SO, UH, SO THAT SAID, UM, I THINK THAT'S IT.

MEMBERS CAST YOUR VOTE.

15, PLEASE REPORT FROM ENERGY RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT AND SUBMIT TO STATE LANDS COMMISSION.

THE LONG BEACH UNIT ANNUAL PLAN AND PROGRAM PLAN, AND FIND THE ACTION IS NOT SUBJECT

[15. 25-54300 Recommendation to adopt and submit to State Lands Commission the Long Beach Unit Annual Plan (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026) and Program Plan (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2030) and find the action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act as set forth in the discussion herein. (Citywide) Office or Department: Energy Resources Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

CITYWIDE.

AND WE, WE UPDATE THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A, NEED A PRESENTATION HERE.

WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, SHOOT.

DAVE SHUKLA.

NO PRESENTATION AT ALL.

PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING.

IS THIS YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT? ALRIGHT.

THE DOCUMENT, THE UNIT PLAN UPDATE IS IN THE DOCUMENTS, ACCORDING DOCUMENTS, DAVE SHIFFER DISTRICT, UH, I'D LIKE TO ASK HOW QUICKLY OIL, UH, PRODUCTION CAN BE STOPPED AND NOT JUST STOPPED, BUT CLOSED DOWN FOR GOOD IN THE LONG BEACH UNIT.

I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, NOT ONLY DO WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE OPERATIONS, BUT ALSO TO STOP THE FICTION THAT WE CAN KEEP QUOTE, UH, CONTINUOUS DRILLING, DRILLING AND REWORKING USING THE SAME WELLS ON THE SAME ISLANDS.

UH, APART FROM THE KAZOO HISTORY HERE, UH, FOR THE RECORD, UH, THE STAFF REPORT IS INCORRECT THAT THERE IS NEGLIGIBLE TO NO EXPANSION OF TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES FROM OIL DRILL.

FUN FACT, A JOINT NASA NOAA, UH, NOAA, UH, REPORT JUST FOUND THAT WHILE PARTS OF LA COUNTY ARE SINKING DUE TO VERTICAL LAND MOTION, PARTS OF LONG BEACH ARE ACTUALLY RISING DUE TO THE INJECTION OF MATERIALS INTO THE CRUST AS PART OF OIL EXTRACTION.

SO THE QUESTION OF WHEN THIS, UH, SOURCE OF REVENUE BECOMES A LIABILITY AND NOT JUST AN ASSET, UH, IS NOT, UH, AN ACADEMIC ONE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVER TIME.

AND THE REAL QUESTION IS WHEN WE WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE, UH, EITHER AS A SOCIETY OR WHEN MARKET FORCES WILL JUST FORCE US TO DECIDE THAT THAT TIME HAS COME.

UM, I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT SE EXPECTS THE CITY TO PAY FOR THEIR NEW UNDERSEA CABLES.

I MEAN, TALK ABOUT HOLDING YOUR CHILDREN AND OUR FUTURES HOSTAGE.

UH, EDISON SHOULD ENTIRELY PAY FOR WHATEVER INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENTS AND INSTALLATIONS, UH, THAT THEY WANT TO DO UNDER SEA, AND NOT OUT OF THE, UH, RATE PAYER FUNDS, BUT OUT OF THEIR OWN PROFITS.

UM, ALSO, I CLEARLY THINK THAT CURRENT STUDENTS IN LONG BEACH AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE GOOD CAUSE TO SUPPORT LEGAL ACTION TO MAKE, UH, THE LONG BEACH OIL OPERATIONS, UH, SUBJECT TO CQA.

ALSO THINK CQA IS DUE FOR AN UPDATE IN LIGHT OF HOW QUICKLY, UH, ADVERSE IMPACTS FROM, UH, CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY THINGS LIKE OIL DRILLING HAVE AFFECTED OUR REGION.

UH, AND OUR ESTIMATES CONSISTENTLY UNDERPLAYED THESE REALITIES.

AND THAT'S PART, FRANKLY, OF A CULTURE OF, UH, PEOPLE HAVING BEEN BOUGHT INTO THE MENTALITY THAT WHAT MATTERS MOST IS THE MAXIMAL PRODUCTION OF, UH, OIL AND, UH, ITS PROFITABILITY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, SEPARATE TO ANY, UH, CONSIDERATION, UM, THERE'S A LOT MORE ONE COULD SAY.

BUT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN, UH, AS, UH, YOUR CONSTITUENT, I CALL ON YOU TO THE EXTEND THE PROPOSED AUDIT OF OIL REVENUES TO INCLUDE AUDITING OIL OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH, NOT JUST THE LONG BEACH UNIT, WHICH IS COEX EXTENSIVE WITH THE THIRD DISTRICT BOUNDARIES,

[02:35:01]

BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND FINALLY, THE SOCIAL COST OF CARBON.

WAY TOO LOW.

WE DID, WE DID THAT AUDIT LAST YEAR.

YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.

UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT TELLING YOU NO CD SIX COUNCIL, MS. R, PUSH THE BUTTON.

SORRY.

DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND EXISTING PROGRAMS AND APPROVED RELATED BUDGET APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING CITY COUNCIL POLICY CITYWIDE.

ITEM 16, REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR 2025 DESIGNATION OF ONE-TIME DISTRICT PRIORITY FUNDS FOR CITY COUNCIL

[16. 25-54301 Recommendation to approve the first Fiscal Year 2025 designation of one-time District Priority Funds for City Council District infrastructure projects and existing programs; and Approve related budget appropriation adjustments for Fiscal Year 2025 in accordance with existing City Council policy. (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

OVER MARINE STADIUM REHABILITATION PROJECT FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,593,035.

17.

PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH KLEIN FELDER FOR PROVIDING ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE SECOND STREET BRIDGE

[17. 25-54305 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36531 with Kleinfelder, Inc., of San Diego, CA, for providing engineering consulting services for the 2nd Street Bridge over Marine Stadium Rehabilitation Project, to increase the contract amount by $1,042,844, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $1,593,035; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,239,420, offset by Federal Highway Bridge Program (HBP) funds from the California Department of Transportation (BHLS-5108(197)); and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Department of Public Works Department by $1,239,420, offset by transfer of Federal Highway Bridge Program (HBP) funds from the Capital Grant Fund. (District 3) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

DISTRICT THREE.

WE'LL DO A BRIEF STAFF REPORT HERE.

WE HAVE JOSH HICKMAN HICKMAN, AGAIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR PUBLIC WORKS.

HI, GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

UH, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU INCLUDES CONTINUING THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FOR CRITICAL REPAIRS TO THE SECOND STREET BRIDGE.

THE PROJECT WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE BRIDGE AND, AND IMPROVE SAFETY.

AND WE DID PREPARE A PRESENTATION IF YOU'D LIKE US TO, TO GO THROUGH IT.

WE'VE GOT THE CITY ENGINEER KEITH HOEY HERE TO GO THROUGH THE, THE PRESENTATION.

IF YOU, IF YOU BRIEFLY, BRIEFLY .

YES, SIR.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, HAPPY TO PRESENT TONIGHT THE SECOND STREET BRIDGE OVER MARINE STADIUM PROJECT.

UH, SO THE FIRST SLIDE, THE CLICKER THERE.

UH, SO SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION STAGING, THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DONE IN THREE PRIMARY STAGES, AS YOU COULD SEE, SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN OPEN LANES TO TRAFFIC.

SO IN THE FIRST SLIDE HERE, WE SHOW THE LOCATION, UH, WE HAVE THE BRIDGE.

UM, IT'S, UH, CONNECTING THE EAST LONG BEACH, ORANGE COUNTY SEAL BEACH TO LONG BEACH IS SOUTH SOUTHERN COAST.

COASTAL COMMUNITIES, UH, CROSSES OVER ALAMEDOS BAY AND OVERLOOKS MARINE STADIUM.

UH, SOME BRIDGE HISTORY.

SO IN 1956, UH, THE SECOND STREET BRIDGE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE JOHN DAVIES BRIDGE, WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1959.

THE BRIDGE WAS OPEN TO TRAFFIC ONCE THE APPROACHES WERE COMPLETED.

AND THEN IN 1998, SOME SEISMIC RETROFITS WERE COMPLETED.

AND NOW IN 2025, WE WERE MAKING SOME CRITICAL REPAIRS.

SO A LITTLE BIT ON THE BRIDGE STRUCTURE.

SO THIS BRIDGE, UH, SECOND STREET BRIDGE CONSISTS OF SOME REINFORCED CONCRETE PILES, SOME PIERS AND CAP GIRDERS.

IT HAS REINFORCED CONCRETE ABUTMENTS AND WING WALLS.

IT HAS A WELDED STEEL GIRD OR SUPER STRUCTURE IT, A CONCRETE BRIDGE DECK.

SO IN 2017, UH, THERE WAS A BRIDGE INSPECTION, UH, DONE BY LA COUNTY, AND THEY FOUND THE, THE BRIDGE DECK TO BE STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT, UH, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE BRIDGE DECK.

AND THERE'S A GOOD PHOTO THERE.

YOU COULD SEE THE DETERIORATION, A LOT OF IT'S CAUSED BY WATER.

AND THEN IN 2019, MATERIALS TESTING FURTHER, UH, CONCLUDED AND SUPPORTED THE INSPECTION REPORT, UH, FINDING RESULTS, UM, NECESSARY TO RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF THE CONCRETE DECK AND WARRANT, UH, FUNDING AS WELL.

SO A LOT OF THE PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS.

UM, SO REPLACING THE BRIDGE CONCRETE DECK IS GOING TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE BRIDGE.

UH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA BUILD SOME SAFETY BARRIERS TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR ALL USERS.

THE PROJECT WILL ALSO REPLACE NEW LIGHT POLES FOR BETTER SAFETY AND INCORPORATE PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND RECONFIGURE TRAFFIC LANES FOR IMPROVED CIRCULATION AND MOBILITY.

SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE, UH, EXISTING, UH, LANE CONFIGURATION ON THE BRIDGE.

SO YOU HAVE THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, UH, BUT GOING IN THE WESTBOUND DIRECTION, ONE OF THOSE LANES IS IN AUXILIARY LANE WHERE IT MERGES.

UM, THE NEW FINAL BRIDGE, UH, SECTION IS GOING TO, UM, MAINTAIN THE EXISTING TRAFFIC FLOW, BUT IT'LL ALSO INCORPORATE BIKE LANES ON EACH EITHER SIDE AS WELL AS A PEDESTRIAN PATH.

[02:40:02]

AND WITH EACH STAGE, TRAFFIC WOULD SHIFT TO OPERABLE PORTIONS OF THE BRIDGE TO MAINTAIN ACCESS AND TRAFFIC AT A MORE LIMITED CAPACITY.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF MORE TIME TRADED FOR, UH, CONTINUED ACCESS ACROSS THE BRIDGE.

SO A LITTLE BIT ON THE FUNDING.

UH, THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY BRIDGE PROGRAM.

UH, THAT IS HBP PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTERED THROUGH CALTRANS.

AND LOCAL AGENCIES REQUEST FUNDS FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, REHABILITATION, PRESERVATION, AND PROTECTION, AS WELL AS OTHER SAFETY RELATED PROJECTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

THE BRIDGE HIGHWAY LOCAL SYSTEM IS A FUNDING MECHANISM WITHIN THE HBP, WHICH FOCUSES ON LOCAL BRIDGES AND ROADS AND PRIORITIZES AGING OR DEFICIENT BRIDGES.

UH, THIS SECOND STREET BRIDGE BEING STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT, AS WELL AS THE MOBILITY ENHANCEMENTS IT'S PROVIDING AND THE CONNECTION OF COMMUNITIES IS WHAT QUALIFIED THE PROJECT FOR THE FUNDING.

SO THIS SLIDE SH GIVES A SNAPSHOT OF THE FUNDING.

SO IT SHOWS ROUGHLY 17, $18 MILLION IN HIGHWAY BRIDGE PROGRAM FUNDS.

AND THE REST IN MEASURE A COMING OUT TO A TOTAL ESTIMATE OF 20.4 MILLION AND THE PROJECT TIMELINE.

SO IN 2024, THE PROJECT, WE, UH, ACQUIRED ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCES.

AND THEN IN JANUARY, 2025, CALTRANS APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL 1 MILLION PLUS FOR THE DESIGN PHASE, AND THEN PROGRAMMED AN ADDITIONAL NINE AND A HALF MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE.

UM, IN MARCH, UH, UH, GIVEN CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, WE WE CAN BEGIN DETAILED DESIGN AND PERMITTING.

AND THEN CONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE A TARGET DATE TO START CONSTRUCTION IN SEPTEMBER 26.

AND IF ALL GOES WELL TO FINISH CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY, 2028 AHEAD OF THE, THE GAMES.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT BRIEF STAFF REPORT.

WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.

DAVE SHUKLA.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I'M SORRY TO HAVE HAD TO CORRECT YOU BUT WAS NECESSARY.

UH, BUT ON THIS, I'M SURE WE CAN BOTH AGREE THAT THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT AND IT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.

AND, UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK, UH, EVERYONE WHO'S, UH, WORKED SO HARD TO GET IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT CAN BE VOTED ON AND, UH, ACTION CAN BE TAKEN.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

CORP FOR PROVIDING PET LICENSING SERVICES.

OUR FINAL ITEM, ITEM IS 19.

REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AND ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH DOCU

[19. 25-54294 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with DocuPet Corp, of East Syracuse, NY, for providing pet licensing services, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for four additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and Office or Department: Suggested Action: ]

DECLARE PROPOSITION L ORDINANCE, READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING.

CITYWIDE.

STAFF REPORT, PLEASE.

YES, WE HAVE DIRECTOR BRENT DENNIS FROM PARKS, RECREATION, MARINE, AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

THANK YOU, APRIL.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

I'M JOINED IN OUR BRIEF PRESENTATION BY OUR, UH, BUREAU MANAGER FOR LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, UH, DR.

MELANIE WAGNER AND ALSO CHERYL BENDER, WHO TOOK THE LEAD.

UM, SHE'S OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND DID A GREAT JOB IN WORKING WITH I AM IN, UH, DISCUSSING THROUGH A MEET AND CONFER, UH, ISSUES RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM TONIGHT.

UM, I'M GONNA START BY SKIPPING BACK IN TIME ABOUT 46 YEARS, WHEN IN 1979, UH, VOTERS IN LONG BEACH, UH, HAD APPROVED, UH, SECTION 1 8 0 6 OF THE CITY CHARTER BY ADDING TO PERMIT CITY COUNCIL AFTER CERTAIN FINDINGS TO AUTHORIZE CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF WORK OR SERVICES USUALLY PERFORMED BY CITY EMPLOYEES.

UM, THIS IS PROPOSITION L AS A BACKGROUND.

PROP L ANALYSIS MUST DETERMINE THAT WORK PROPOSED TO BE CONTRACTED CAN BE PERFORMED BY PRIVATE ENTITY AS EFFICIENTLY, EFFECTIVELY, AND AT AN ESTIMATED LOWER COST THAN IT PERFORMED BY CITY EMPLOYEES.

AND MUST ALSO INDICATE THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACT FOR WORK WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.

AND NOW OUR LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER, UH, DR.

MELANIE WAGNER, WILL SHARE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF PET LICENSING HERE IN LONG BEACH AND HOW PROPEL HAS BEEN THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED.

MELANIE.

THANK YOU,

[02:45:01]

BRENT.

UH, PET LICENSING IS A VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE IN OUR CITY.

UH, NOT ONLY IS IT A MUNICIPAL CODE, BUT THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO LICENSING, UH, PET REUNION, OUR FREE RIDE HOME PROGRAM, WHICH MEANS IF A STRAY IS FOUND IN THE FIELD AND ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER CAN BRING HOME A LICENSED PET DIRECTLY WITHOUT EVER SETTING FOOT IN OUR SHELTER.

UH, PUBLIC HEALTH AND RABIES CONTROL, REALLY JUST UNDERSTANDING OUR PET POPULATION AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND IT HELPS US GENERATE REVENUE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT WITH OUR LIVES TO SUPPORT OUR LIFE SAVING, UH, OPERATIONS.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON PET LICENSING.

IN FISCAL YEAR 22, THERE WAS SIX, UH, FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT LICENSE INSPECTORS.

UH, THEY HAD TO BE REALLOCATED OUT OF OPERATIONAL NECESSITY TO ALIGN WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT NO INCUMBENTS LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF THIS BUDGET REALLOCATION.

THE NOT AS GREAT NEWS IS THAT THERE WERE NO DEDICATED STAFF LEFT TO PERFORM LICENSING ACTIVITIES.

UH, THE CHALLENGE WITH, WITH THIS IS THAT THESE LICENSING ACTIVITIES WERE REDISTRIBUTED AMONG MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS.

SO CLERK TUS ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, OUR BUREAU SECRETARY OPERATIONS SUPERVISORS.

AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, THESE KINDS OF CHANGES REALLY RESULTED IN A DECREASED EFFICIENCY OF TASKS IN DELAYED RESPONSES THAT IMPACT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OPERATIONS.

UH, A DECLINE IN LICENSING COMPLIANCE AND THIS PIECEMEAL APPROACH TO THE LICENSING WORK REALLY RESULTED IN A LOSS OF REVENUE.

SO, DOCU PET IS A FREE PET LICENSING SOLUTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT OFFERS A LOT OF BENEFITS.

CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THEIR PET LICENSING, UH, AND CAN RECEIVE THEIR LICENSES VIA MAIL.

DOCU PET NOTIFIES CUSTOMERS FOR LICENSE RENEWALS.

WE CAN HELP STREAMLINE CITY OPERATIONS AND ENHANCE COMPLIANCE AND USER EXPERIENCE.

DOCU PET EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT LICENSING REVENUES INCREASE UPWARDS OF 17% AND WALK-IN PET LICENSING WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS ONLINE.

THIS MEANS THERE ARE NO COSTS TO THE CITY.

SO NONE, THERE'S NO MONTHLY FEE.

DOCU PET IS WILLING TO WAIVE OUR STARTUP FEE, AND THERE WILL BE ZERO ONGOING COSTS TO THE CITY.

IF YOU, I'M SORRY, JUST GO BACK REAL QUICKLY, BRENT.

UH, BULLET POINT NUMBER TWO.

I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THAT, WHICH IS THAT CUSTOMERS CAN PURCHASE CUSTOMIZABLE, UM, TAGS IF THEY'D LIKE.

AS WE KNOW, PET LOVERS LOVE TO HAVE TAGS THAT SAY THEIR PET'S NAMES AND DOCU PET WILL ACTUALLY DONATE 20% OF ANY OF THOSE PROCEEDS BACK TO LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

OUR PROP L EXCUSE ME, OUR PROP L ANALYSIS DID, UH, FIND THAT DOCU PETT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY.

THERE WILL BE NO COST TO THE CITY, NO LOSS OF CITY JOBS.

WE SHOULD SEE ENHANCED LICENSING, COMPLIANCE AND REVENUE GENERATION IMPROVED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.

AND THIS ALLOWS OUR EXISTING STAFF TO FOCUS ON OUR LIFESAVING OPERATIONS.

PRM ENGAGED IN A MEET AND CONFER PROCESS IN OCTOBER AND DID COME TO A CLOSEOUT AND AGREEMENT.

AND IF THE CITY WERE TO PROVIDE AN EQUAL LEVEL OF THIS SERVICE DELIVERY, IT WOULD, UH, RESULT IN AN ANNUAL COST OF, UH, AROUND FOUR THOU $401,000, WHICH IS NOT BUDGETED.

I'D LIKE TO TURN THIS PRESENTATION BACK OVER TO DIRECTOR DENNIS, UH, TO SHARE OUR TEAM'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

THANK YOU, DR. WAGNER.

SO, IN CONCLUSION, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE ARE BRINGING BEFORE COUNCIL IS TO ADOPT BY RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AND ANY DE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AS NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITH DOCU PET CORP OF EAST SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, FOR PROVIDING PET LICENSING SERVICES FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY MANAGER, AND TO DECLARE PROPOSITION L ORDINANCE READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING, WHICH PURSUANT TO SECTION 1 8 0 6 OF THE CITY CHARTER MAKES FINDINGS AND DETERMINES REGARDING CONTRACTING OF LICENSING SERVICES.

AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR STAFF REPORT.

WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

DEJAS, THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT BRIEF PRESENTATION.

IT HAD A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THERE, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.

[02:50:03]

COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.

THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR DOING THE RESEARCH AND, UM, MS. BENDER FOR WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH IM TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS ON BOARD AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS DID AND DOES AND DOESN'T DO, UM, IN TERMS OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

SO I THINK ANYTHING THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR FOLKS TO REGISTER THEIR CRITTERS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

UM, I THINK CURRENTLY IT'S A MULTI-STEP PROCESS AND SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES BRINGING A CHECK.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE CHECKBOOK IS.

I THINK IT'S IN A DRAWER.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR STREAMLINING THIS IN A WAY THAT MAKES PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND POTENTIALLY GENERATES REVENUE FOR US.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH.

AND TOOK.

UM, I TOO WANNA THANK THE STAFF AND ECHO, UM, THEIR, UM, ABILITY TO GO OUT AND IDENTIFY A COMPANY THAT CAN DO THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE FOR US.

THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, I THINK ARE MORE DIRECTED AT OUR CITY PROCESS, UM, MORE THAN THE ACTUAL SERVICE ITSELF, WHICH I'M IN SUPPORT OF.

SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH A LINE OF QUESTIONING AND SOME THOUGHTS THAT I HAVE ABOUT THIS KIND OF SERVICE AND HOW WE'RE MOVING, UM, AS A, UH, AS A CITY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF WHO CAN PROVIDE SERVICES ON BEHALF OF CITIES.

SO FIRST OFF, UM, BASED ON, UH, THE REPORT THAT WE RECEIVED, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT WHEN WE CONDUCTED THE RFP, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS, UH, THIS WAS ONE OF A FEW COMPANIES THAT EVEN PROVIDED THIS SERVICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

COUNCILMAN, I CAN ADDRESS THAT.

SO I THINK, UM, IN OUR REGION, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SIMILAR FACILITIES THAT HAD A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH THE DOCU PET, UH, OPTION.

AND UPON OUR RESEARCH, UM, WE DID FIND THAT THERE WERE NO LOCAL COMPANIES AT THIS TIME THAT WERE PROVIDING A SIMILAR, UH, PRODUCT OR SIMILAR SERVICE.

UH, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMETHING POSITIVE IS HAPPENING THAT THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT WITHIN LONG BEACH MAY CATCH THE ATTENTION OF SOMEONE.

BUT I THINK HAVING THE ONE YEAR, UM, INTRODUCTORY PERIOD WITH THE OPTION FOR ADDITIONAL YEARS, WE'LL BE MONITORING AND, AND CAN CERTAINLY REPORT BACK TO THIS COUNCIL AS TO THE POSITIVES, THE NEGATIVES, BUT ALSO OTHER LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT ARISE.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT GOOD QUESTION.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR ME THAT WE FOCUS AND ENSURE THAT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, BE IT IN OUR REGION OR WITHIN OUR STATE, UM, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS.

UM, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT WHILE THIS MIGHT NOT IMPACT ANY JOBS IN OUR CITY, IT DOES IMPACT JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR CITY AND OUR REGION.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, DO WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A QUESTION WHEN WE ARE SEARCHING FOR SUCH FIRMS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR A LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT THEY MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN? I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COMPANY HAS MORE THAN 250 RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND, UH, BEYOND THE, UM, WHICH YOU CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, YOU SHARED A LITTLE BIT HERE, BUT BEYOND THE, UM, PROFIT SHARE REGARDING SOME OF THE, UM, VENDOR, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY OFFER, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR INVESTMENTS THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT THEY MAKE IN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY OPERATE? YEAH, THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY VALID QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE IN THE REVIEW PROCESS IF THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION WAS RAISED, BUT I THINK NOTE TO SELF AND, AND SHARING THAT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES THAT DO EVALUATE THAT, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN OR IMPROVE THE PROCESS.

'CAUSE I THINK, UH, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT BUSINESSES LOCAL OR, OR OUTSIDER COMMUNITY, UM, WOULD CERTAINLY FEEL MAYBE, UH, AN OBLIGATION TO CONSIDER.

LOCAL, UM, ENTREPRENEUR WHO THINKS THEY CAN FASHION SOMETHING THAT MAY BE EVEN BETTER.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT, UM, WE, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF TRUST IN OUR CITY MANAGER AND WE GIVE HIM, UM, A LOT OF AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH VENDORS WHO ARE DOING WELL ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY.

UM, I MUST ADMIT, I DID EXPRESS THAT I THOUGHT THAT THE FIVE YEARS WAS QUITE A LONG TIME, UM, TO NOT COME BACK TO COUNCIL.

UM, SO WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO INTERJECT OR THINK ABOUT HOW THE COMPANY AND ANY COMPANY COULD BE INTERACTING WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, I'D LOVE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A WAY IN THE FUTURE TO MAYBE SHORTEN THAT SO THAT THERE'D BE MORE OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR US TO ENGAGE AND GIVE, UH, NEW VENDORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SERVICE, UM, OUR, UH, PET COMMUNITY IN THIS WAY.

YEAH, I, SO I, I THINK YOU BRING UP A REALLY VALID POINT, AND I KNOW THE WAY THE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS WAS WORDED, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE ALMOST A LOCKED IN FIVE YEAR PERIOD, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE THOUGHTFULLY DISCERNING THE PERFORMANCE EACH YEAR AFTER YEAR ONE.

AND THEN WE CAN PROVIDE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY MANAGER IF THE PROGRAM SHOULD HALT, IF THERE IS, UH, A NEW

[02:55:01]

UH, BUT YEAH, HAVING THAT PAUSE EVERY YEAR TO CONSIDER, UH, AN EXTENSION YEAR BY YEAR IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RE UH, REMEMBERED.

I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING ALL MY QUESTIONS IN THAT AREA.

I WASN'T EVEN ANTICIPATING THAT YOU WERE NECESSARILY GONNA DO THAT, SO I'M, I'M SO GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, YOU ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT I'M LOOKING AT AND MONITORING THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UM, THAT WE CONTRACT OUT AS A CITY, UM, AND WANNA MAKE SURE TO THE EXTENT AS POSSIBLE, UM, THOSE DOLLARS GO TO BENEFIT LOCAL COMMUNITIES HERE IN LONG BEACH, IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WELL, THANK YOU, OUR TEAM, APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THOSE REALLY VALID POINTS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CASTING MY VOTE.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

UH, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, WE NEED TWO VOTES ON THE SIDEWALK.

WELL, LET'S CAST YOUR VOTE TWICE.

WELL NOW GO TO CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

DAVE SHUKLA, LORDES DIXON, DAWNING DAYS,

[ 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. ]

PALESTINE, AND MARIA.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN, DAVE SHUKLA.

UH, I WISH I HAD, UH, SOMETHING SNAPPY TO SAY ABOUT THIS, UH, POLITICAL MOMENT, BUT, UH, DURING THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, I THINK THE, THE LADY WHO SPOKE TO IT, UH, DID PROBABLY A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN I WOULD.

UM, IT'S KIND OF FRIGHTENING THAT IN, IN A MOMENT WHERE OUR CONGRESSMAN COULD BE, UH, CENSURED FOR USING AN EXTENDED METAPHOR CORRECTLY.

UH, I MEAN, YIKES.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THEY'D DO IF THEY GOT THEIR HANDS ON ALL OF MY PUBLIC COMMENTS? .

SO, AS BEHAVIOR AROUND THESE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, I MEAN, I MIGHT BE, UH, I MIGHT BE SHIPPED OFF SOMEWHERE LIKE GUANTANAMO.

UM, JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT AS THE ECONOMIST UK, UH, UH, A MAGAZINE THAT IS BY NO MEANS, UH, FRIENDLY TO, UH, ORDINARY PEOPLE OR THE PLIGHTS OF ORDINARY AMERICANS, AS THE ECONOMIST UK POINT OUT, POINTED OUT, UH, EVEN IF WE SLASHED, UH, ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR FEDERAL JOBS, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SAVINGS WOULD BE LESS THAN 1% OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

JUST LIKE U-S-A-I-D IS LESS THAN BARELY A PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

UM, UH, THE TACTIC CLEARLY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE BORN OUT OF WHAT THE HERITAGE, UH, FOUNDATION KIND OF THUNK UP AND HAS INSTALLED SOME OF THEIR PEOPLE TO TRY AND IMPLEMENT.

BUT I THINK WHAT'S SURPRISING TO EVERYONE IS HOW QUICKLY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S NOT ONLY UNELECTED, BUT WHO MAY HAVE HAD A ROLE IN, UH, A DIRECT ROLE IN, UH, THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION, UH, IS SUDDENLY, UH, ABLE TO ACCESS THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS UP UNTIL THIS POINT KEPT SECURE.

I MEAN, I DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE STATUS OF MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IN LONG BEACH, BUT NOW I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT IN WASHINGTON.

THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

UM, AS THE LADY WHO SPOKE DURING THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD SAID, UH, THIS IS THE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.

AND, UH, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M PART OF THE CITY WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO KEEP IT AN ACTUAL CITY.

I WAS, UH, REACHED OUT BY ANTHONY DAVIS, WHO WORKS HERE WITH ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DISTRICT ONE THAT I WOULD BE CALLED UPON.

THANKS FOR THOSE COMMENTS.

LOURDES, YOU'RE UP NOTCHES.

BUENO NOTCHES CHE, UM, MR. MAYOR REX RICHARDSON.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, MAYOR RICK STEREN.

UH, THE REASON THAT I'M BACK HERE IS TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE, THE REVOLVING ISSUE THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING.

AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE IN REGARDS TO, OR ANY CALL BACK AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS ON THE 4TH OF FEBRUARY.

RIGHT AFTER THE MEETING,

[03:00:01]

AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE CALL TO HAPPEN.

OKAY, MR. UH, MAYOR AGAIN, MR. UH, MAYOR RICHARD, AS YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE IS WITH THE, UH, MANY STREET VENDORS THAT ARE INUNDATING THE AREA IN, UH, THE SHORELINE, THE SHORELINE VILLAGE AREA, THE AQUA WAY IN AQUA WAY, THE, UM, UM, AQUARIUM STARTING FROM THE AIR IN COLD STONE TO THE AQUARIUM, ET CETERA.

THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE VENDORS THAT ARE, UH, COMING AND INUNDATING THE AREA WITH, UH, DIFFERENT VARIOUS, UH, FOODS IN THE UNLOADING AND LOADING ZONE, UH, OF DISCHARGE BETWEEN, UH, IN BETWEEN HOOTERS AND, AND OTHER VENDORS ARE ALSO PLACING THEMSELVES BEHIND THAT AREA AS WELL.

AND THEY ARE PARKING IN THE RED ZONE AND ON THE CURB.

I BELIEVE A LOT OF THEM DO NOT HAVE A BALLOT PERMIT BECAUSE IN ORDER TO HAVE A PERMIT, THEY SHOULD HAVE A SERVICES PERMIT AND INSURANCE.

AND HE SEEMS NOT TO FOLLOW THE, THE, UH, THE RULES OR THE LAW 'CAUSE THEY ARE SANCTIONED AND TICKETED AND THEY CONTINUE BEING IN THAT AREA.

OR THEY'LL LEAVE AND THEY'LL COME BACK.

UH, AND I'VE NOTICED ALSO THERE'S A CENTER THAT PROVIDES PERMITS, THE COMMUNITY HISPANIC CENTER, AND THEY PROVIDE PERMITS FOR ONE YEAR AND THEY PROVIDE, UH, A PACKET OF DIFFERENT RULES, REGULATIONS, INFORMATION, AND THEY PROVIDE A PACKET OF INFORMATION AND IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE, UH, KEEP IT IN TOUCH OR CONTACTING THE CITY.

MUNICIPAL, WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO, IN ORDER TO AFFORD OR KEEP OUR BUSINESS RUNNING.

MENTIONED, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, PERHAPS THESE STREET VENDORS CAN BE ALLOCATED TO A DIFFERENT PLACE, SHORELINE BECAUSE THEY'RE AFFECTING ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING THEIR DUES AND RENT IN THE SHORELINE AREA.

AND THEY SHOULD BE ASKING THE PERMIT, UH, CERTAIN PERMIT INSPECTION, THEY SHOULD FOLLOW THE OCEANS INSPECTION AND UH, THEIR RENT.

AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE, UH, AMENITIES OR RESPONSIBILITIES THEY SHOULD BE FOLLOWING.

AND THE RESTROOMS ARE, UH, BEING KEPT CLOSED.

ONLY TWO OR THREE OF THEM ARE OPEN.

HOMELESS, HOMELESS, MANY HOMELESS LIVE INSIDE THE, THE RESTROOMS. A LADY SEEMS TO BE LIVING THERE FOR THE LAST YEAR.

I REALLY HOPE FOR YOUR HELP AND I'M VERY GLAD TO BE HERE.

I KNOW MY VOICE WILL BE HEARD AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING ALL THE VENDORS, STREET VENDORS OF SHORELINE THAT ARE LOOKING ELSEWHERE, UH, TO LOOK FOR, FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.

[03:05:04]

COMPLAINT.

MANY RESTAURANTS LIKE HOOTERS, UH, AND THE SUCH HAVE ALREADY MADE THE COMPLAINTS.

THEIR BUSINESS HAS BEEN, YOUR TIME HAS INCLUDED.

NEXT DAWNING DAYS.

WHAT WAS THAT NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE? SORRY.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR REZ.

UM, I REALLY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH POLITICAL THINGS TO SAY, BUT I JUST HAVE A VOICE AS A CITIZEN AND A EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY WORKING WITH THE CIRCUIT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE DIFFERENT MARKETS.

BUT I ALSO WORKED WITHIN THE, SO SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM HERE WITH OUR INTERIM HOUSING.

AND I GUESS I HAVE JUST REALLY QUESTIONS, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT OFFLINE.

MY NAME IS JORDAN.

I DO REPRESENT DONNING DAYS.

IT IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO BE ABLE TO BRIDGE A GAP BETWEEN OUR GENERATION.

SO I SEE A LOT OF TALK HAPPENING IN HERE IN THIS ROOM AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S ALSO BEING BROADCAST, BUT I JUST REALLY WONDER HOW WE'RE CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THESE WALLS AND OUTSIDE OF THE ROOM.

I DO A LOT OF ADVOCACY JUST ON MY OWN, BUT SOCIAL MEDIA IS KIND OF BECOMING A MONSTER AND I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE TO THAT, BUT IT HAS ITS CONS AND IT HAS ITS PROS.

SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE PROS MORE THAN THOSE CONS.

BUT I JUST WONDER HOW YOU GUYS ARE CONNECTING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE WRITERS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THE CIRCUIT TO EXPAND, BUT I ALSO SEE THE HOMELESSNESS THAT'S EXPANDING AS WELL.

AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS DO HAVE A VOICE.

SO I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, LET ME SAY, KIND OF UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THINGS THAT'S GOING ON, BUT JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IN BETWEEN THE LINES.

SO I DO UNDERSTAND I AM A PART OF DISTRICT ONE AND THAT'S BECAUSE I DO MY EDUCATION, BUT I JUST WONDER WHAT ARE WE DOING TO BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS AND THE COMMUNICATION? SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION OFFLINE AND BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS AND COMMUNICATION TO BRING HEALTHIER CONVERSATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS, Y'ALL.

OUR FINAL TWO SPEAKERS.

YOU'RE DOING NOTHING CLOSE.

YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE DOING CLOSE TO NOTHING TO PROTECT TENANTS.

Y'ALL GAVE YOURSELVES A MASSIVE PAT ON THE BACK LAST WEEK FOR PASSING INCLUSIONARY HOUSING, WHICH SHOULD HAVE PASSED YEARS AGO.

REX CAME OUT TO RUB ELBOWS AND SLEEVES UP WITH THE PEOPLE DOING THE ACTUAL WORK.

YOU SAID IT WAS BEING WORKED ON FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

AS IF THAT'S A BRAGGING POINT AND NOT COMPLETE SHOW OF INCOMPETENCY FOR THE COPS.

BRANDON BOYD'S MURDERS HAVE NOT YET BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

I WONDER IF THEY EVER WILL Y'ALL AND GARCIA CONDEMN ELON MUSK ALL YOU WANT, BUT PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AS THIS CITY GONNA ACTUALLY HOLD SPACEX'S OPERATIONS AT THE PORT ACCOUNTABLE.

WHY DID Y'ALL APPROVE A LEASE FOR SPACEX IN PRIME TERMINAL REAL ESTATE AT ONE THIRD OF THE AVERAGE COST OF SPACE ANYWHERE ELSE IN ALL OF SOCAL? WHY IS SPACEX GETTING ANOTHER GOVERNMENT HANDOUT AT OUR EXPENSE? LASTLY, STOP APPEALING TO THE OLYMPICS.

CHAIRED BY KNOWN EPSTEIN AFFILIATE IN CREEP.

CASEY WASSERMAN, 12 OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN 2017 TO BRING THE OLYMPICS OUT OF 12.

OF THOSE THREE OF THEM HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR CORRUPTION, TRIED TO SHADY REAL ESTATE DEALS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

THERE'S NO REALITY WHERE THIS BENEFITS ANYBODY EXCEPT HOTEL OPERATORS AND LANDLORDS AT THE VERY LEAST, FREEZE THE RENTS, LIGHTEN THE LEASH, TIGHTEN THE LEASH ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS LIKE AIRBNB, AND ADD NON-PAYMENT PROTECTIONS AND FREE PALESTINE.

ARE NOT TENANTS AND THAT SHOWS, BUT MARY, WHAT STOPS YOU FROM TAKING ACTION FOR TENANTS JUST LIKE YOU? I WOULD ASSUME A COUNSEL WOULD WANT TO PROTECT ITS MAJORITY TENANT POPULATION TO CREATE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, YET THAT'S STILL NOT BEING SEEN AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE SEEN.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR MARIA, DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT AND AUTONOMOUS TENANT ORGANIZER.

I'M HERE ON YOUR LAST MEETING OF FEBRUARY TO ASK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND RESPECT FOR TENANTS.

IT'S BEEN A WHOLE MONTH AFTER YOU, AFTER YOUR SAID TIMELINE TO MAKE CHANGES TO OUR JUST CAUSE FAMILIES ARE ACTIVELY BEING DISPLACED AND CURRENTLY RESISTING SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL EVICTIONS LIKE MYSELF AND YOUR INACTIVE TO THIS MATTER SHOWS THAT WE'RE NOT YOUR PRIORITY AND THAT'S SAD.

MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE MOST OF YOU

[03:10:01]

HOWEVER, COMMUNITY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? WHAT IS YOUR NEW TIMELINE? THERE WAS NO MORATORIUM PUT IN PLACE, ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY ASKED FOR IT.

THERE'S NO HELP FOR TENANTS WHO ARE ACTIVELY FIGHTING SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL AND OTHER EVICTIONS TO ALLEVIATE THE HARM.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO SEE US AS YOURSELF AS A PERSON DESERVING OF A SECURE AND SAFE HOME TO GO TO AFTER THESE MEETINGS? IF SPACEX GETS A RENT BREAK, WHY DON'T WE GET RENT CONTROL? WE NEED AND DESERVE TO CLOSE THE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL LOOPHOLE.

WE NEED AND DESERVE RENT CONTROL.

WE NEED AND DESERVE A NON-PAYMENT PROTECTION THRESHOLD SO THAT WHEN FAMILIES ARE ILL AND IN CRISIS, THEY STILL GET TO KEEP THEIR HOME.

THIS WAS PROVEN IN COURT.

LOOK IT UP.

LA CITY PASSED IT.

IT WAS ENFORCED IN COURT.

THERE'S NO WORRY FOR THAT.

WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ASKING FOR ARE STRONGER PERMANENT TENANT PROTECTIONS, STRONGER PERMANENT TENANT PROTECTIONS.

YOU MADE US GO THROUGH FORUMS. THREE OF THOSE LANDLORDS WHINE THAT IN THE LAST ONE.

THEY WERE NEVER NOTIFIED.

TENANTS ACTIVELY TURNED OUT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE FORUMS. WERE HERE AGAIN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, JANUARY, 2025 WAS YOUR TIMELINE.

IT'S FEBRUARY IT 18TH.

I WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS.

COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND RESPECT.

WE HOPE THAT YOU REALLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE CHANGES FOR JUST CAUSE AND, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ALL SEEING OUR ORGANIZING COMING TO YOUR FRONT DOORS.

ALL RIGHT, WELL THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL NOW GO INTO OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT AND I'LL, I'LL START.

I WANNA CLOSE A MEMORY OF LONG BEACH COMMISSIONER ALLEN GOLDSTEIN,

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.

ALLEN IS A PUBLIC SERVANT WHO JOINED THE COMMISSION ON AGING IN 2022.

HE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR SENIORS AND ENSURING THAT ALL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES WERE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL LOCAL SENIOR CITIZENS.

ALAN LED THE CHARGE ON A SENIOR SAFE HOME INITIATIVE LAST YEAR, A HOME FOR SENIORS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

HE CHAMPIONED THIS EFFORT HERE IN LONG BEACH AND THE PROPOSAL IS NOW BEING SHAPED AND REVIEWED BY THE COUNTY.

WE SPOKE WITH HIS WIFE, ANYA LAST WEEK, AND SHE SHARED THAT HE REALLY LOVED SERVING ON THE COMMISSION AND WAS REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS SERVICE TO THE SENIOR COMMUNITY.

SO OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR CONDOLENCES HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH GO OUT TO ANYA AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN THIS TIME.

UH, WILL NOW GO THROUGH THE COUNCIL.

LET'S GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

SO, UM, I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, BUT I'LL SHARE AGAIN THAT WE'RE DOING OUR ELEVATE 28 PROJECT IN THE SIXTH COMMUNITY MEETING.

THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON THE NEXT STEP WITH THE WORLD FAMOUS VIP RECORD SIGN, AND AS WELL AS DEVELOPING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL DISTRICT AND ADVANCING THE MLK UH, MASTER PLAN.

IT'S GONNA BE THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH FROM SEVEN TO 8:30 PM AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, ON THE PACIFIC COAST CAMPUS ON DYER HALL.

AND, UM, THE SAME NIGHT, ACTUALLY EARLIER IS GOING TO BE THE WRIGLEY BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, FEASIBILITY STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.

SO WE'LL HAVE, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE CORRIDOR ON PACIFIC AVENUE AS WELL AS RESIDENTS AND, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD AND WRIGLEY ASSOCIATION.

UH, ATTEND THE MEETING.

AND IT'S GONNA BE FEBRUARY 20TH AGAIN, UH, SIX TO 8:00 PM AT THE COVE HOTEL.

AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU EITHER AT ONE OF THEM OR BOTH OF THEM.

THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD.

COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.

YES, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UH, THIS WEEKEND I INVITE YOU ALL TO VISIT THE HANGAR AT LBX FOR ONE OF TWO POP-UP MARKETS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND FROM NOON TO SEVEN, PERUSE THE PARIS ROMANCE THEME MARKET, AND ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD FROM NOON TO SEVEN, ENJOY A NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET WITH A RIDE ARRAY OF ENTERTAINMENT, INCLUDING A MAGIC SHOW, A REPTILE SHOW.

AS LB X'S PARTNER ANGEL CITY MARKET CELEBRATES THEIR FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY

[03:15:01]

YOU CAN JOIN THE BIXBY KNOWLES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION TO EXPLORE BIXBY KNOWLES ON WHEELS WITH THE MONTHLY CRITICAL MASS NEIGHBORHOOD BIKE RIDE.

AS ALWAYS, IT TAKES OFF FROM THE LOT BEHIND PIXIE TOYS ON ATLANTIC AT 11:00 AM KIDS AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES ARE WELCOME.

JUST DON'T FORGET YOUR HELMET.

UM, AND LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK, I ENCOURAGE ANY INTERESTED RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S OPEN HOUSE IN TOWN HALL TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY ON WARDLOW AND CERRITOS.

THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH AT 6:00 PM AT THE EXPO ART CENTER.

AND LASTLY, I INVITE INVITE RESIDENTS TO JOIN MYSELF, MY TEAM, AND GUEST SPEAKERS FOR A COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING AT WARDLOW PARK COMMUNITY CENTER ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, AT 6:00 PM JOIN US IN REPRESENTATIVES FROM LBPD AND THEIR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

HOPE TO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.

UM, MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ALLEN GOLDSTEIN.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES REMEMBER, BUT IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, UM, I BROUGHT THE, UH, THE SENIOR, UH, HOUSING, UM, ITEM TO COUNSEL.

AND THAT WAS REALLY HIS BRAINCHILD.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT ALAN TOLD ME WAS, YOU KNOW, SENIORS, UM, THAT QUALIFY FOR, UH, THOSE SENIORS THAT WILL QUALIFY FOR SENIOR HOUSING, BUT SENIORS THAT ARE ABUSED WHO DON'T MEET THAT CRITERIA, HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.

AND THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO HAVE, UM, A SAFE HOME, UM, FOR THE SENIORS.

AND, AND I SURE HOPE THAT THAT WORK CONTINUES.

UM, IT'S IMPORTANT WORK AND, UM, ALAN WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

UM, UM, ALSO, UM, SO ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, UM, AND ZEPHYR IS HAVING A MONTHLY CLEANUP ON SATURDAY FROM EIGHT TO 12 AT, SO MEET AT ORBA PARK.

AND, UM, ALSO YOU CAN JOIN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR AND THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE 6 0 2, WHICH IS THE NO TRES, NO TRESPASSING PROGRAM, ENROLLMENT EVENT, WHICH IS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, FROM 10 TO 12 IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, 400 WEST BROADWAY.

UM, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR CLOSING THIS MEETING IN ALLEN'S, UM, MEMORY.

AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE KIND WORDS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.

UM, MAY HIS LEGACY AND HARD WORK, UM, CONTINUE.

UM, MOVING ON TO THE SHORELINE VILLAGE.

MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION IS BACK THIS, OH, WELL, NEXT SATURDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2025 FROM 2:00 PM TO 8:00 PM LOCATED AT SHORELINE VILLAGE DRIVE.

AND AFTER THAT, A WEEK LATER, WE WILL BE HAVING OUR COMMUNITY QUARTERLY COMMUNITY CLEANUP IN COLLABORATION WITH DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE AT LINCOLN PARK ON SATURDAY, MARCH 8TH, 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE THERE.

AND AN ALL AROUND GENUINE HUMAN BEING WHO WILL CLEARLY DEARLY BE MISSED BY MANY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HE IMPACTED RECEIVING HIS BA FROM OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE AND MBA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

JUST A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

UH, SO FIRST I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO THE HOUGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TREE PLANTING COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WILL BE ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST, UM, AT 9:30 AM UM, THEY'RE GONNA MEET AT 1000 EAST HARDING AVENUE.

UH, FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT DISTRICT NINE LONG BEACH.GOV.

UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL BE HOSTING MY SECOND ANNUAL, UM, STATE OF THE DISTRICT.

UH, THAT WILL BE ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM WE'LL BE HOLDING THIS AT THE DOORSTOP, THE EL COMMUNITY CENTER, LOCATED AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE.

WE'LL HAVE BREAKFAST FOR EVERYONE AND A REALLY GREAT PRESENTATION, UM, ON ALL THE THINGS, GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DISTRICT NINE.

UH, AND LASTLY, UH, SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR INAUGURAL UPTOWN HOUSING EXPO.

THAT WILL BE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:30 PM AGAIN, THIS WILL ALSO BE AT THE HOUGHTON PARK COMMUNITY CENTER AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE.

WE'LL HAVE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THERE AND PRESENTATIONS ON HOUSING, HOME OWNERSHIP, ESTATE PLANNING, REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR RESIDENTS ARE PREPARED, UM, FOR THE NEXT STAGES OF THEIR LIFE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH AND TOOK, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND TO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ADJOURN TONIGHT'S MEETING IN HONOR OF CARL AON, UH, A BLACK HISTORY MAKER.

I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE BALLON FAMILY DURING THIS TIME AS THEY LAY TO REST CARL A BALLON.

CARL WAS A TRAILBLAZING EXECUTIVE

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BOLTON WAS ACTIVE WITH SEVERAL, UH, CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

HE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ABODE COMMUNITIES, CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT CORPORATION, AND THE LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE, WHERE HE SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

BALTON HELD POSITIONS IN MIDDLE MARKET CORPORATE LENDING WITH CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF CHICAGO.

THEN IN 1979, BALTON JOINED UNION BANK SERVING IN VARIOUS MIDDLE MARKET LENDING POSITIONS AND AS A REGIONAL CREDIT ADMINISTRATOR, BALTON SERVED AS A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITHIN THE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY GROUP OF UNION BANK.

HE ALSO SERVED AS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE UNION BANK FOUNDATION.

MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT UNION BANK IS A LEGACY TO US BANK, WHICH, UH, IS RIGHT HERE OR WAS RIGHT HERE IN THE LONG BEACH AREA.

IN HIS POSITION, BALTON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, POLICIES, INITIATIVES OF BOTH THE BANK AND THE FOUNDATION.

FON WAS ALSO ACTIVE ON A NUMBER OF OTHER CORPORATE ADVISORY BOARDS, INCLUDING THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND, THE GREATER LOS ANGELES, AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AND THE LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION.

HE WAS A MEMBER OF A HUNDRED BLACK MEN OF LOS ANGELES AND SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE DEACON BOARD AND BROTHERHOOD ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE WEST ANGELES CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HE WAS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN BOARD LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.

CARL IS SURVIVED BY HIS LOVELY WIFE OF OVER 40 YEARS.

LULA BAILEY BOLTON, WHO SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE WEST ANGELES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND IS SURVIVED BY HIS THREE ADULT CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

CARL WILL ALWAYS BEND OUR HEARTS AND REPRESENTS BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MY END OF COUNCIL COMMENTS.

I'D LIKE TO BEGIN, UH, BY THANKING MY COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, UH, THIS AFTERNOON IN SUPPORT OF BLACK HISTORY.

I WANNA EXTEND MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BLACK EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION FOR ORGANIZING A TRULY REMARKABLE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND EMBODIED, SHOWCASED BLACK EXCELLENCE, REMINDING US THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.

I ALSO WANNA THANK MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES, UM, MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, RICKS OTI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS, ALONG WITH MAYOR RICKS RICHARDSON FOR STANDING WITH ME IN SUPPORT OF THE PAN-AFRICAN FLAG RAISING.

THIS IS, WAS A HISTORIC AND MEANINGFUL MOMENT AND A VISIBLE AND LASTING REMINDER OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE RECOGNITION THAT GOES BEYOND SYMBOLISM AND TRANSLATES INTO REAL INCLUSION OPPORTUNITY AND PROGRESS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY.

ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE FAMILY OF FAITH CHURCH AND BISHOP GORDON FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO HOSTING MONTHLY FOOD AND HOUSEHOLD GOOD DISTRIBUTIONS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

IT WAS TRULY INSPIRING TO WITNESS SUCH COMPASSIONATE STEWARDSHIP RIGHT IN MY DISTRICT.

MY STAFF AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, TO SERVE AND AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CARE.

LASTLY, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO VISIT MY CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE AND SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS.

THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT EVENTS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR RESIDENTS.

IT ALLOWS US TO CAPTURE AND SHARE THE MOMENTS OF OUR SHARED JOURNEY TOGETHER AS WE REMAIN ENGAGED AND CONNECTED.

FOR TODAY, I'LL JUST SAY THAT THESE CELEBRATIONS HAVE KEPT ME UNITED IN PURPOSE, COMMITTED IN PROGRESS, AND ALWAYS IN SERVICE TO OUR GREAT CITY.

GOODNIGHT.