* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
           
          [00:07:39]
ALL 
          [00:07:39]
RIGHT, FOLKS, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL. 
          MADAM CLERK ROLL CALL PLEASE. 
          COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS PRESENT, 
          [CALL TO ORDER]
COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. 
          [ROLL CALL]
COUNCILMAN SUBINA. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCILWOMAN KERR. 
          PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. 
          PRESENT VICE MAYOR ORRAN. 
          PRESENT, COUNCILWOMAN THRASH OOK. 
          PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. 
          MAYOR RICHARDSON. 
          I AM HERE. 
          WE HAVE A QUORUM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE'RE GONNA ASK COUNCIL MEMBER SUBINA AL US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 
          OKAY. 
          [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
THANK YOU. 
          UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO, UH, THINK OF SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE, WE'LL, UH, START OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE. 
          OKAY. 
          FOR THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE STAND IN BODY OR IN SPIRIT. 
          OKAY. 
          READY? BEGIN. 
          I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC, WHICH ISAND ONE NATION UNDER GOD, LIBERTY, JUSTICE STRONG. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          OKAY. 
          SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH TWO PRESENTATIONS, NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH, UH, FROM OUR CITY MANAGER. 
          THEN WE HAVE, UH, ALSO A RECOGNITION OF OUR LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS TO OUR REGIONAL 
          [ NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH]
WILDFIRES. 
          I THINK IT'S IT'S FIRST RESPONDER AND FIREFIGHTER DAY AT CITY COUNCIL. 
          SO I WORE MY RED TIE AND, YOU KNOW, WE WORE OUR RED TODAY, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. 
          AND THERE'S SOME CONSEQUENTIAL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT RELATED TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS. 
          UM, AND WE MIGHT HAVE A COUPLE IN THE ROOM. 
          I'M NOT SURE. 
          ? I THINK SO. 
          UH, THEN WE'LL HANDLE OUR CONSENT CALENDAR AND WE'LL GO ON THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL FROM THERE. 
          SO LET'S START WITH NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH, CITY MANAGER AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. 
          SO, UH, I HEAR FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL PROCUREMENT AND STREAMLINING, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HOLD, HELP SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE, THE BEST 
          [00:10:01]
PROCESS WHEN WE INTERACT WITH ANYBODY THAT WE'RE PROCURING WITH, UH, AND DOING BUSINESS WITH. 
          UH, WE'VE REALLY CHALLENGED OUR TEAM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEY'VE, UH, COME THROUGH FLYING COLORS. 
          WE'VE BEEN WINNING LOTS OF AWARDS, GETTING RECOGNITION, GETTING HELP FROM HARVARD AS WELL. 
          UH, SO I'D LET THEM TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE AWARDS THAT WE'VE RECENTLY RECEIVED AS WE CONTINUE THIS WORK. 
          SO, TARA, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M TARA MORTENSON. 
          I'M THE BUSINESS SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER. 
          UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IS SO, SO PROUD OF OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 
          I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MICHELLE WILSON, OUR CITY PURCHASING AGENT, AND SHE'S GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH OUR PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          ALL. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU TARA. 
          HELLO, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          I AM HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH AND RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT PROCUREMENT AND PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS PLAY IN THE SUCCESS OF ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS. 
          MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE INNOVI INNOVATION, THE EQUITY AND THE EXCELLENCE OF PROCUREMENT IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. 
          WE NOT ONLY CREATE ECONOMIC ART OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL BUSINESS TYPES, WE ARE DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF OUR GREAT CITY. 
          HAHA, I DID IT. 
          I'M PROUD OF MYSELF. 
          IN THIS PAST YEAR, THIS AMAZING PROCUREMENT TEAM BEHIND ME HAS CONDUCTED 115 FORMAL SOLICITATIONS, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN OVER $880 MILLION IN GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH AND EVEN MORE IMPRE. 
          YES. 
          WE'LL TAKE THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THAT, THE STATISTICS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THE STATISTICS FROM THIS PAST YEAR IS WHAT THE TEAM HAS DONE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. 
          IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE TRANSFORMED PROCUREMENT IN LONG BEACH, UM, THROUGH WHAT WE CALL THE EXTREME PROCUREMENT MAKEOVER. 
          WE REMADE PROCUREMENT IN LONG BEACH TO WORK BETTER FOR THE CITY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. 
          IT WAS A TOP TO BOTTOM RENOVATION, WHICH INCREASED EQUITABLE ACCESS WITH BETTER OUTCOMES FOR PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND PRODUCTS. 
          THE OVERALL PROCESS BECAME FASTER, MORE EFFICIENT, AND WE ARE NOW ABLE TO SPEND CITY DOLLARS MORE STRATEGICALLY. 
          WE HAVE REMOVED BARRIERS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO GET WHAT THEY NEED WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS MORE EASILY. 
          WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ROLL OUT A COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON SPENDING LONG BEACH DOLLARS WITH LONG BEACH BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THIS MAKEOVER, OUR PROCUREMENT TEAM HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO MAKING THE CITY AND ITS PROCESSES MORE APPROACHABLE. 
          WE HAVE MADE IT OUR FOCUS TO MEET LOCAL BUSINESSES WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AT THEIR COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND AT BUSINESS EVENTS. 
          WE ARE BUILDING STRONGER VENDOR AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. 
          IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE ATTENDED CLOSE TO 100 IN-PERSON EVENTS AND OVER 75 ONLINE EVENTS. 
          WHILE OUTREACH HAS BEEN A LARGE FOCUS TO US THROUGHOUT THE MAKEOVER, OUR E EFFORTS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THIS PAST YEAR. 
          WITH THE ADDITION OF OUR NEW INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND FY 20 IN THE FY 24 ADOPTED BUDGET, THE CITY OF COUNCIL APPROVED THE ADDITION OF THIS NEW POSITION TO THE PROCUREMENT SERVICES DIVISION. 
          AND AS MUCH AS I LIKE BEING UP HERE TO TAKE CREDIT FOR ALL OF THIS AMAZINGNESS, UM, I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. 
          THE MAYOR ACTUALLY CAME TO US AND SAID, YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK, BUT YOU NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE. 
          YOU NEED TO BE AT THE BUSINESSES TALKING TO THEM ONE-ON-ONE. 
          WITH THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE OUR INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT COORDINATOR, UM, AND HAS TAKEN US REALLY TO THE NEXT LEVEL. 
          SINCE THE ADDITION OF THIS COORDINATOR, WE HAVE REGISTERED 138 LONG BEACH BUSINESSES IN OUR PROCUREMENT PLATFORM, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FIRST STEP IN BEING ABLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. 
          LASTLY, WHILE I KNOW WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE PROCUREMENT MONTH AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE EXTREME PROCUREMENT MAKEOVER, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE THE NATIONAL REC RECOGNITION THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH PROCUREMENT SERVICES HAS RECEIVED THIS PAST YEAR. 
          FIRST, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, AND FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FIVE YEARS, WE WERE AWARDED THE 2024 ACHIEVEMENT AND EXCELLENCE AND PROCUREMENT FROM THE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT INSTITUTE. 
          THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES AGENCIES THAT DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO PROCUREMENT EXCELLENCE THROUGH INNOVATION, PROFESSIONALISM, PRODUCTIVITY, E-PROCUREMENT, AND LEADERSHIP. 
          WE ARE ONE OF ONLY 48 PUBLIC AGENCIES IN THE COUNTRY TO RECEIVE THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. 
          IN DECEMBER, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH 
          [00:15:01]
WAS HONORED WITH THE 2024 AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE BY THE GOVERNMENT. 
          FINANCE OFFERS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH RECOGNIZES INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT FINANCE THAT EXEMPLIFIES OUTSTANDING FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. 
          THIS HONOR RECOGNIZES THE SUCCESS OF THE EXTREME PROCUREMENT MAKEOVER, WHICH TRANSFORM PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY, TRANSPARENCY, AND EQUITY. 
          AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, JUST LAST WEEK, OUR VERY OWN ELISA LANDEROS, WHO IS HERE BEHIND ME AND UP ON THE SLIDE, RECEIVED THE ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD, WHICH RECOGNIZED RECOGNIZES PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR PROCUREMENT ROLES. 
          ELISA IS ONE OF ONLY 12 PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTRY RECEIVING THIS NATIONAL AWARD. 
          AND WITH THAT, YAY. 
          OH, SHE'S LITERALLY BEHIND ME. 
          I DIDN'T REALIZE . 
          UM, AND WITH THAT, BEFORE I OFFICIALLY GET OFF MY SOAPBOX, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE HARDWORKING, DEDICATED HUMANS BEHIND ME WHO HAVE MADE THIS TRANSFORMATION AND ALL OF THIS SUCCESS AS POSSIBLE. 
          SO IF I COULD HAVE THE PROCUREMENT TEAM STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          WELL, I, I WANT TO OFFER MY WORDS OF, UH, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS. 
          I WANNA INVITE YOU AND YOUR TEAM UP, UH, FOR SOME RECOGNITION. 
          UH, BUT, BUT BEFORE I DO, SO, I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, YOU GUYS ARE A GREAT TEAM, MICHELLE, YOU'VE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB. 
          I REMEMBER WHEN YOU AND PARKS AND RECREATION, WHEN WE STARTED THE UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL TOGETHER, AND, UH, PEOPLE ARE HEARING AND SEEING THE DIFFERENCE. 
          UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EASE, SPEED, AND PREDICTABILITY WHEN DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. 
          A BIG PART OF THAT IS HOW YOU ACTUALLY CONDUCT YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE CITY AND WIN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. 
          AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT THIS WORK IS BEING RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY. 
          AND LET'S CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORY TO OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS SO THEY UNDERSTAND ALL THE GREAT TRENDSETTING THAT WE'RE DOING ON PROCUREMENT HERE. 
          AND I WILL SAY, OUR CITY COUNCIL, ALL OF THEM, UH, THEY SUPPORT YOU. 
          THEY BRING UP, UH, PROCUREMENT ALL THE TIME. 
          HOW WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB CONSTANTLY, UH, PRESSURE OURSELVES TO, TO DO A BETTER JOB AT PROCUREMENT. 
          AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE MEETING THAT STANDARD. 
          SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          AND IF YOU GUYS CAN COME BACK, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE A QUICK PHOTO. 
          YOU WANT US TO STAND BACK HERE? ? WE'LL JUST STAND OVER. 
          I DUNNO IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT ME AND MICHELLE. 
          STEVE, WHAT? DONE? GOOD. 
          YOU'RE GOOD. 
          SUPER. 
          NOT GOOD? YEAH, THERE. 
          PERFECT. 
          AND THEN, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, RECOGNIZING LONG BEACH FIRST RESPONDERS TO REGIONAL FIRES. 
          UH, AS WE GET SET UP FOR THIS, I'LL JUST ACKNOWLEDGE 
          [ RECOGNIZING LONG BEACH FIRST RESPONDERS TO REGIONAL WILDFIRES]
THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUST WENT THROUGH A BIG TEST IN OUR REGION WITH THE, THE EATON FIRES, AND WE SAW THE WAY THAT LONG BEACH, UH, AND YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THIS, THE WAY THAT LONG BEACH STEPPED UP AND RESPONDED. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL, THEY'LL GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS, BUT OUR ENTIRE CITY STEPPED UP AND RESPONDED, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, BECAUSE 
          [00:20:01]
THIS WAS A BIG REGIONAL DEMAND. 
          AND THEY DID THIS WHILE MAKING SURE THAT WE KEPT OUR, OUR BASE STAFFING AND WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES HERE IN OUR CITY. 
          AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND, UH, OUR FIRE CHIEF, UM, UH, TOOK ME OUT TO, TO ALTADENA. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD HEARD ABOUT IT. 
          I HAD FAMILY MEMBERS, MY BROTHER-IN-LAWS, UM, YOU KNOW, CHILDHOOD HOME AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          ALL THAT WAS HURT. 
          YOU KNOW, WE HEARD ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT IT WAS WHEN WE GOT IN THE CAR AND DROVE OUT THERE THAT WE SAW A LEVEL OF DEVASTATION. 
          IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE. 
          AND, UH, THIS WAS A REAL TEST FOR OUR REGION, BUT I CAN'T SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF OUR LONG BEACH FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UH, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM. 
          AND IT JUST REMINDS US HOW WE'RE ALL PART OF THE SAME, SAME FABRIC, UH, ACROSS OUR WHOLE REGION. 
          IF SOMETHING HAPPENS ACROSS THE REGION, IT DOES AFFECT US TOO. 
          AND OUR NEEDS MAY BE DIFFERENT. 
          YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE FLOODING, IT MAY BE STRUCTURE FIRES MAY BE HIGH RISES MAY BE DIFFERENT HERE. 
          BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST, UH, IN OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, WHICH IS, WHICH IS PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          AND SO, UM, A BIG THEME TODAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD OUR, OUR PROMOTION CEREMONY EARLIER, 17 FOLKS PROMOTED IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          I CHEERED FOR 16 OF THEM. 
          'CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA CHEER FOR JAKE HEFLIN NOT BEING OUR PIO 'CAUSE HE'S THE BEST PIO IN AMERICA. 
          AND NOW HE'S BATTALION CHIEF JAKE, UH, HE'S BATTALION CHIEF. 
          SO, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY PROUD. 
          CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO EVERYONE WHO PROMOTED, BUT I AM A LITTLE BITTERSWEET THAT HE IS NOT OUR PR PIRO ANYMORE. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE SOME BIG FOOT SHOES TO FILL THERE. 
          UH, BUT THAT SAID, LET'S GET INTO THIS PRESENTATION. 
          WE'LL START WITH, UH, CITY MANAGER MOCA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I THINK YOU SAID THAT REALLY WELL. 
          SO, UM, WHEN EMERGENCIES HAPPEN, LONG BEACH IS READY. 
          UH, WE, IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE, ESPECIALLY TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. 
          AND, UH, BUT WHAT WE SAW IN THIS REGION, IN THIS, UH, RECENT FIRE WAS JUST TRULY AMAZING. 
          SO THIS WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST DISASTERS WE'VE SEEN IN THE LA AREA. 
          UM, WE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED TO HOW CAN WE HELP? UH, WE HAVE OUR EMERGENCY SYSTEMS, THEY WERE ACTIVATED AND JUST, I'M JUST SO PROUD OF OUR EMPLOYEES FOR JUST SAYING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? UH, WE WERE WITNESSING, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN, ALL OF US WERE WATCHING OUR TV GOING, WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING HERE. 
          UH, AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE OUR EMPLOYEES GOING INTO THE DANGER ZONE AND GOING TO SAY, HOW CAN WE HELP? UH, WE REALLY WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME TODAY JUST SAYING THANK YOU AND HONORING, UH, THEIR SERVICE. 
          UH, EVERYONE FROM WHO SPENT, YOU KNOW, AS MANY, MANY DAYS OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES, UH, TO, WE HAD CREWS THAT WERE GOING UP AND COMING BACK EVERY DAY, AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          UH, WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF WHO, UH, WERE PULLED TOGETHER IN AN EOC ENVIRONMENT OR EVEN WERE LOANED OUT AND WENT AND HELPED CITIES LIKE MALIBU, UH, AND PASADENA AND LA CITY, UH, AND BASICALLY BROUGHT THE LONG BEACH EXPERTISE TO THEM. 
          SO I WANT YOU TO HEAR KIND OF DIRECTLY FROM THE TEAMS. UH, I'M GONNA START WITH REGGIE HARRISON, UH, WHO REALLY HELPED, UH, UM, RUN OUR DISASTER, UH, PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE. 
          UH, WE HAVE, UM, REALLY ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A TOP TIER DISASTER PREPAREDNESS DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT DOES AND PRACTICES FOR THIS EVERY DAY. 
          AND THEY HELP COORDINATE ALL OF THAT RESPONSE FROM ALL OF OUR GREAT FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO REGGIE AND LUIS. 
          THANKS. 
          THANKS, TOM. 
          THANKS, TOM. 
          MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. 
          IT'S, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO STAFF THE, I DON'T KNOW, ALMOST HUNDREDS OF STAFF THAT PARTICIPATED IN OUR ACTIVATION. 
          UM, JANUARY, UH, SEVENTH THROUGH THE 27TH. 
          UH, THOSE WERE THE DATES OF OUR ACTIVATION. 
          UH, THIS SLIDE, UH, INDICATES THAT WE DID ACTIVATE OUR EOC ON JANUARY 7TH, BUT OUR PREPARATIONS BEGAN DAYS IN ADVANCE OF, UH, JANUARY 7TH. 
          WE, UH, ISSUED NOTICE TO OUR, UH, LEADERSHIP TEAM, UM, ON JANUARY 6TH OF THIS, UH, IMPENDING, UM, UH, WINDSTORM AND POTENTIAL FOR WILDFIRES AND HIGH RISK AREAS. 
          UH, CITY MANAGER FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH HIS OWN, UM, NOTICE, UH, TO YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, UM, AS WELL, I THINK THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS ACTIVATION, I THINK THE CITY MANAGER SENT OUT SOMEWHERE FROM 10 TO 14 NOTICES TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL UPDATING ON ON CITY ACTIVITIES IN THE SITUATION, UH, IN THE CITY. 
          UM, THE DEPARTMENT, UM, WE WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF, UH, PUBLIC AFFAIRS ALSO TO CREATE A PUBLIC NOTICING THEN, FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL, SO THAT WE COULD ENSURE THAT THEY WERE AWARE AND PREPARED FOR THE WINDSTORMS. UM, THAT CAME, THAT, THAT PUBLIC NOTE NOTICES ALSO CONTAINED PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES THAT OUR RESIDENTS COULD TAKE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR, AND THEIR PROPERTY. 
          WE ACTIVATED, UM, OUR SEVERE WEATHER TEAM, UH, MADE UP OF CREWS FROM ACROSS, UH, OUR DIVERSE, UH, CITY DEPARTMENTS. 
          WE ACTIVATED THEM AND, UH, IN CLEMENT WEATHER PLAN 
          [00:25:01]
SO THAT WE COULD CREATE SHELTERS FOR PERSONS, UM, UNHOUSED, UH, PERSONS SO THAT WE COULD SECURE EQUIPMENT AND, AND TOOLS AND DEBRIS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BECOME AIRBORNE, UH, DURING, UM, THESE HIGH WINDS, WHICH GUSTED SOMETIMES 25 TO 30, UH, MILES AN HOUR. 
          AND THEN WE DID ACTIVATE OUR EOC, UH, ON JANUARY THE SEVENTH, WE FACILITATED 14 EOC BRIEFINGS, UH, EITHER VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON, UH, AT THE EOC. 
          AND, AND LATER WE HAVE A SLIDE TO SHOW A LOT OF THE STAFF WHO ARE A PART OF THAT, AND A LOT OF WHICH STAFF THAT ARE HERE. 
          UH, TODAY, WE UPDATED AND DISTRIBUTED DAILY SITUATION REPORTS IN WHICH WE REPORTED OUT DAMAGES TO FACILITIES. 
          WHAT IS CITY, UH, DEPARTMENTS DOING TO REPAIR, UH, THOSE, THOSE DAMAGES? WHAT KINDS OF, UM, MUTUAL AID REQUESTS ARE BEING, ARE WE BEING, UH, REQUESTED AND, AND BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO DAILY FROM, FROM JANUARY 7TH THROUGH JANUARY, UH, 27TH? UM, WE, WE COORDINATED THOSE ACTIVITIES AND ALSO COORDINATED, OF COURSE, WITH THE COUNTY, UH, OUR, OUR PARTNERS. 
          AND WE SENT OUT, I DON'T KNOW, COUNTLESS, UH, ALERT LONG BEACH, UH, MESSAGES. 
          UH, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. 
          AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, THERE WERE SOME ERRANT MESSAGES THAT CAME FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY ERRANT MESSAGES, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NEED TO EV, UM, TO EVACUATE AREAS. 
          AND SO WE WOULD COUNTER THOSE TO ENSURE OUR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS WERE AWARE THAT NO, THOSE, THOSE NOTICES DID NOT APPLY, UH, TO LONG BEACH. 
          AND THEN EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUED, I DON'T KNOW, COUNT I COUNTLESS AIR QUALITY REPORTS. 
          I THINK THEY'RE STILL ISSUING, UH, AIR QUALITY REPORTS. 
          AND SO WE'RE JUST SO HAPPY, AS TOM SAID, THAT WE COME, UH, TOGETHER AS A TEAM, UH, VERY, VERY, UH, QUICKLY. 
          WE'VE HAD, UH, LOTS OF EXPERIENCE, UH, IN, IN THIS REGARD. 
          AND SO IT'S KIND OF A SECOND NATURE, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT ISN'T. 
          SECOND NATURE. 
          AND WHAT WAS UNIQUE, UM, ABOUT THIS ACTIVATION IS THE MUTUAL AID REQUESTS FOR NON-SWORN PERSONNEL TO COME OUT AND ASSIST IN THE AREA AT VARIOUS, UH, EOCS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. 
          AND SO WE'VE NOT ENCOUNTERED THAT. 
          IN FACT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY HAS HAD THAT KIND OF A REQUEST BEFORE. 
          SO THAT TELLS YOU THE MAGNITUDE OF THE IMPACT OF THIS EVENT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND, NON-SWORN TO GO OUT INTO THERE, INTO THOSE IMPACTED AREAS. 
          AND SO, FOR THAT PART OF THE DISCUSSION, I'M GONNA BRING UP LUIS VALDERS, OUR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS OFFICER. 
          LUIS, THANK YOU, . 
          GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. 
          GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, SO THIS, THIS SYSTEM THAT WAS, UH, ACTIVATED, UM, THIS KIND OF BREAK GLASS MOMENT, UH, IN, IN THE RESPONSE WORLD IN TERMS OF NON-SWORN SWORN PERSONNEL. 
          HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MUTUAL AID SYSTEM, OR EMMA. 
          UM, AND THAT REALLY PROVIDES EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS TO SUPPORT DISASTER OPERATIONS OF AFFECTED JURISDICTIONS DURING AN EMERGENCY TO ASSIST WITH RESPONSE AND RECOVERY. 
          RECOVERY FOR THAT WHOLE COMMUNITY, UH, RESPONSE THAT IS REQUIRED. 
          UH, EMMA IS A STATEWIDE PROCESS MEANT TO FORMALLY REQUEST THOSE NON-SWORN PERSONNEL FROM NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS. 
          SO THERE WERE MANY, MANY JURISDICTIONS THAT THAT WERE CALLED UPON. 
          AND, AND SOME OF THOSE ANSWERED, UM, THE CALL. 
          SO THAT SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, AND LIKE I SAID, SUPPORTED BY MANY PUBLIC AGENCIES, LONG BEACH BEING ONE OF THEM LOCALLY HERE. 
          UH, WE DEPLOYED NON-SWORN STAFF VIA THE EMMA PROCESS TO TWO CITY EOCS THAT REQUESTED THE HELP. 
          THAT WAS THE CITY OF MALIBU AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. 
          UH, WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM MEREDITH REYNOLDS IN, IN A BIT, UH, TO SHARE HER EXPERIENCE. 
          UH, CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THAT. 
          UM, BUT, UH, HERE AT THE EOC, WHAT WE DID LOCALLY, RIGHT? WE, WE DON'T JUST SEND PEOPLE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S VERY HARD TO DO. 
          SO, UH, IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT WHERE WE KNOW VERY LITTLE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND AND WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT IS NEEDED FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE DEPLOYING, RIGHT? WE WANNA ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE TOOLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO BE EFFECTIVE. 
          UM, SO OUR EOC STAFF CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKING THIS ON AND, AND, AND, UH, CREATING PACKETS FOR THOSE THAT WERE DEPLOYED, BRINGING IN VEHICLES THAT THEY COULD USE, MARKED THE VEHICLES THAT THEY COULD USE TO RESPOND TO THOSE AREAS, UH, AND, AND, AND BE EFFECTIVE, LIKE I SAID. 
          SO A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE EOC STAFF MEMBERS THAT HELPED SUPPORT THE EMMA PROCESS, THE THOSE DEPLOYED AND REALLY CREATED SOME REALLY GOOD BEST PRACTICES FOR US HERE LOCALLY. 
          UH, IF THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO REGGIE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANKS. 
          [00:30:01]
THANKS, LUIS. 
          SO, OUR POLICE AND FIRE, UM, PERSONNEL, OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE LOTS OF EXPERIENCE, UM, REPORTING THROUGH MUTUAL AID TO INCIDENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. 
          AND SO, BUT FOR THE NON-SWORN STAFF, THIS IS A FIRST TIME, UH, FOR THAT. 
          AND HERE IS A LISTING OF A NUMBER OF THE STAFF THAT RESPONDED, UM, TO THE EOC AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGHOUT, UH, THIS ACTIVATION. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THAT STAFF AND THOSE WHO ARE HERE IN ATTENDANCE, IF YOU CAN PLEASE STAND TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED. 
          THAT CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M JONATHAN GARCIA WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS. 
          I'VE SERVED AS THE CITY'S JOINT INFORMATION CENTER MANAGER DURING EMERGENCIES FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, BEGINNING WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, FOLLOWED BY THE HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY TROPICAL STORM HILLARY, AND MOST RECENTLY, THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES WITH ME ARE LAITH MARTIN, CITY MANAGER, MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST, AND MELANIE MILLER, FIRE DEPARTMENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSISTANT. 
          BOTH OUR INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF OUR JIC TEAM AND PART OF THE TEAM SEND TO THE PALADE FIRE AS PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS. 
          R JIC IS THE COMMUNICATIONS BACKBONE OF EVERY CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT, LED EEM EMERGENCY AND LONG BEACH, ENSURING TIMELY, ACCURATE, AND ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION REACHES THOSE WHO NEED IT. 
          EVERY PRESS RELEASE, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ALERT LONG BEACH NOTIFICATION. 
          AN EMAIL ALERT YOU SEE DURING AN EMERGENCY IS DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE JIC. 
          UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE CITY'S CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, KEVIN LEE, THE JIC TEAM HAS DELIVERED TIMELY AND CRITICAL NOTIFICATIONS, SAFEGUARDING COUNTLESS LIVES IN LONG BEACH. 
          EVERY EMERGENCY HAS SHARPENED OUR SKILLS, DEEPENED OUR KNOWLEDGE, AND BUILT OUR CITY'S EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS BENCH. 
          NOT ONLY HAVE WE LEARNED BY DOING, BUT WE'VE ALSO ENSURE CITY STAFF ARE TRAINED APPROPRIATELY. 
          EARLIER THIS YEAR, MELANIE AND I BECAME STATE CERTIFIED PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER SPECIALISTS THROUGH, THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES. 
          AFTER HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF TRAINING THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIPS WE BUILT IN TRAINING WITH COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND PRIOR RELATIONSHIPS, BATTALION CHIEF JAKE KALIN BUILT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WAS CALLED UPON TO SUPPORT THE MEDIA BRANCH OF THE PALISADES FIRE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM. 
          BETWEEN THE TEAM OF LA CITY, LA COUNTY, AND CAL AND CAL FIRE AND OTHER SUPPORTING JURISDICTION JURISDICTIONS, MY TEAM MEMBERS STANDING NEXT TO ME AND BATTALION CHIEF JACK HEFLIN HANDLED HUNDREDS OF MEDIA CALLS AND INTERVIEWS AND RESIDENT INQUIRIES DURING OUR TIME. 
          TO BE TRUSTED DURING CRITICAL TIMES LIKE THIS IS THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME. 
          TO SAY MY EXPERIENCES WAS UNFORGETTABLE WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. 
          ALL THREE OF US ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR FELLOW ANGELENOS IN A TIME WHEN CLEAR ACCURATE INFORMATION WAS PARAMOUNT. 
          THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LA AND CAL FIRE ALL ASK THAT WE PASS ALONG THEIR THANKS FOR PROVIDING TOP-NOTCH PIOS. 
          WE EXPECT THAT THEY'LL BE CALLING ON US AGAIN IN THE FUTURE DUE TO THE QUALITY OF OUR TEAM HERE, AND WE, OF COURSE, WILL BE READY TO SERVE. 
          UH, AND ON THE SCREEN YOU'LL SEE THE LOCAL, UH, J TEAM WHO SUPPORTED US DURING THE FIRE INCIDENT. 
          SO IF YOU'RE HERE, I'D LIKE YOU TO STAND, UH, AND JUST BE RECOGNIZED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MEREDITH REYNOLDS. 
          GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          SOME LOVELY PHOTOS FROM OUR HERE. 
          UM, AS DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND A PROFESSIONAL INVOLVED IN MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, I SAY YES TO A LOT OF THINGS. 
          BUT TODAY I WANTED TO SHARE A BRIEF STORY ABOUT ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I PROFESSIONALLY SAID YES TO AT THE START OF THE PALISADES AND EATON FIRES. 
          I WAS OUT OF TOWN ON VACATION, BUT GLUED TO NEWS COVERAGE OF FIRES HERE IN OUR REGION AS THE FIRES RAGED ON A CALL FROM MUTUAL AID WENT OUT FROM SEVERAL AGENCIES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, NEEDING STAFF AND EQUIPMENT. 
          AS I FLEW BACK FROM VACATION DIRECTLY OVER THE DEVASTATION IN MALIBU AND PALISADES INTO LAX DAYS AFTER THE FIRE STARTED. 
          LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT I WAS ABOUT TO BE IN A POSITION TO ASSIST EXITING THE AIRPORT. 
          YOU TURN OFF THAT AIRPLANE MODE, AND I FOUND MISSED CALLS AND TEXTS FROM TOM, OUR CITY MANAGER, ASKING IF I WOULD ASSIST WITH FIRE RESPONSE SPEAKING WITH HIM. 
          IT TURNED OUT I WAS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO ASSIST, HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH 
          [00:35:01]
THEIR ACTING CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF MALIBU. 
          WHEN YOUR FRIENDS ASKED FOR HELP, YOU HELP THEM, I PACKED MY GO BAGG, AND THE NEXT MORNING FOUND MYSELF ARRIVING AT THE MALIBU EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, THE EOC AT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, GENUINELY STRUGGLING TO EXIT MY VEHICLE AND WALK TO THE BUILDING BECAUSE THE WINDS WERE SO SEVERE, I WOULD BE SERVING AS THE EOC COORDINATOR. 
          AND I DO WHAT WE DO HERE IN LONG BEACH. 
          AND I DOVE RIGHT IN. 
          I HAD A VARIETY OF THINGS I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, AND JUST TRIED TO ASSIST WHEREVER WAS NEEDED. 
          I UPDATED THE WHITEBOARD WITH SITUATIONAL STATISTICS. 
          I SHARED, SET UP, SHARED FILES, AND ORGANIZED FOLDERS OF DATA AND INFORMATION. 
          I HELPED STANDARDIZE SUBMITTALS OF FEMA FORMS, UH, AND TIMECARDS. 
          I KEPT TRACK OF THE RUNNING SCHEDULE OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR THOSE WORKING IN THE CITY OF MALIBU, EOCI CHECKED IN DAILY WITH THE ASSIGNED CAL FIRE REPS AND CALLED FOR OTHER COUNTY AND STATE AGENCY RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL MUTUAL AID STAFFING. 
          I DRAFTED AGREEMENTS FOR EMERGENCY STAFFING CONTRACTORS, AND I WROTE CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORTS TO COMMUNICATE EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE UNDER THE MALIBU COUNCIL ADOPTED EMERGENCY. 
          IN ALL. 
          I SPENT APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS SUPPORTING THE CITY OF MALIBU'S, EOC, AND AFTER REFLECTING ON THAT EXPERIENCE, I HAVE A FEW TAKEAWAYS. 
          I'VE NEVER SEEN A WILDFIRE THIS UP CLOSE BEFORE. 
          I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OUR SWORN STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE WHO THIS IS PART OF THEIR JOB. 
          AND I WILL TELL YOU, I FELT SINCERELY SHOOK OF THAT MOTHER NATURE CAN BE SO POWERFUL SO QUICKLY. 
          IT FEELS POSITIVELY STAGGERING TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENING TO OTHERS. 
          THIS WAS THE THIRD FIRE EMERGENCY FOR THE MALIBU STAFF IN THREE MONTHS, AND THEY WERE EXHAUSTED. 
          BUT WHAT THIS AMOUNTED TO FOR ME WAS THAT I GOT TO ACTUALLY HAVE TANGIBLE CONTRIBUTION, SWASHING ANY OF THOSE FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS WHILE I WATCHED OUR REGION BURN. 
          THE MUTUAL AID EXPERIENCE BUILDS STAFF KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY TO SUPPORT EMERGENCIES HERE IN LONG BEACH. 
          JONATHAN SPOKEN, AS MANY OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT, THERE ARE SO MANY PARALLELS REGARDLESS OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS OR THE TYPE OF EMERGENCY PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT TO DO, WHAT FORMS TO FILL OUT. 
          THE NOMENCLATURE OF STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INVALUABLE HERE FOR LONG BEACH AND CAN BE DIFFICULT TO LEARN WHILE ON THE FLY, IN THE MIDST OF MAKING DECISIONS TO DEAL WITH THE EVER EVOLVING EMERGENCY IN REAL TIME. 
          SENDING OUR STAFF TO ANSWER A MUTUAL AID REQUEST. 
          BUILD A NETWORK WE CAN CALL UPON WHEN WE NEED HELP. 
          AND WHILE I HOPE WE WILL NEVER BE IN A SIMILAR POSITION, WE LIKELY INEVITABLY WILL WE HAVE FRIENDS IN PLACE THAT WILL STAND BY US WHEN WE NEED IT. 
          I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE SWORN AND NON-SWORN LONG BEACH STAFF WHO SAID YES AND SHOWED UP TO HELP SAYING, UH, YES. 
          AND BEING SOMEONE'S HELP. 
          YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH YOUR SHEER PRESENCE MEANT TO THE OTHER AGENCY, HELPING THEM BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER DURING A TIME OF EXTREME STRESS. 
          OR HOW MUCH FILLING OUT THAT TWO 13 FEMA FORM FOR MATERIALS ACTUALLY MATTERED TO ENSURE CRITICAL ITEMS LIKE SAFETY EQUIPMENT, SANDBAGS, OR N95 MASKS ARRIVED TO PROTECT PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. 
          I'M SO PROUD OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF MY COLLEAGUES SITTING BEHIND ME HERE TODAY, AND I'M LUCKY TO HAVE SERVED WITH THEM. 
          WHEN YOUR FRIENDS ASK FOR HELP, YOU HELP THEM ALWAYS BE SOMEONE'S HELP, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP THE CHIEFS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MEREDITH. 
          AND I, I HADN'T ANTICIPATED SPEAKING, BUT, UM, AND, AND I WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO THE FIRE CHIEF, CHIEF BUCHANAN. 
          UH, BUT I DO WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE MUTUAL AID RESPONSE. 
          AND SO THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER, UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, WHEN OUR REGION NEEDS SOMETHING, UH, WE HAVE A MUTUAL AID MECHANISM IN PLACE. 
          AND THE MINUTE THIS HAPPENED, UH, FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND PARTNERS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE IMMEDIATELY GO INTO ACTION AND, AND RESPOND. 
          AND OUR PEOPLE DO THAT WORK, THE, THE STAFF, THE EMPLOYEES AT WORK FOR THIS CITY AND SERVE US. 
          AND IT'S INSPIRING TO SEE, UH, WHAT OUR PARTNERS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID, UH, TO HELP OUR, OUR, OUR FRIENDS IN NEED. 
          AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MY STAFF WHO YOU SEE HERE TODAY, MANY OF THEM ARE, ARE ACTUALLY OUT IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW. 
          BUT, UM, I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU HOW SPECIAL, UH, THIS CITY IS. 
          UH, THE FACT THAT WHEN WE RESPOND TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED, BECAUSE THERE MAY BE A TIME WHERE WE NEED THAT VERY SAME RESPONSE. 
          AND WE'LL GET IT HERE IN LONG BEACH. 
          I APPRECIATE BEING PART OF THIS CITY, PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. 
          I APPRECIATE STANDING WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN AND PARTNERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A MOMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY WHO IS, UH, INVOLVED IN THIS. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          WELL, THANK YOU CHIEF ISH, AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING ALL 
          [00:40:01]
THE FIRST RESPONDERS. 
          LET'S SEE. 
          GET THIS THING AT WORK. 
          THERE WE GO. 
          SO WE HAD A TOTAL OF 60 PERSONNEL THAT WERE DEPLOYED, BUT BEFORE I GET INTO 60 PEOPLE BEING DEPLOYED OR 60 FIREFIGHTERS DEPLOYED, I RECALLED A NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS TO KEEP ALL OUR FIRE STATIONS OPEN AND IN SERVICE. 
          SO WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE EXTRA WORK THAT FROM ALL THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES HELP THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE, UM, DEVASTATING BOTH FIRES AND I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. 
          SO OUR, OUR INITIAL STRIKE TEAM 1321, WAS DEPLOYED TO THE PALISADE FIRE SHORTLY AFTER IT STARTED, AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STRIKE TEAMS TO ARRIVE AND ENGAGE IN FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL ENCOUNTERED AROUND 60 TO 80 MILE PER HOUR WINDS IN AN UNPRECEDENTED FIRE CONDITION FOR ALMOST 7 2 7 2 HOURS NONSTOP. 
          THEY PATROL NEIGHBORHOODS, ENSURING RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED SAFELY, AND WERE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR SEVERAL, FOR SAVING SEVERAL COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES FROM THE RELENTLESS FIRE. 
          THESE PERSONNEL REMAIN DEPLOYED AND ENGAGING IN ONGOING FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS IN THE PALISADES FOR A TOTAL OF 16 DAYS BEFORE RETURNING HOME. 
          THIS WAS THE INITIAL STRIKE TEAM THAT I JUST SAID, THAT REP, UH, THAT DEPLOYED TO POLICIES FIRE. 
          THERE IS A LONG LIST OF FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, YOU WON'T RECOGNIZE 'EM AT THE END. 
          IN THE EARLY HOURS. 
          THE FOLLOWING MORNING STRIKE TEAM 1322 A CALLED DURING THAT NIGHT, I GOT RECEIVED MULTIPLE CALLS FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS REQUESTING ASSISTANCE. 
          AND I WANNA LET YOU KNOW IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION FOR ME. 
          I, I NEEDED TO WAIT AROUND THREE 30 IN THE MORNING. 
          I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE SAFE HERE IN CITY OF LONG BEACH. 
          ONCE AROUND THREE 30 IN THE MORNING, I, I CONTACTED MY DEPUTY CHIEF JEFF HARDIN, AND ONCE I REALIZED EVERYTHING'S FINE IN THE CITY, WE IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED THE STRIKE TEAM HERE TO ALTADENA TO COMBAT THAT EATON FIRE. 
          SO A FULLY STAFFED LONG BEACH STRIKE TEAM DEPLOYED TO THE EATON FIRE IN THE MEETING, ENGAGED SAVING STRUCTURES, MANY OF THEM, MANY OF THE INITIAL NEWS REELS FROM THIS FIRE HIGHLIGHTS OUR PERSONNEL WORKING TO SAVE STRUCTURES. 
          THIS TEAM WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR DAYS BEFORE THEIR FIRST REST PERIOD AND REMAINED DEPLOYED FOR TWO WEEKS. 
          AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR JOINING ME ON THAT FRIDAY WHEN WE WENT TO VISIT ELNA. 
          AS THE REGION BEGAN TO DRAW DOWN AND STILL NOT REALIZE THAT FIRE FRAME RESOURCE IS NECESSARY TO STABILIZE THESE INCIDENTS, TWO ADDITIONAL ENGINES WERE DEPLOYED WITH A MIXED STRIKE TEAM. 
          THESE PERSONNEL DEPLOYED TO THE ADES FIRE FOR TWO WEEKS, AND AS WELL WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO PROTECT HOMES AND EXTINGUISH EXTINGUISH FIRES. 
          AS THE NEEDS OF THE INCIDENT SHIFTED, SEARCH FOR MISSING OR DECEASED VICTIMS BECAME PARAMOUNT. 
          OUR URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL ASSISTED THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE TO, WITH A SEARCH COMPONENT. 
          WHILE OUR FIELD OBSERVERS WORKED WITH THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM TO IDENTIFY DAILY PRIORITIES FOR FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS. 
          THEN OUR PRESS INFORMATION OFFICERS ASSISTED AT THE  FIRE IN WORKING TO MAINTAIN A FLOW OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE DYNAMIC INCIDENT. 
          I TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. 
          AND DURING THEIR FIRST STRE OF RAIN, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL RESPONDED FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN A PRE-DEPLOYMENT MISSION TO ASSIST WITH ANY POSSIBLE MUDSLIDES IN THE BURN AREA. 
          SO, UH, WITH THAT, THERE'S A LONG LIST OF, OF FIREFIGHTER EMPLOYEES TO BE RECOGNIZED, AND A LOT OF 'EM ARE HERE TODAY. 
          SOME OF 'EM ARE OFF DUTY, WERE UNABLE TO MAKE IT HERE, BUT A LOT OF 'EM ARE STANDING OVER HERE. 
          AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN ME AND GIVE HIM THE HAND. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          BE THAT. 
          I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR ALLISON KING. 
          GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. 
          UH, I AM ALLISON KING, DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THIS CITY. 
          UH, WE ARE ALWAYS AT THE CORE OF EVERY EMERGENCY THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SERVE OUR HALF A MILLION RESIDENTS IN THIS CITY. 
          AND TODAY I JUST WANT TO GET UP TO BRIEFLY TELL YOU ABOUT OUR NON-SWORN STAFF WHO WERE ABLE TO ASSIST. 
          UM, WE SENT, UM, TRACY FITZHARRIS, NICK FRANC, AND GABRIELA HERATA, AND THEY SUPPORTED THE SHELTER OPERATIONS IN PA, SADE, I'M SORRY. 
          THEY SUPPORTED AND HELPED TO EDUCATE MALIBU ON OUR INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE AND THE PROCESSES THAT MALIBU WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH BECAUSE WE ARE QUITE FAMILIAR AS WE ARE ACTIVATED IN ALL SITUATIONS. 
          [00:45:01]
AND WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED WELL BY THEIR LEADER, UH, SANDY WEDGWORTH. 
          AND WE ALSO FALL INTO THE EOC INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE UNDER REGINALD HARRIS'S LEADERSHIP, FOR WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL. 
          WHILE I ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STAFF, WHAT I WANT TO ALSO SHARE WITH YOU ARE THE MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT REPRESENT OUR MEDICAL SERVICES CORPS, AND THEY HELPED, UH, TO SUPPORT THE SHELTER OPERATIONS IN PASADENA AND ALSO OUR JOINT INFORMATION CENTER. 
          THESE VOLUNTEERS PLAY A VERY PIVOTAL ROLE IN ENHANCING PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES, PARTICIPATING IN PREPAREDNESS DRILLS, AND TRAINING WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSES, PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
          IF I CAN FIRST HAVE OUR STAFF STAND UP THAT SUPPORTED SANDY, TRACY, NICK AND GABBY, IF SHE'S HERE, UH, FOR CERTAIN WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE CALL ON EACH AND EVERY TIME OUR MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS, IF THEY WOULD KINDLY STAND AS WELL. 
          THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION AND WE THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, WELL, I WANNA THANK ALL THE PRESENTERS, UH, FOR HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND, UH, JUST HOW COMPREHENSIVE THIS RESPONSE WAS FROM COMMUNICATIONS TO COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES, MEDICAL STAFF, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS. 
          THIS WAS TRULY AN ALL HANDS ON DECK SITUATION. 
          UH, OUR RESPONSE WAS RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE REGION. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, I, IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT THE, UH, THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES RECOGNIZED, UH, LONG BEACH'S RESPONSE AND THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE AND RAISING MORE THAN A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN 48 HOURS TO HELP WITH THE RESPONSE. 
          AND SO, UH, DURING THEIR, UH, DAILY PRESS CONFERENCES. 
          AND SO THE REGION RECOGNIZES OUR ABILITY, OUR CAPABILITY TO RESPOND. 
          AND WE AS THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU AND WE RECOGNIZE, UH, YOUR EFFORTS AND THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO STAY READY. 
          UH, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF INNOVATION TAKE PLACE OUTTA LONG BEACH, A LOT OF LEADERSHIP EVEN TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW. 
          AND, AND MODERNIZING HOW WE RESPOND FROM A FIRE STANDPOINT, A MEDICAL STANDPOINT, A POLICE STANDPOINT. 
          AND THERE'S MORE THAT WE NEED TO DO, UH, CERTAINLY MORE THAT WE NEED TO DO TO, TO FIND MORE SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR FIRST PRIORITY, WHICH IS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THAT YOU HAVE THAT COMMITMENT. 
          SO, I KNOW MANY OF YOU STOOD, BUT I'M GONNA ASK YOU ONE MORE TIME, EVERY FIRST RESPONDER, POLICE OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER, OR IF YOU SERVED IN A CIVILIAN CAPACITY, IF YOU COULD ALL STAND SO WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE YOU NOW. 
          EVERYBODY. 
          ALL OF YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THAT CONCLUDES THIS PRESENTATION. 
          WE'LL NOW START WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. 
          ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE. 
          [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 27.)]
OKAY. 
          THE CONSENT CALENDAR HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. 
          I SEE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, CHRIS CHRISTEL DOMBROWSKI. 
          I KNOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A LINE, UH, TO GO OUT, BUT IS IT CHRISELLE HERE? SOUND OFF. 
          OH, THERE SHE IS. 
          PLEASE COME FORWARD. 
          HI, MY NAME IS CORELLE DOMBROWSKI. 
          HELLO CITY COUNCIL. 
          HONORABLE MAYOR REX RICHARDSON. 
          UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT HOUSING IN, UH, LONG BEACH. 
          AS PER USUAL, I JUST SIGN UP FOR WHATEVER. 
          'CAUSE PUBLIC COMMENT ISN'T 'CAUSE EVERYBODY'S GONE BY THE TIME YOU GET UP HERE. 
          SO THIS IS WHAT I DO. 
          UM, WE NEED MORE PUBLIC HOUSING. 
          WE NEED RENT CONTROL. 
          THERE'S A MASS EXODUS FROM CALIFORNIA AND LONG BEACH. 
          OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS. 
          I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT IN CINDY ALLEN'S DISTRICT, UH, THE, THEY'RE SUBSIDIZING, UH, WHAT IS IT? THE, THE CURRENT I BELIEVE IS, IS PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZED, BUT IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          IT COSTS ABOUT 2,400 IF YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL ROOMS. YEAH. 
          EVEN THE MANAGER SAID IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE, BUT IT'S GOOD FOR WORKING PEOPLE. 
          WE NEED MORE OF IT IN, UH, 9 0 8, 0 2, 
          [00:50:01]
UH, DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH. 
          MARY ZENDEJAS, PLEASE LIKE THE EDISON. 
          I KNOW THAT THEY, EDISON ACCEPTS, UM, ACCEPTS, UH, SECTION EIGHT, WHICH IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET ON RIGHT NOW. 
          UH, CALLED, UH, GOT HUNG UP ON 46 TIMES. 
          I COUNTED, I WROTE IT DOWN. 
          YEAH, A LITTLE FRUSTRATING, BUT I'LL KEEP CALLING. 
          THEY'RE CLOSED RIGHT NOW, BUT PLEASE SUBSIDIZE THEM 'CAUSE THEY'RE GOOD. 
          AND, UM, THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. 
          MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NOW, UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY REPORT, REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION, PLEASE. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THERE IS NO REPORT TONIGHT FROM CLOSED SESSION. 
          GREAT, GREAT REPORT. 
          MY FAVORITE KIND OF REPORT. 
          ALRIGHT, WELL NOW GO TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 33, REPORT FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT STAFFING PROGRAM AND FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TO EXTEND AND ENHANCE THE PILOT FOR BOTH FY 25 AND FUTURE BUDGET YEARS, 
          [33. 
	
		
			25-54500
			Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Long Beach Fire Department regarding the Rescue 2 Peak Load unit staffing program and funding options for the City Council to consider to extend and enhance the pilot for both FY 25 and future budget years. (Districts 1, 2, 3, 6)
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Fire Department
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, AND SIX. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I'LL, UH, JUST GIVE A COUPLE COMMENTS BEFORE PASSING THIS, UH, ON TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN. 
          UM, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION. 
          UH, SO, UH, I MENTIONED JUST BRIEFLY THAT LONG BEACH HAS PROPOSED A NUMBER OF INNOVATIVE PILOTS TO TRY TO DELIVER BETTER SERVICE TO OUR RES RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY, UH, DURING PEAK LOAD TIMES TWO YEARS AGO, UH, WE SAW, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SAW SITUATIONS WHERE WE WERE RUNNING OUTTA RESCUES AND SOME REALLY SCARY MOMENTS. 
          AND SO, UH, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          WE WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR, OUR RANK AND FIRE FIREFIGHTERS FOR WORKING WITH US ON A PILOT. 
          UH, THAT SEEN HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL AND WE'VE FUNDED IT ON A, UH, TEMPORARY BASIS YEAR BY YEAR. 
          UH, AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATION HERE TONIGHT WILL LOOK, LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS FUNDING AND EXPLORE WAYS TO MAKE IT STRUCTURAL MOVING FORWARD. 
          UH, THAT SAID, WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN. 
          UM, YES. 
          UM, SO IF YOU WERE HERE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, BECAUSE YOU'RE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM, CAN YOU STAND UP? I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE TO ME. 
          UM, AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT A LITTLE TIME ON LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, I DON'T REMEMBER EVER SEEING PUBLIC SERVANTS COME TO COUNCIL AND ADVOCATE FOR TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB. 
          IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HEAR SAYING, I WANT MORE MONEY, I NEED BETTER BENEFITS. 
          YOU'RE SAYING I NEED TOOLS TO DO MY JOB. 
          THIS IS JUST INCREDIBLE. 
          I SEE YOU AND I HEAR YOU. 
          UM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FIRST, MAYOR, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, IS TO GO TO THE PRESENTATION AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND, UM, AND ASK, UH, THE QUESTIONS AFTER THE PRESENTATION IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU. 
          SURE. 
          THING. 
          AND COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT OR YOU WANNA, IF IF YOU'RE OKAY, GREAT. 
          WE'LL GO TO STAFF FOR PRESENTATION. 
          WE PLEASE. 
          YOU GUYS CAN SIT DOWN. 
          GREAT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          SO WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION TODAY. 
          UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF THE HISTORY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, AND SOME OF THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH ALONG WITH A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS TOOK SOME REALLY, UH, TOUGH TIMES, UH, ABOUT 10, 15 YEARS AGO. 
          AND, UH, THROUGH THE SUPPORTIVE MEASURE A WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT SOME RESTORATIONS. 
          WE'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE AS WELL. 
          AND THEN WE'LL GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO INVEST IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. 
          SO THIS IS NOW THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUR PEAK LOAD, UH, UNIT. 
          I REALLY GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE CHIEF AND HIS TEAM, UH, FOR TRYING TO FIND WAYS, UH, WITHIN THE DOLLARS WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE SERVICE LEVELS. 
          AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          UH, YOU HAVE SET THREE PRIORITIES FOR US AS YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES AND IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS. 
          AND SO THIS CERTAINLY FITS INTO YOUR PRIORITIES. 
          UH, AND SO, UH, WE WILL HAND THAT OVER AND THEN I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE FINANCIALS AND SOME OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE AT THE END. 
          AND THEN REALLY OUR NEXT ITEM IS ONE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT, HOW DO WE GIVE SOME DIRECTION ON PRIORITIES AND LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALLOCATED IN YOUR BUDGET. 
          AND IF YOU WANNA MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THERE, THEN YOU CAN GIVE ME DIRECTION TO DO THAT. 
          SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR FIRE CHIEF, DENNIS BUCHANAN. 
          THANK YOU, UH, SO MUCH. 
          UH, AL MONICA, I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          UH, OLIVER MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT ON PARAMEDIC RESCUE TO OUR PEAK LOAD UNIT. 
          SO THE MISSION OF LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TO PROTECT LIFE'S PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY. 
          SO SOME OF OUR CORE SERVICES ARE FIRE SUPPRESSION, RESCUES, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. 
          YOUR 
          [00:55:01]
FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A DIVERSE FLEET OF SPECIALIZED UNITS AND CREWS THAT RESPOND TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, INCIDENTS, TECHNICAL RESCUES, AIRCRAFT AND MARITIME FIRES. 
          EACH UNIT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING WE CAN RESPOND TO ANY EMERGENCY IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THE EFFECTIVELY FULFILL THE MISSION. 
          I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE VITAL ROLE OF OUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE IN PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY. 
          OUR HIGHLY TRAINED FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS PROVIDE RAPID LIFESAVING CARE IN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES FROM HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES TO TRAUMATIC INJURIES, EQUIPMENT OF ADVANCED MEDICAL TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY. 
          OUR PARAMEDIC RESCUE ENSURE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PRE-HOSPITAL CARE STABILIZING PATIENTS AND TRANSPORTING THEM TO LOCAL AREA HOSPITALS WHEN NEEDED, EVERY SECOND COUNT IN AN EMERGENCY. 
          AND OUR COMMITMENT IS TO DELIVER PROMPT, PROFESSIONAL, AND COMPASSIONATE CARE TO ALL LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, WORKERS AND VISITORS. 
          SO BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 10 AND FISCAL YEAR 13, THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCED SOME DEEP CUTS TO SERVICES IN ELIMINATING FIRE ENGINES, A FIRE TRUCK, AND A PARAMEDIC RESCUE AMBULANCE. 
          A TOTAL OF 62 SWORN POSITIONS ELIMINATED DURING THIS PERIOD. 
          I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR MEASURE A AND GRANT FUNDS THAT HAVE RESTORED 30 SWORN POSITIONS, THE RESTORATIONS OF CRITICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS FIRE ENGINE EIGHT AND COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, PARAMEDIC RESCUE 12, AND COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE, AND INVESTMENTS TO KEEP FIRE ENGINE 17 IN SERVICE IN COUNCIL. 
          DISTRICT FOUR ENSURES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PROTECTION TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE ENSURES OUR FIRE STATIONS REMAIN SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL. 
          BY INVESTING IN THESE ESSENTIAL FACILITIES, WE ENHANCE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY READINESS, EXTEND THE LIFE OF OUR FACILITIES, AND CONTINUE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          THE ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS FOR MEASURE A HELP ADDRESS CRITICAL CHALLENGES IN STAFFING, RESOURCES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          THESE INVESTMENTS FUNDED THE FIRE RECRUIT AND FIRE ENGINEER ACADEMY, WHICH HELP FILL VACANCIES IN THE FIREFIGHTER AND FIRE ENGINEER RANKS. 
          ENHANCE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY BY KEEPING FIRE ENGINE 17 IN SERVICE AND PROVIDE FUNDS FOR A TEMPORARY FIRE STATION NINE TO ENSURE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN CONTINUE RESPONDING QUICKLY AND THE EFFECTIVELY TO EMERGENCIES IN THE BIXBY KNOLLS AREA. 
          WHILE THE NEW FIRE STATION IS CONSTRUCTED, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS 23 FIRE STATIONS AND THE REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER. 
          THE KEY INVESTMENTS FROM MEASURE A TO OUR FIRE STATIONS AND TRAINING CENTER INSURERS. 
          THEY REMAIN SAFE, FUNCTIONAL, AND INCLUSIVE FOR ALL PERSONNEL. 
          THIS INCLUDES MUCH NEEDED MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ALL GENDERS. 
          THE INVESTMENTS FOR NEW FIRE STATION NINE ENSURES WE COULD CONTINUE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY WHILE GIVING OUR FIREFIGHTERS A SAFE, MODERN, AND EFFICIENT FACILITY TO OPERATE FROM. 
          I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN IMPROVING RECENT BUDGETS. 
          BUDGETS TO ENHANCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES, THE INVESTMENTS THAT PROVIDE SAFETY EQUIPMENT, ADDITIONAL STAFF, AND NEW FIRE ENGINES, FIRE TRUCKS AND AMBULANCES. 
          THESE INVESTMENTS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          WE APPRECIATE THE PRIORITIZING OF FUNDING FOR THE LARGE FIRE RECRUIT ACADEMIES, A FIRE FIRE ENGINEER ACADEMY, AND THE PILOT PROGRAM. 
          THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING PILOT PROGRAMS. AIM AT ENHANCING OUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD AMBULANCE UNIT IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, EXPAND RESOURCES, AND BETTER MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS. 
          I WANNA EXPLAIN TO YOU OUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CAPABILITIES. 
          ALL FIRE DEPARTMENT SWORN PERSONNEL ARE CERTIFIED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. 
          OUR PARAMEDIC ASSESSMENT UNIT IS A FIRE ENGINE THAT'S STAFFED BY ONE CAPTAIN, ONE FIRE ENGINEER, ONE FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, AND ONE FIREFIGHTER. 
          THE PARAMEDIC ASSESSMENT UNIT KNOWN AS A PAU. 
          THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO FIRE STATIONS WITH NO PARAMEDIC. 
          A LS AMBULANCE UNIT. 
          A PAU IS STAFFED WITH A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC AND IT'S FOCUSED ON EVALUATING PATIENTS, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE TREATMENT AND DETERMINING THE MOST APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CARE AND TRANSPORTATION. 
          LEMME EXPLAIN TO YOU THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT AND BASIC LIFE SUPPORT. 
          THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE 
          [01:00:01]
IS THE TERM NON-INVASIVE. 
          YOUR BLS AMBULANCE UNIT PERSONNEL, THESE ARE OUR AMBI OPERATORS. 
          THEY'RE TRAINED AS EMTS. 
          THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE DEEMED AN INVASIVE PROCEDURE WHERE THEY BYPASS THE SKIN OR ENTER THE AIRWAY. 
          YOUR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT, ALSO KNOWN AS A LS, THIS IS CARE PROVIDED BY OUR FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS. 
          EXAMPLES ARE TREATING AND TRANSPORTING PATIENTS IN CARDIAC ARRESTS, RESPIRATORY ARRESTS, CHILDBIRTH, ALTER LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS OR CHEST PAIN. 
          THEY CAN START IVS AND ADMINISTERED LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS, ADVANCED AIRWAY MANAGEMENT, ADVANCE CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT AND READ AKGS. 
          FOR THE PAST DECADE, THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS HAS REMAINED FLAT. 
          YOUR BASIC LIFE SUPPORT GENERALLY REFERS TO TYPES OF CARE THAT FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE EMTS AND OUR MS OPERATORS PROVIDE TO ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          EXAMPLES ARE BASIC FIRST AID, YOUR BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AND TREATING AND TRANSPORT PATIENTS WITH FRACTURES OR BODY PAINS OR MINOR COMPLAINTS. 
          I WANNA EXPLAIN TO YOU THE 9 1 1 PATIENT TRANSPORTATION WORKFLOW. 
          SO A NINE ONE ONE CALL IS RECEIVED BY OUR DISPATCHERS AT OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER. 
          OUR DISPATCHERS WORK FOR THE DISASTER WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF APPEARANCE AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT UTILIZES A TIERED DISPATCH SYSTEM TO ENSURE THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESOURCES ARE SENT TO EACH CALL. 
          THIS SYSTEM PRIORITIZES RESPONSES BASED ON THE PATIENT'S SYMPTOMS OF THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY, ALLOWING US TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES FOR CRITICAL PATIENTS, AND ENSURE THE BEST USE OF PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT UNDER THE TIER DISPATCH SYSTEM. 
          THERE'S BASICALLY THREE CALLS, THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CALLS. 
          THERE'S AN ALPHA BRAVO OR CHART RESPONSE. 
          SO YOUR LOW ACUITY CALLS SUCH AS ASSIST A PATIENT UP ARE ADDRESSED BY A FIRE ENGINE OR TRUCK. 
          THESE INCIDENTS ARE DISPATCHED AS AN ALPHA RESPONSE. 
          YOUR MODERATE EMERGENCY SUCH AS A FRACTURE BODY PAIN ARE ADDRESSED BY A FIRE ENGINE OR TRUCK. 
          AND AN E-M-T-B-L-S AMBULANCE. 
          THESE INCIDENTS ARE DISPATCHED AS A BRAVO RESPONSE AND THEN LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES SUCH AS YOUR CARDIAC ARRESTS, RESPIRATORY ARRESTS, STROKES, SEIZURES, SEVERE TRAUMATIC INJURIES, THEY'RE ADDRESSED BY A FIRE ENGINE OR TRUCK AND A PARAMEDIC A LS AMBULANCE. 
          THESE INCIDENTS ARE DISPATCHED AS A CHART RESPONSE WHEN OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS ARRIVE ON SCENE. 
          THEIR TOP PRIORITY IS QUICKLY AND THOROUGHLY ASSESSING THE PATIENT'S CONDITION TO DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE CARE AND TRANSPORTATION BASED ON THEIR FINDINGS. 
          THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL INCIDENT CAN BE UPGRADED OR DOWNGRADED. 
          THIS PROFESSIONAL DECISION MAKING ENSURES THAT EVERY PATIENT RECEIVES THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT TIME. 
          AND THEN BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE INJURY OR ILLNESS AS WELL AS HOSPITAL AVAILABILITY, WE DETERMINE THE BEST HOSPITAL FOR TRANSPORT. 
          BETWEEN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, LAKEWOOD AND LOS EL, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF FIVE HOSPITALS, BUT FREQUENTLY THESE HOSPITALS EMERGENCY ROOMS ARE FULL AND WE ARE ROUTINELY TRANSFERRING TO REMOTE HOSPITALS IN THE CITY OF SAN PEDRO, TORRANCE AND LA PALMA. 
          SO THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT PILOT AT THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT. 
          I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO ALLOW ME TO ADDRESS, ALLOW, ALLOW ME TO PUT RESCUE TWO AND TO LOOK AT THIS PILOT PROGRAM WHICH DEPLOYED A 12 HOUR SHIFT AMBULANCE. 
          AND THIS IS IN LIEU OF A TRADITIONAL 24 7 MODEL. 
          IT WAS PLACED IN SERVICE BETWEEN EIGHT IN THE MORNING AND EIGHT IN THE EVENING. 
          IN FISCAL YEAR 24, IT OPERATED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK IN FISCAL YEAR 25, IT OPERATES THREE DAYS A WEEK. 
          WE ALSO ARE PILOTING A NEW PAU PROGRAM. 
          THE PU IS A PARAMEDIC ASSESSMENT UNIT AND WE'RE USING THIS MODEL TO UTILIZE FIRE ENGINEERS AND FIRE CAPTAINS WITH AN ACTIVE PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION TO SERVE AS PARAMEDICS. 
          TRADITIONALLY ONLY FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE A PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION CAN SERVE AS A PARAMEDIC. 
          THE PU PILOT PILOT PROGRAM LEVERAGES OTHER RANKS AND CLASSIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS MEDICS IF THEY HOLD A ACTIVE PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION. 
          SOME RESCUE TWO PILOT PROGRAM FINDINGS I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU. 
          SO PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT, THE TOTAL CALL LOAD IN CALENDAR YEAR 2023 FOR PARAMEDIC A LS AMBU RESCUES 1, 3, 4, AND 10 WAS 25,000 715 9 1 1 CALLS. 
          WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE IS RESCUE 1, 3, 4, AND 10. 
          THESE ARE THE RESCUES THAT RESPOND TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND RESCUE ONE IS LOCATED NEXT DOOR. 
          THIS EQU 
          [01:05:01]
TO EACH AMUS RESPONDING TO 17 9 1 1 EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALLS EVERY DAY IN A 24 HOUR SHIFT OVER A CALENDAR YEAR 2024. 
          THE TOTAL CALL THOUGH FOR A PARAMEDIC A LS AMBULANCE RESCUE 1, 3, 4, AND 10. 
          AND THE RESCUE TWO PLO UNIT INCREASED TO 26,004 AND 93 9 1 1 CALLS THE RESCUE TWO PLO UNIT AID IN, IN ADDRESSING THE INCREASE IN 9 1 1 CALLS FOR SERVICE. 
          DURING THIS TIME, RESCUE TWO RESPONDED TO CLOSE TO NEARLY 3000 TOTAL CALLS RELIEVING THIS HEAVY WORKLOAD THAT'S PLACED ON BY MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE OTHER STRUCTURALLY FUNDED PARAMEDIC A LS AM UNITS. 
          PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT, THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS OUT OF UNITS FOR A TIME PERIOD GREATER THAN FIVE MINUTES FOR 167 CALLS IN CALENDAR YEAR 2023. 
          AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESCUE TWO P LOW UNIT, THIS DROPPED TO 42 CALLS IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024. 
          LEMME EXPLAIN SOMETHING WHEN WE'RE OUT OF UNITS AND AN A LS CALL COMES IN IF A RESIDENT CALLS AND NEEDS CALLS 9 1 1 AND NEEDS ASSISTANCE. 
          AND IF I AM OUT OF UNITS, THAT PARAMEDIC UNIT IS COMING FROM PROBABLY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          AND IF THAT UNIT IS NOT AVAILABLE, WE COULD HAVE A RESPONSE FROM THE CITY OF CERRITOS TOWARDS THE EAST. 
          I RELY ON ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY FOR AN AMBULANCE COMING OUTTA SEAL BEACH TO RESPOND TO SEAL AND TO LONG BEACH. 
          THAT'S WHAT OCCURS WHEN WE'RE OUT OF UNITS. 
          SO IT'S VERY IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE UNITS AVAILABLE WHEN OUR RESIDENTS CALL 9 1 1. 
          THE ADDITION OF PARAMEDIC RESCUE TWO HAS IMPROVED EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. 
          THE RESPONSE TIMES FOR PARAMEDIC RESCUE ONE IN 10 HAVE DECREASED. 
          RESCUE THREE REMAINED THE SAME, AND THEN RESCUE FOUR SLIGHTLY WENT UP. 
          BUT THIS INVESTMENT IN PARAMEDIC RESCUE TWO NOT ONLY BENEFITS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT ALSO IMPROVES CITYWIDE AMBULANCE AVAILABILITY. 
          SO COST ESTIMATES FOR THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD AMBULANCE UNIT IN FISCAL YEAR 25, TRANSITIONING THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT FROM A 12 HOUR THREE DAY A WEEK SCHEDULE TO A 12 HOUR SEVEN DAY A WEEK SCHEDULE TOTALS $419,840 IN PERSONNEL COSTS IN FISCAL YEAR 26 OPERATING THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT TO A 12 HOUR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SCHEDULE FOR 365 DAYS. 
          THAT TOTALS AROUND $1.2 MILLION IN PERSONNEL COSTS. 
          AND IN FISCAL YEAR 26, OPERATING THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT AS A TRADITIONAL PARAMEDIC, A LS AMBULANCE UNIT ON A 24 HOUR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, SCHEDULED FOR 365 DAYS TOTAL, APPROXIMATELY TWO $2 MILLION IN PERSONNEL COSTS. 
          WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN OVER TO CITY MANAGER TOM MONICA. 
          THANK YOU CHIEF. 
          SO, UH, WHILE, UH, YOU SEE SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING, UH, THE CITY IS STILL, UH, IN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UH, STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. 
          UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE, UH, A LOT OF OUR RECOVERY ACT DOLLARS VERY WISELY SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE FURTHER CUTS. 
          UM, WE'VE BEEN USING OUR MEASURE A DOLLARS AS WE CAN TO HELP SUPPORT, UM, OUR, UH, UH, POLICE AND FIRE, UM, OPERATIONS. 
          WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL CUTS, UH, BUT THAT HAS NOT LEFT A LOT OF MONEY TO DO ENHANCEMENTS WHILE YOU'RE ALSO FACING STRUCTURAL REDUCTIONS. 
          AND SO THINGS LIKE THE PEAK LOAD UNIT AND USING ONE-TIME DOLLARS, THOSE HAVE BEEN OUR STRATEGIES TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU HEARD, UH, THE FIRE CHIEF TALK ABOUT. 
          AND SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE UPDATING THESE NUMBERS IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, BUT THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SAW IN THE ADOPTED FY 25 BUDGET. 
          IS THAT CURRENTLY, UH, WE ARE FACED IN NEXT YEAR WITH A $30 MILLION SHORTFALL. 
          UH, AND THAT GROWS TO ABOUT 61 MILLION OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. 
          UH, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME POSITIVE NEWS. 
          UM, UH, MEASURE LB HAS BEEN APPROVED BY VOTERS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, THAT GOT OVER 80%. 
          UH, AND THAT SHOULD BRING IN SOMEWHERE AROUND $15 MILLION. 
          UH, AND SO WE WOULD STILL BE IN DEFICIT WITHOUT THAT, BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP. 
          UH, AND THEN WE DO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, MEASURE A AT SOME POINT, UH, THE COUNTY MEASURE A WHEN IT GOES INTO EFFECT, UH, IT WILL ALSO HELP US, BUT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, UNDETERMINED AT THIS POINT. 
          AND SO, UH, I DO WANNA REMIND THE COUNCIL OF THAT. 
          UH, I ALSO, UH, THE ITEM THAT WE GOT REQUESTED IS TO REALLY COME BACK AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION TONIGHT ABOUT, UM, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS IN THE CURRENT YEAR IF THE COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN THAT. 
          UM, AND, UH, AND THEN ALSO HOW DO WE, WE LOOK AT THIS IN A FUTURE BUDGET. 
          I DO WANNA POINT OUT ONE THING THAT IS COMING NEXT WEEK THAT IS CURRENTLY UNBUDGETED, BUT IT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR, OUR BASE STAFF LEVELS GOING IS WE ARE CURRENTLY IN, UM, FIRE STATION NINE, THE TEMPORARY FACILITY WHILE WE BUILD 
          [01:10:01]
THE NEW ONE NEXT WEEK, I'M GONNA HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA WHERE OUR RENT FOR THAT IS GOING UP. 
          UH, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE STAY THERE. 
          UH, WE'VE TRIED TO NEGOTIATE THE BEST DEAL THAT WE CAN, BUT WE'VE BEEN GETTING UNDER MARKET RATE FOR THIS LAST COUPLE YEARS. 
          UH, SO I AM GONNA HAVE TO RECOMMEND AND, AND I'LL FIND SOME SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO STAY THERE. 
          UM, WHILE, UH, WE COMPLETE FIRE STATION, UH, NINE, UH, WHICH THE COUNCIL IS ALLOCATED ABOUT $31 MILLION TO BUILD THAT BRAND NEW STATION. 
          SO I JUST WANNA DISCLOSE THAT THAT'S COMING NEXT WEEK. 
          AND SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OPTIONS? UM, UH, THE ORIGINALLY, UH, THE, UH, AGENDA ITEM FROM LAST WEEK HAD LOOKED AT ABOUT A $700,000 REQUEST. 
          THAT WAS, WE'VE DONE SOME MATH ON THOSE NUMBERS AND TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND IT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR IS ACTUALLY A LOWER AMOUNT. 
          SO IT'S DOWN TO $419,000. 
          AND SO, UM, WE DID PROVIDE SOME OPTIONS IN THE STAFF REPORT. 
          ONE, UH, WE ARE TO TONIGHT, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A LIST OF $2.3 MILLION IN OTHER, UM, ITEMS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED IN YOUR BUDGET. 
          UM, AND SO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK IN THAT, UH, LIST AND BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME THAT COULD BE, UM, REALLOCATED TO THIS HIGHER PRIORITY IF THAT'S A PRIORITY. 
          YOU ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY, UH, TO REEVALUATE ANYTHING THAT YOU APPROVED IN THE 25 BUDGET. 
          UM, OR WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT OTHER ONE-TIME DOLLARS. 
          I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND EVERYONE OF OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES THOUGH, IS THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO RUN A CREDIT CARD. 
          UH, THIS IS THE TOUGH DECISION THE COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE. 
          UM, WHENEVER WE LOOK AT BUDGET REQUEST IS, WHERE DOES THE DOLLARS COME FROM? AND SO I APPRECIATE THE ITEM BEING WRITTEN IN A WAY TO HAVE US, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND, AND LOOK WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE. 
          AND SO THE, THE OTHER ITEM ALSO LOOKED AT STRUCTURAL FUNDING. 
          I REALLY DO RECOMMEND THAT WE LOOK AT THAT AS PART OF YOUR OVERALL BUDGET IN FY 26, BUT IT'S, IT'S CLEAR IF THIS IS, IF SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DOING, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT. 
          OUR FIRST OPTION IS WHEN MEASURE A DOES BECOME AVAILABLE. 
          THAT IS WHAT MEASURE A IS FOR, UM, IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS OR INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          SO THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED A POTENTIAL ENHANCEMENT PROVIDED THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT OTHER REDUCTIONS. 
          SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO ADD WHEN AT THE SAME POINT YOU'RE FACING A LARGE DEFICIT, YOU HAVE TO SOLVE THE DEFICIT BEFORE YOU CAN DO ADDITIONS. 
          UH, WE ALSO HOPE TO LOOK AT SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. 
          UM, UH, THAT OR OTHER ITEMS THAT COULD BE REDUCED IN ORDER TO STRUCTURALLY ADD THIS, THAT IS AN OPTION AS WE LOOK IN OUR FY 26 BUDGET. 
          AND THEN, UH, GOING FORWARD, LOOKING AT OTHER REVENUE SOURCES THAT COULD BE GENERATED TO SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL OF THE, OF A UNIT. 
          SO WE, WE CLEARLY, UH, NEED MORE REVENUE IN THE CITY TO FUND THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US. 
          SO BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE. 
          AND SO THE ALTERNATIVE SERVER LEVELS, UM, SCENARIOS THAT, UH, THE CHIEF GAVE YOU THIS, BUT, UH, UH, UM, TO RUN 12 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, UM, IS 1.23 MILLION. 
          UM, OR TO PUT IT ON THE MORE TRADITIONAL SEVEN DAY A WEEK SCHEDULE OF 24 HOURS, THAT'S ABOUT $2 MILLION. 
          AND SO THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. 
          UM, I THINK IT'D BE, UH, GOOD TO, UM, GET SOME COMMENT AND, AND FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL. 
          AND I KNOW THAT, UM, A SECOND, UH, DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS TO TALK TO IT, AND THEN WE'LL LOOK TO YOU, MAYOR, ABOUT WHETHER WE WANNA HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM OR ON THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE, THE ONE THAT IS, UM, PRESENTING SOME OF THE FINANCIAL OPTIONS. 
          AND WITH THAT, WE'RE READY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. 
          GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YEAH, WE'RE GONNA, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ON THE NEXT ITEM ON WHAT, WHAT TO DO WITH IT. 
          JUST A FEW REACTIONS TO THE PRESENTATION. 
          FIRST OF ALL, UH, THANKS, TOM. 
          THANKS, CHIEF. 
          UH, WE LIKE TO SEE NUMBERS. 
          WE LIKE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE PILOTS THAT WE SUPPORT, UH, WHEN WE, MANY OF US JOIN THE COUNCIL TWO YEARS AGO, AND I BECAME MAYOR TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE WERE REALLY ALARMED BY, UH, THAT ALARMING NUMBER OF HOW MANY TIMES WE WERE OUT OF RESCUES. 
          AND WE CAME FORWARD AND WE WORKED WITH, UH, THE FIREFIGHTERS AND WORKED WITH YOU AND WORKED WITH TOM AND FIGURED OUT HOW TO, HOW TO PROPOSE THIS PILOT OF PEAK LOAD STAFFING. 
          AND WHAT YOU JUST TOLD ME IS 167 TIMES OUR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE THIS YEAR, 42. 
          THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PILOT. 
          SO YOU'RE DEMONSTRATING, UH, SIGNIFICANT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, A 75% REDUCTION IN, UM, THE TIMES THAT WE'VE, UH, RUN OUTTA RESCUES. 
          THAT THAT IS, THAT IS DEMONSTRATING ACTUAL RESULTS HERE. 
          IT'S UNDENIABLE. 
          WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THAT. 
          THE SECOND PIECE, I, I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT, THAT WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN, IN DOWNTOWN, IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE CITY BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM IS A SUM OF ALL OF ITS PARTS. 
          AND YOU HAD A SLIDE WHERE YOU WENT BACK IN TIME TO ALL THE CUTS. 
          I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING FOR STEVE NEAL IN 2010, UM, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME TELL THIS STORY, BUT IT MAKES SENSE TO TELL IT. 
          IT WAS THE OLD CHAMBERS, UH, STEVE NEIL'S SECOND COUNCIL MEETING AS A NEWLY SWORN IN COUNCIL MEMBER IN, IN JULY OR AUGUST. 
          WE, THE BUDGET WAS JUST INTRODUCED AND IT HAD A PROPOSED CUT TO PARAMETRIC RESCUE 12, AND HE WAS A NEW NINTH DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON, DR. 
          JOANIE AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS WERE FILLED, AND PEOPLE WERE HOLDING THESE BIG BRIGHT RED SIGNS, AND THEY DIDN'T SAY, SAVE RESCUE 12. 
          IT SAID, SAVE THE MUNICIPAL BAN. 
          AND NOT MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO, 
          [01:15:01]
TO, TO ADVOCATE TO SAVE RESCUE 12 IN THAT MOMENT. 
          IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY. 
          AND SO THE RESCUE WAS CUT AND THE BAND KEPT PLAYING. 
          THE RESULT WAS THREE MINUTES SLOW RESPONSE TIMES IN NORTH LONG BEACH, AND ABOUT A MINUTE CITYWIDE FROM TAKING THAT ONE RESCUE OUT FROM NORTH LONG BEACH. 
          AND WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING IS THAT PUTTING IN THIS PEAK LOAD STAFFING MODEL IN THE DOWNTOWN WHERE YOU'RE GETTING HAMMERED WITH CALLS ACTUALLY HELPS FREE UP RESOURCES ACROSS, ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY. 
          AND SO, AGAIN, OUR SYSTEM IS NOT JUST ABOUT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD VERSUS THE OTHER. 
          WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SUM OF ALL OF ITS PARTS AND DELIVERING BETTER SERVICES TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          THAT'S IMPORTANT. 
          THE THIRD THING I'LL MENTION BEFORE WE, UH, GO TO THE COUNCIL, UH, IS, UH, TOM, THANK YOU FOR WALKING THROUGH THE BUDGET. 
          EVERY DECISION WE MAKE, WE HAVE TO THINK OF IN THE CONTEXT OF, UH, OUR FISCAL PRUDENCE AND OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER SERVICES. 
          TWO YEARS AGO, WE WERE FACING DOWN A $90 MILLION STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, AS YOU SHOWED IN YOUR PRESENTATION. 
          NOW THAT'S, THAT'S GONE DOWN BY ABOUT A THIRD. 
          AND SO NOW IT'S AT ABOUT 60, 61 MILLION STRUCTURAL OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. 
          BUT BECAUSE WE WORK TOGETHER AND BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTED PUTTING FORWARD MEASURE LB ON THE BALLOT, AND BECAUSE ALL OF YOU SUPPORTED MEASURE LB, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER HAD A REVENUE MEASURE IN LONG BEACH PASS WITH MORE THAN 80% OF THE VOTE, UH, WHICH IS CERTAINLY HIS HISTORIC. 
          AND BECAUSE WE TOLD THE STORY OF HOW, UH, OUR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN OUR SERVICES, THAT $61 MILLION STRUCTURAL HAS GONE DOWN TO ABOUT 45. 
          AND THEN BECAUSE LA COUNTY MEASURE A, UH, WAS ADOPTED, AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHEN WE GET OUR OTHER PORTION, BUT WE'RE ENTITLED TO ANOTHER 25% OF OUR SALE, OUR SALES TAX, WHENEVER THAT KICKS IN, WHENEVER THE COURTS OR WHOEVER TELLS US WHEN IT KICKS IN, THAT'S ANOTHER $26 MILLION BASED ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS. 
          WHEN IT KICKS IN, IT MAY ACTUALLY BE HIGHER. 
          AND SO OF THE 61 MILLION, YOU JUST SHOW 40 TO 41 MILLION OF THAT DEFICIT IS TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE VOTERS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH LA COUNTY MEASURE A AND MEASURE LB, WHAT THAT SPELLS OUT TO US IS THAT OUR FISCAL PICTURE HAS GOT GOTTEN A WHOLE LOT STRONGER BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE VOTERS. 
          AND SO I WANT TO, I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT OUTTA THE WOODS YET, WE, IT, IT'S NOT TIME TO, TO SIGNIFICANTLY BOOST THE BUDGET, BUT IT IS TIME FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE. 
          IF OUR KEY PRIORITY, AS THE COUNCIL HAS SAID, IS TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN WE CAN MAKE STRATEGIC DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE DO SO. 
          UH, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR FOCUS ON GROWTH, ON REVENUE GROWTH AND FINDING NEW AREAS. 
          THE LAST THING I'LL JUST SAY IS THAT, UM, IF THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO US PROVIDING THESE SERVICES, WE HAVE TO FIND A BETTER WAY, A MORE, MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY TO FUND, UH, PARAMEDIC SERVICES AND FIRE SERVICES. 
          I MEAN, IT'S CLEAR TO US WITH THE EMERGENCY WE SAW ACROSS THE REGION, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PRESSURES ON US BASED ON THE CLIMATE, ARE GONNA GET EVEN EASIER MOVING FORWARD. 
          AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A BIG COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE, HOW WE SUPPORT AND FUND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN OUR CITY. 
          AND ON MORE COMPREHENSIVE BASIS. 
          I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH IS SUCH A BIG CITY WITH SUCH A BIG BUDGET. 
          WHY DO WE STRUGGLE WITH OUR RESOURCES? WELL, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE'VE NEVER DONE IN OUR CITY. 
          WHY DO MY STREETS LOOK DIFFERENTLY THAN LAKEWOOD? WELL, LAKEWOOD PASSED A REVENUE BOND, AN INFRASTRUCTURE BOND YEARS AGO THAT WE NEVER DID IN OUR CITY. 
          NOT ONCE HAVE WE PASSED A STREET AND SIDEWALK BOND IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. 
          NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S THE SOLUTION HERE, BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT A CITY OF OUR SIZE. 
          HOW DO WE STRUCTURALLY SUPPORT IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY, UH, THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE REALLY CARE ABOUT AND REALLY WANT IN OUR CITY? AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AS A COMMUNITY. 
          UH, SO I'LL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX AND WE'LL NOW GO TO, UH, GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN. 
          UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          BUT I TELL YOU, I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT ALL YOU FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DONE IN THE REGION, BUT IT'S TIME FOR US TO INVEST RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH AND MAKE, UM, MAKE THIS A PRIORITY. 
          WHEN I ASKED FOR THE PRESENTATION, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, UM, IT WAS BECAUSE IT'S A SERIOUS, UH, PUBLIC CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. 
          I MEAN, IF PEOPLE ARE CALLING 9 1 1, THEY EXPECT SOMEONE TO ANSWER THE PHONE. 
          IF PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR A POLICE, THEY EXPECT A UNIT TO ARRIVE. 
          AND IF SOMEONE HAS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THEY ABSOLUTELY EXPECT A, YOU KNOW, A RESCUE, UM, TO BE A AVAILABLE. 
          UM, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE OUT OF UNITS, YOU KNOW, FOR FIVE MINUTES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. 
          AND, UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UM, WE ARE, UH, RUNNING OUTTA UNITS ALL THE TIME. 
          UM, TODAY. 
          DID WE RUN OUT OF, UH, RESCUES TODAY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH? UH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN ALLEN. 
          I'LL HAVE TO CHECK WITH MY STAFF TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, YEAH, I, AND I DO KNOW THAT WE, THAT WE DID ACHIEVE 
          [01:20:01]
OUT AND WE RAN, YOU KNOW, WE RAN OUTTA UNITS YESTERDAY. 
          AND, UM, THIS IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. 
          IT'S ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, UM, THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF, OF RESCUE. 
          UM, AND I TELL YOU, NOT HAVING RESCUE TWO AT FULL CAPACITY PUTS LIVES, YOU KNOW, AT RISK. 
          UM, AND OUR CITY GROWS AND THE, THE, UH, EMS DEMAND CONTINUES TO RISE. 
          SO WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE, YOU KNOW, THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RESCUE TWO. 
          THE WORKLOAD OF EXISTING PARAMEDIC AMBULANCES IN LONG BEACH, UM, EXCEEDS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. 
          AND 2022, THE BUSIEST RESCUE UNIT HANDLED 16 TO 21 CALLS PER DAY, WHERE THE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR AN AMBULANCE WAS SEVEN CALLS PER DAY. 
          SO YOU GUYS ARE, YOU GUYS ARE WORKING YOUR BUTTS OFF. 
          I MEAN, YOU'RE WORKING HARD. 
          UM, OUR, UH, OUR EMS SYSTEM IS UNDER RESOURCED, UM, COMPARED TO THE REGIONAL STANDARDS. 
          UH, LONG BEACH HAS ONE A LS AMBULANCE PER 55,000 RESIDENTS, AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 21,000 AS COMPARED TO NEIGHBORING CITIES. 
          LONG BEACH REMAINS SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF EMS NEEDS, LEAVING PARAMEDICS STRETCH THIN AND ABSOLUTELY PUTTING RESIDENTS AT RISK. 
          RESIDENTS ARE FORCED TO WAIT EXTENDED TIMES FOR PARAMEDIC TREATMENT, AND IN SOME CASES THEY GO WITHOUT IMMEDIATE TRANSPORT, UH, TO THE HOSPITAL. 
          RESCUE TWO IS A VITAL RESOURCE AND WE NEED TO TAKE, MAKE SURE IT'S FULLY FUNDED TO ENHANCE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. 
          AND THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF SERVICE RESCUE TWO ADDRESSED, TREATED, AND TRANSPORTED, OVER 2,800 RESIDENTS ARE RESPONDING TO AN AVERAGE OF ONE EMS CALL EVERY 90 MINUTES. 
          SO ENSURING THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE RELIABLE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES REQUIRES AN INVESTMENT LIKE RESCUE TWO. 
          SO I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR, UM, YOU CHIEF. 
          SO THE, THE PRESENTATION, THERE WAS SOME THINGS IN IT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS RELEVANT AND A LITTLE BIT WATERED DOWN. 
          SO I THINK WE'LL JUST LET MY COLLEAGUES AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. 
          BUT, BUT, UM, BUT I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF MY TIME THAT I HAVE. 
          UM, IN THE FIRST EIGHT TO NINE MONTHS OF SERVICE IN 2024, RESCUE TWO MET OR EVEN EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AS MUCH, UM, AS NEEDED IMPROVEMENT TO OUR EMS SYSTEMS. THE COST OF THAT PERIOD WAS 835,000. 
          UH, ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION, DO YOU KNOW WHY, UH, YOUR REQUEST FOR 1.2 MILLION TO FUND RESCUE TWO FOR FY 25 WAS NOT APPROVED? I CAN ANSWER THAT. 
          SO, UH, WE LOOKED LAST YEAR AT DOING A $500,000 IMPROVEMENT. 
          THAT WAS, WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE RAN THAT PROGRAM. 
          AND THAT PROGRAM DIDN'T GET STARTED UNTIL PROBABLY AROUND JANUARY. 
          UH, AND SO THEN IT ENDED UP RUNNING, UH, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR $500,000 AND IT RAN OUTTA MONEY AT ABOUT JULY. 
          AND SO, UH, WE BROUGHT THAT TO THE COUNCIL. 
          UH, THAT WAS ONE THAT IT WAS SHOWING SOME RESULTS, BUT IT WAS ESSENTIALLY USING ALL THOSE DOLLARS ON A SCHEDULE THAT USED IT ALL UP IN SIX MONTHS. 
          AND SO THEN WE ENDED UP ADDING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AT THE END OF THE YEAR 'CAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT AND GET US TO FY 26. 
          UH, THEN LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR FINANCIAL DOLLARS, WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION TO ADD ANYTHING, UH, AT THAT LEVEL. 
          AND SO WE LOOKED AT, UH, THAT AS PART OF THE FY 26 BUDGET, UH, IN MY PROPOSED BUDGET, I PUT FORWARD AGAIN, THE 500,000, BUT THEN WE NEEDED TO MAKE THAT LAST THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR. 
          AND SO IT REALLY WAS A MATTER OF RESOURCES. 
          IT WASN'T A MATTER THAT IT WASN'T EFFECTIVE, BUT IT WAS HOW DO WE BALANCE ALL THE THINGS THE COUNCIL IS ASKING US TO DO? UM, AND THAT'S WHY IT WENT DOWN TO A THREE TO DAY WEEK SCHEDULE. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED, UM, UH, UH, OUT OF UNITS, BUT, UM, IT'S OUTTA RESCUES, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TERMINOLOGY. 
          SO I'M JUST GONNA, I'M JUST, FOR MY, FOR MY PURPOSES, I'M JUST GONNA SAY OUTTA RESCUES 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO. 
          SO THE NUMBER DECREASED FROM 1 67 TO 42, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT IS THERE AN ACCEPTABLE NUMBER, UM, TO EVER BE OUTTA RESCUES, IN YOUR OPINION? WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. 
          NO, YOU SHOULD NEVER BE OUT OF RESCUES. 
          UH, LIKE I SAY IN THE PRESENTATION, IF A RESIDENT FROM LONG BEACH CALLS 9 1 1 AND THEY NEED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE FOR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT, WE SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF RESCUES. 
          NOW, THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE YOU MIGHT BE OUTTA RESCUES AND WE USE AUTOMATIC AID, THAT'S THE AUTOMATIC AID SYSTEM. 
          JUST LIKE OUR PARAMEDIC RESCUE SOMETIMES MIGHT HELP OUT LAKEWOOD OR SEAL BEACH. 
          BUT AS YOUR FIRE CHIEF, I DO NOT WANNA BE OUT OF RESCUES. 
          AND JUST TO CLARIFY, SO OUT OF A RESCUE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE CITY TO GET A 
          [01:25:01]
RESCUE TO RESPOND TO THAT EMER, THAT MEDICAL EMERGENCY. 
          IS THAT WHAT THAT MEANS? THAT'S CORRECT. 
          SO BASICALLY WHEN I SAY OUT OF RESCUE, THAT MEANS MY NINE A LS RESCUES, AND THEN I HAVE A RESCUE TWO THAT'S THREE DAYS A WEEK. 
          SO AT TIMES I HAVE 10 RESCUES. 
          THEY'RE ALL COMMITTED TO AN INCIDENT. 
          A CALL COMES IN, JUST LIKE THAT WORKFLOW I SHOWED YOU. 
          AND THE CALL COMES IN TO THE A LS INCIDENT. 
          I DO, I NEED TO GET ANOTHER A LS AMBULANCE FROM A DIFFERENT CITY TO COME INTO LONG BEACH TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. 
          THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS OUTTA OUT RESCUES. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, AND THEN MAYOR, I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF, OF MY TIME HERE, BUT I, I CAN TELL YOU I HAVE, UM, I DO HAVE, UM, A MOTION THAT I WOULD LIKE, UM, FOR MY COUNCIL, UH, COLLEAGUES TO, UH, CONSIDER. 
          UM, AND, UM, AND THEN I'LL REQUE BACK UP. 
          SO THE MOTION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND, UM, AS A COUNCIL I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, I THINK WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SAVE LIVES. 
          AND THEREFORE I LIKE TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK INTO ANY FUNDS, UM, UH, THAT AREN'T OBLIGATED OR ANY FUNDING SOURCES TO FULLY, UH, RESTORE RESCUE, UH, TO FUND RESCUE TWO, UH, TILL, UH, THE END OF THE YEAR. 
          AND THEN, UM, I LIKE TO SEND THE, THE STRUCTURAL FUNDING, UM, FOR A 24 HOUR SEVEN DAY A WEEK SCHEDULE FOR US TO ASK THE BOC TO CONSIDER RESTORING THAT OR FUNDING THAT. 
          UM, IN THE FY 26 BUDGET PROCESS, I'D LIKE TO SEND THAT OVER TO THE BOC. 
          THAT WOULD BE MY, UH, MOTION. 
          AND THEN MAYOR, I'LL QUEUE BACK UP WITH THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS. 
          SURE. 
          SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA HANDLE, UM, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE END OF THE YEAR BUDGET. 
          SO, UH, MAYBE JUST ADD THE PIECE ABOUT, UH, MAKING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO BLC FOR THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET. 
          WE'RE GONNA DO THAT ANYWAY. 
          UH, SO MAYBE IF YOU LIMIT IT TO THAT, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE, MAKE THE MOTION ON THE NEXT ITEM. 
          OKAY. 
          IS THAT YOU, YOU, UM, YOUR AMENDED MOTION TO THAT? YES. 
          I'LL AMEND THE MOTION. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? I'M SECONDING. 
          OKAY, GREAT. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          UH, NEXT IS COUNCILWOMAN SORROW COUNCIL. 
          OH, ACTUALLY JOANIE, SORRY FOR DR. 
          RICK. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER . 
          IT'S ALL RIGHT. 
          WE GO, WE GO. 
          WE GONNA GET YOU THERE, MAYOR. 
          UM, THANK YOU CHIEF FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          UM, JUST PIGGYBACKING A LITTLE BIT, JUST, JUST CLARIFICATION, CAN WE ACTUALLY GET THE PRESENTATION BACK UP? YEAH, WE CAN PUT THAT BACK UP. 
          THERE WE GO. 
          UH, CAN I GO TO SLIDE 13? THERE WE GO. 
          UH, OKAY, SO ON SLIDE 13, UM, THE LAST, UH, BULLET POINT SAYS THE REDUCTION OF OUT OF UNIT CALLS WAS WHEN, I'M ASSUMING, WAS WHEN RESCUE TWO WAS RUNNING ON A SEVEN DAY MODEL, OR THE THREE DAY MODEL. 
          SO COUNT, SO IN CALENDAR YEAR 23, THAT IS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THAT'S 12 HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. 
          AND THEN IF WE SHIFTED, UM, STARTING IN DECEMBER OF 24 AND CURRENTLY, SO FROM DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY, NOW WE ARE THE MODEL OF THREE DAYS A WEEK DUE TO THE LIMITED FUNDING. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THAT MEANS THAT I'M ASSUMING THAT WE, IF WE CONTINUED WITH THE THREE DAY MODEL, WE MOST LIKELY WOULD NOT SEE THE SAME REDUCTION IN OUT OF UNIT CALL, LIKE THE SAME REDUCTION IN OUT OF UNIT CALLS IF WE CONTINUE WITH JUST THE THREE DAY MODEL AS OPPOSED TO THE SEVEN DAY MODEL. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, CAN YOU GO TO SLIDE 14? UH, THANK YOU. 
          SO JUST FOR CLARITY, SO YOU SAY AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FROM DISPATCH. 
          SO THIS IS SAYING JUST FOR EVERYONE'S CLARIFICATION, SAYING FROM THE TIME I, SOMEONE CALLS DISPATCH TO THE TIME IT ACTUALLY REACHES THE ADDRESS OF THE, OF THE CALL IN, OF THAT PARTICULAR CALL. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, YOU KNOW, I'M A DATA PERSON. 
          WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I THINK, I THINK YOU MADE A GOOD ARGUMENT AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, BUT I THINK WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT GIVES THE, UM, IT TELLS THE MESSAGE AROUND THE IMPACT OF, UM, THE PEAK LOAD UNIT RESCUE TWO. 
          SO IF I'M THE, IF I'M JUST THE, THE REGULAR PUBLIC AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS DATA, WHAT IS THE MAIN MESSAGE I WOULD WANNA SEND RESIDENTS AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT PEAK LOAD UNIT? WELL, THE MESSAGE YOU WANNA SEND HERE IS, SO YOU SEE THAT RESCUE ONE AND RESCUE TWO WHEN RESCUE TWO IS NOT IN SERVICE WHEN RESCUE TWO IS NOT IN SERVICE. 
          WE HAVE RESCUE ONE, RESCUE THREE, AND RESCUE FOUR AND 10 RESPONDING INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. 
          SO EVERY SECOND COUNTS. 
          SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MERCY MEDICAL CALL AND WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT A LS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CARDIAC ARREST, RESPIRATORY ARREST, EVERY SECOND COUNTS. 
          SO WHEN YOU SEE A REDUCTION IN RESCUE ONE, THAT COULD SAVE A LIFE. 
          AND IT'S SAME WITH RESCUE 10. 
          I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT THESE FIVE RESCUES THAT ARE UP THERE IN THAT SLIDE, THEY RESPONDED TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. 
          AS WE KNOW IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WE'VE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF HIGH RISES. 
          SO WHEN YOU SAY 
          [01:30:01]
I'M ON SCENE, THEY'RE AT THE LOBBY OF THAT HIGH RISE, AND NOW GET UP TO THE 20TH FLOOR, YOU SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSE TIMES. 
          IT'S SO RESPONSE TIMES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY. 
          BUT IT'S VERY IMPERATIVE THAT WE ARRIVE QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY IN THIS COMMUNITY HERE, WHERE YOU HAVE, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING IN UPPER, UPPER FLOORS OF HIGH RISE. 
          ALSO, THESE FIVE RESCUES ARE THE ONES THAT RESPOND TO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH. 
          AND THEN WHEN YOU RESPOND INTO A TERMINAL AND YOU GET ON SCENE, THAT'S A LONG WAYS UNTIL YOU GET TO THE PATIENT THAT IS ON THE VESSEL. 
          SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES. 
          IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE BEST RESPONSE TIMES IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IF YOU WANNA PROVIDE THE BEST ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT. 
          AGREED. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          NOW, I KNOW IN THE PRESENTATION IT SAID WHEN RESCUE TROUBLE WAS IMPLEMENTED AND THE SURROUNDING, BUT THE SURROUNDING RESCUES LOOKED LIKE THEY STILL HAD A BUSIER YEAR, RIGHT? SO WE SAW AN INCREASE IN CALLS. 
          UH, AND SO THOSE RESCUES TOOK ON ADDITIONAL THOUSAND CALLS COMPARED TO 2023. 
          UM, DO YOU SEE A TREND WHERE THE CALL VOLUME IS GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH? YES. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. 
          SO WHEN I, WHEN I LOOK AT DATA, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2014, MY MEN AND WOMEN WERE RESPOND TO AROUND 49,000 EMS CALLS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. 
          10 YEARS LATER, WE'RE AT 58,000. 
          NOW THAT'S AT 23% AND IT'S CONTINUING TO INCREASE STEVIE. 
          SO THIS PRESENTATION, I'M VERY GLAD THAT WE PUT RESCUE TWO IN SERVICE, BUT JUST COMPARING 2023 TO 2024, I HAD CLOSE TO A 4% INCREASE IN EMS CALLS. 
          THE DEMAND IS EXCEEDING SOME TIMES OF CAPACITY. 
          SO WHEN WE, I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA FUNDS TO ALLOW ME TO PUT IN THIS PEAK LOW UNIT, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, WE CONTINUE TO GO ON EMS CALLS. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          SO I THINK BETWEEN YOUR COMMENTS AND WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, I THINK AGAIN, IF WE THINK ABOUT PRIORITIZE, PRIORITIZING, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY HAVE SOME HARD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE EXPANDING THE CAPACITY, UM, OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR RESCUES. 
          UM, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? I CAN'T SEE NOW. 
          THERE WAS NO TIME. 
          OKAY. 
           I'LL CUE BACK UP. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. 
          YES. 
          UH, THANK YOU CHIEF AND FOR THE PRESENTATION AND COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN AND FOR BRINGING THE ITEM FORWARD. 
          I, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS THAT, UH, WAS BROUGHT FORWARD. 
          I WANNA ADD TO IT, UM, YOU KNOW, SLIDE 13, UM, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE RESCUE TWO PILOT PROGRAM FINDING, IT SAYS IN THE LAST BULLET THERE, IT TALKS ABOUT PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE P LOAD UNIT OR RESCUE TWO, IT WAS OUTTA UNIT FOR A TIME GREATER THAN FIVE MINUTES FOR 167 CALLS IN, UM, 2023, AND THEN AFTERWARDS, 42. 
          WHAT, WHAT I LIKE TO KNOW MORE IS WHILE THE CALLS HAVE DROPPED, HOW HAS THE STAFFING CHANGED? IS IT STILL THE SAME AMOUNT OF STAFFING? UM, SO YEAH, CAN YOU TELL ME, UM, ABOUT STAFF CAPACITY? 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. 
          SO, STAFF CAPACITY. 
          SO PRIOR TO THE RECESSION, WE HAD 144 SWORN FIREFIGHTERS DAILY TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY CALLS. 
          WE WENT THROUGH THE RECESSION AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAD TO TAKE SOME CUTS. 
          ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS TOOK CUTS, AND WE TOOK SOME DEEP CUTS. 
          AND GRADUALLY, I APPRECIATE US RESTORING THESE RESOURCES, BUT CURRENTLY WE HAVE 128 SWORN PERSONNEL TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY CALLS ON A DAILY BASIS. 
          OUR PARAMEDIC RESCUES BASICALLY HAS REMAINED FLAT. 
          WE'VE HAD NINE PARAMEDIC RESCUE A LS UNITS FOR THE PAST, BASICALLY FROM THE LAST 15 YEARS. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HAD. 
          AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR HAVING RESCUE TWO AS OUR PEAK LOAD UNIT. 
          BUT LIKE I STATED TO, UM, DR. JONES, RICK ODE, THE CALL VOLUMES CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND, AND OUR UNITS ARE STILL THE SAME. 
          SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO INCREASE OUR, OUR, UH, OUR RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE WE WE MEET THAT DEMAND. 
          THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. 
          THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING CONCERN. 
          YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY BACK IN 20 21, 22, 22, RIGHT IN, UM, THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM HAS BEEN OVERWORKED AND VERY MUCH FATIGUE. 
          AND I REMEMBER ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, SCARIEST THING WAS HAVING ONE OF THE, UM, YOU KNOW, FIREFIGHTER FALL ASLEEP, ONE OF THE PARAMEDICS, UM, YOU KNOW, HE, HE WAS SO TIRED HE FELL ASLEEP 
          [01:35:01]
WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AND, YOU KNOW, GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT IS, YEAH, EMT, THANK YOU. 
          I, I COULDN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHICH ONE, BUT I JUST REMEMBER THE VEHICLE. 
          UM, YOU, YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS WHAT I'M, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO, UM, ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND, AND, AND, AND ANSWER TO THE CALL AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE UNITS AVAILABLE. 
          SO I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE TALK ABOUT THE WELLBEING OF OUR FIGHTER FIGHTERS RIGHT NOW. 
          COULD YOU SHARE WITH ME, UM, HOW THEY'RE FEELING, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE THEIR, I MEAN, WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT I JUST WANNA GET A SENSE FROM YOU, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY FEELING LIKE THEY'RE OVERWORKED OR ARE THEY GETTING ENOUGH REST TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, UM, AS WELL? , UH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. 
          SO THAT, THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION TO, TO ANSWER, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, AND WE DO HAVE A, A WELLNESS PROGRAM, BUT WHAT I COULD TELL YOU IN THAT SLIDE UP THERE WITH THOSE FIVE PARAMEDIC RESCUES, THE ONES THAT RESPOND IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SOME OF THOSE PARAMEDIC A LS UNITS ARE PROBABLY THE BUSIEST UNITS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. 
          SO WHEN YOU'RE ASKING ME ABOUT OVERWORK, UM, IF THEY'RE RESPONDING BETWEEN 18 TO 22 CALLS IN A 24 HOUR SHIFT, YES, THEY ARE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TIRED. 
          SO I APPRECIATE THAT PARAMEDIC RESCUE TWO, WHICH HAS TAKEN SOME OF THOSE CALLS OFF THE OTHER STRUCTURALLY FUNDED A LS UNITS. 
          SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LOOKING AT, UH, DIFFERENT DELIVERY MODELS AND WAYS THAT WE CAN ENHANCE OUR RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THAT. 
          SO, AND JUST AS I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN, RICK ODI IS, I LOOK FORWARD TO FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. 
          BECAUSE IF WE ARE HAVING, UM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM OVERWORKED AND UNABLE TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY WHILE PEOPLE ARE IN DISTRESS, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF OTHERS. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. 
          UM, THANK YOU TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND TO THE CHIEF FOR THE REPORT. 
          UM, I'VE GOT ABOUT THREE AREAS THAT I WANNA TRY AND COVER IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE. 
          UM, SO FIRST OFF, I WANTED TO TALK A BIT ABOUT, UM, BEING OUT OF RESCUES. 
          UM, AS SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW, HAS LIVED IN LONG BEACH A LONG TIME, UM, LOOKING OUT AT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE HERE, I HAVE COME PERSONALLY TO COUNT ON THEM, UH, TO BE, UH, A RESCUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. 
          UM, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I'M ALSO LOOKING AT THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM WHO ARE HERE KNOW THAT I HAVE ALSO DONE RIDEALONGS TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN GET A PERSONAL FIRSTHAND LOOK AT SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND EMT SPECIALISTS ARE UNDER IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE KIND OF CONDITIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          SO THE CONCEPT OF OUT OF RESCUES IS NOT LOST ON ME. 
          UM, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT WHEN THEY DIAL 9 1 1, UH, THEY, THEY KNOW THAT A RESCUE IS ON THE WAY. 
          AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO CALL BACK, UH, BECAUSE YOU'RE WONDERING, DID THEY FORGET, UM, THAT YOU MADE THAT CALL? BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF RESCUES, UM, I KNOW THAT IT HAPPENS ALL TOO OFTEN, UM, THAT WE ARE OUT OF RESCUES. 
          AND YOU CHIEF HAVE SAID HERE TODAY THAT WE SHOULD NEVER BE OUT OF RESCUES. 
          SO I DO HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION. 
          IT'S KIND OF PUSHING THE ENVELOPE A LITTLE BIT. 
          UH, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT RESCUE TWO AT THE MOMENT. 
          UM, BUT GIVEN THAT RESCUE TWO GIVES US 10 RESCUES, UH, CHIEF, DO YOU THINK 10 RESCUES IS EVEN ENOUGH? I THINK FOR THE QUESTION, I THINK FOR THE QUESTION, UM, THIS IS TRASH INTAKE. 
          UM, WHEN I LOOK AT THE DATA, UH, AND THE STEADY INCREASE OF EMS CALLS, AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE TIMES THAT WE'RE OUT OF UNITS AND THEN RESPONSE TIMES AND LOOK AT ALL THAT, UM, NO, I DON'T THINK ONE A LS UNIT IS, IS SUFFICIENT. 
          UH, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS AND DISCUSS IT WITH MY TEAM, I THINK IT FOR, TO START OFF, I THINK IT'S TWO A LS TWO PARAMEDIC LS UNITS, AND THEN LOOK AT THE DATA. 
          BUT, UM, THESE CALLS CONTINUE TO INCREASE. 
          AND, UH, FOR THE SIZE OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AT A MINIMUM, I THINK WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT 11 PARAMEDIC A LS UNITS 24 7. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF. 
          I'M GONNA GO TO MY SECOND MATTER. 
          UM, AND THIS REALLY BUILDS UPON, UH, WHAT MY FELLOW COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ASKED ABOUT, AND THAT IS, UH, YOU ALL TAKE SO GOOD CARE OF US. 
          HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF YOU? I CAN IMAGINE THAT GIVEN THE INCREASE IN THE CALLS, UM, THAT ARE COMING IN YEAR OVER YEAR, WE KNOW THAT MORE RESCUES ARE NEEDED. 
          UM, AND WE ALSO KNOW 
          [01:40:01]
THAT WE NEED MORE PERSONNEL AS WELL, UM, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE. 
          UM, DO YOU THINK THAT WITH THE, UH, GIVEN THAT WHERE WE ARE WITH THESE RESCUES, NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING ENOUGH, DO YOU THINK THESE WORKING CONDITIONS ARE IMPACTING MORALE, EMPLOYEE RETENTION, OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT? UM, AND IF SO, HOW, HOW MIGHT THOSE BE IMPACTING, UM, OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO, TO MAINTAIN AS WELL AS RECRUIT, UM, NEW FIREFIGHTERS? WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, AND THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION TO ANSWER, RIGHT? UH, AND IT'S PERSONAL. 
          UM, YES, IT DOES AFFECT MORALE, UH, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING, UM, GOING ON THAT MANY INCIDENTS IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. 
          AND IF THEY ARE BEING RECALLED AND THEY'RE ON A SEVEN TWO HOUR SHIFT, AND NOW YOU PUT SEVEN TWO HOURS OF DATA MAIL AND EMS CALLS, UM, THAT IS TOO MUCH FOR OUR, UH, MY MEN AND WOMEN. 
          SO, UM, YES, IT, IT DOES AFFECT OUR RECRUITMENT. 
          UM, AND WE, IT'S, IT'S, UH, I DO LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, ENHANCING OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT WE, WE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS THE CALL VOLUME. 
          UM, AND, UH, I, I, I THINK WE'RE ON THE, ON THE PATH OF RESTORING RESOURCES AND LOOKING AT PILOT PROGRAMS, BUT, UM, WE, WE JUST HAVE TO, UM, CONTINUE MOVING THAT PATH AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN RESTORE 'EM IN, IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. 
          WONDERFUL. 
          THEN MY LAST MATTER THAT I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THE MAYOR AS WELL AS OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED IT, UM, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE A LONG TERM STRUCTURAL CONVERSATION WE NEED TO BE HAVING, UM, AS A COUNCIL. 
          UM, CONSIDERING CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE WITH SIMILAR CONDITIONS, UH, WE REALLY NEED TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT REVENUE SOURCES TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING AND THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE FROM THE PUBLIC, UH, REGARDING A LEVEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          SO WITH THAT, UM, I YIELD MY TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. 
          YES. 
          UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN, FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND ASKING ME TO SIGN ON A FEW WEEKS AGO. 
          UH, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE REALLY THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION. 
          I THINK, UH, I WON'T REPEAT THINGS. 
          I'LL TRY AND ADD TO THE CONVERSATION AND, AND PICKING UP WHERE, UH, COUNCILMAN THRESH TUK WAS TALKING ABOUT WELLNESS. 
          UM, I WANNA NOTE, SO THIS PEAK LOAD AMBULANCE WAS A PILOT PROGRAM. 
          UM, WHEN I WAS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WE WOULD START PILOT PROGRAMS ALL THE TIME TO GET THE DATA TO SEE IF THEY WERE EFFECTIVE. 
          UM, AND WE WERE REALLY BIG ON PILOT TO SCALE. 
          HOW DO WE MAKE IT BIGGER? HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE? UM, AND THIS, I THINK HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A, HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE PILOT. 
          THE DATA IS HERE TO SAY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN. 
          AND I TOO LOOK FORWARD TO THE STRUCTURAL CONVERSATION AS WELL AS, UH, THE SHORT TERM CONVERSATION, UH, THAT WE WILL HAVE ON THE NEXT ITEM. 
          AND I KNOW ON SLIDE NINE, YOU TALKED ABOUT, EXCUSE ME, IT MENTIONS THE PARAMEDIC ASSESSMENT UNIT AS A PILOT PROGRAM, AND AGAIN, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE EFFICIENT WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE. 
          AND THAT THIS TO ME LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE CAN INVEST IN AS A PILOT PROGRAM, UH, TO SEE THE EFFECTIVENESS, SEE WHAT DATA LOOKS LIKE IN SIX MONTHS AS AN ADDITIONAL WAY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF, UM, OUR COMMUNITY. 
          UH, I HAD THE HONOR OF SITTING HERE THIS MORNING IN THOSE SEATS TO WATCH 17 MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BE PROMOTED. 
          ALL OF THEM THANK THEIR FAMILY FOR BEING UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS JOB IS. 
          AND MANY OF THEM SAID, THIS IS MORE THAN A JOB. 
          UM, IT IS ABOUT A PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT 24 HOURS IN THE DAY, OR 72 HOURS IN A SHIFT, SOMETHING GIVES, AND OFTENTIMES IT'S THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF OUR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL. 
          UH, SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THEIR FAMILIES, NUMBER ONE, UM, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT OR WERE HERE THIS MORNING. 
          UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS WORK. 
          YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS IS TOUGH TO DO FOR 72 HOURS CALL AFTER CALL, AFTER CALL, UM, AND NOT ENOUGH REST. 
          AND WE KNOW THAT THAT ISN'T, UH, GOOD FOR RESIDENTS, BUT WE KNOW ESPECIALLY IT ISN'T GOOD FOR THE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE DOING THE WORK. 
          AND SO, AS WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FINDING THE SHORT TERM DOLLARS TO EXTEND THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, UH, TAKING THE TIME IN BOC TO TALK ABOUT WHAT A STRUCTURAL FIX LOOKS LIKE AND A RESTORATION LOOKS LIKE OVER THE LONG TERM, UM, AS WELL AS PILOT PROGRAMS LIKE THE PARAMEDIC ASSESSMENT UNIT AS BEING YET ANOTHER TOOL TO BE ABLE TO USE, UH, TO MEET THE NEEDS BOTH OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR FIRE PERSONNEL. 
          UM, SO I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE, UM, THE DATA AND THE DETAILS THAT HOPEFULLY, THAT HOPEFULLY WILL HELP US MAKE, UH, DECISIONS BOTH IN THE SHORT TERM AND THE LONG TERM FOR THE DEPARTMENT. 
          BUT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHIEF FOR THAT PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN FOR YOUR COMMITMENT 
          [01:45:01]
AND PASSION FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. 
          HAVING THE MOST FIRE STATIONS IN HIGHLY DENSE, UM, AREA OF LONG BEACH, I'M WAS HAPPY TO SIGN ON TO THIS ITEM, UM, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS HERE TONIGHT. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEROIC WORK THAT YOU DID IN THE WILDFIRES. 
          BUT NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEROIC WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOU IN THE MOMENT OF HIGH DISTRESS AND DIRE NEED. 
          OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE READY TO RESPOND AND ASSIST. 
          IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. 
          WE AS A CITY HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO SURE THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED. 
          I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER FOR THIS ITEM TODAY. 
          AND, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN ALAN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. 
          AND I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL FIND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THIS, UM, BECAUSE IT IS NEEDED. 
          AND THANK YOU AGAIN, CHIEF, FOR POINTING OUT THAT NO, IT IS NOT OKAY TO NOT HAVE A RESCUE ANY DAY. 
          AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL APPRECIATE AND WILL WORK HARD TOWARDS. 
          SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT PRESENTATION. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          UH, BEFORE WE GO AROUND TO THE SECOND ROUND OF, UH, COMMENTS, I'M GONNA SKIP THIS LINE, GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, THEN GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, THEN COME TO THE SECOND ROUND OF, UH, COMMENTS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, YOU'RE UP. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I APPRECIATE THIS ITEM COMING FORWARD. 
          THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY, UM, CHIEF TONIGHT TO START. 
          I, I APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE OVERVIEW OF THE 9 1 1 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CAP CAPABILITIES. 
          THE PAUS, A-L-S-B-L-S RESIDENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS. 
          IT'S A QUESTION THAT WE ARE GETTING IN OUR OFFICE, SO I, I THINK THE DEFINITIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR A RESIDENTS. 
          THE NATIONAL AVERAGES AS SHARED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN, ARE SO MUCH LOWER THAN OUR LONG BEACH AVERAGES. 
          DO YOU HAVE THOSE AGAIN TO SHARE? I, NATIONAL AVERAGES OF CALLS, I BELIEVE YOU SHARED THEM. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN, UM, ? YES. 
          I, I THEY WEREN'T, THEY WERE IN MY DATA WHEN I PRESENTED THE ITEM, BUT, UM, THEY WERE NOT IN YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION, BUT I CAN SHARE THOSE WITH YOU, YEAH. 
          OKAY. 
          RIGHT NOW, YES. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO WERE YOU AT ? OH, THAT'S OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          LET'S, LET'S MOVE ON. 
          HERE'S MY, HERE'S ONE QUESTION. 
          UM, WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE 4% INCREASE IN CALLS FROM 23 TO 24? AND IF YOU HAVE THAT ANSWER, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT BECAUSE WE NEED TO, WE SAW 167, 5 MINUTE, UH, LACK OF, UM, RESCUES VERSUS 42 WHEN WE HAD RESCUE TWO, BUT THIS COULD GO UP. 
          I THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, QUESTION, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN. 
          SO IT'S A, IT'S A COMBINATION OF MANY THINGS HERE. 
          SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CALLS THAT, UH, MY MEN AND WOMEN ARE GOING, YOU, YOU HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVING LONGER, RIGHT? AND NOW THEY REQUEST THEY NEED EMERGENCY CARE. 
          YOU HAVE UNINSURED RESIDENTS, YOU HAVE, UH, A LOT OF CALLS GOING INTO OUR, UH, PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. 
          AND WHEN YOU COMBINE ALL THAT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN ADDITION COMING OUTTA COVID, WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE A LOT SPECIAL EVENTS. 
          SO WHEN WE DO HAVE THESE SPECIAL EVENTS, YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN POPULATION IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. 
          YOU GET CALLS FOR THAT WHEN THEY'RE COMING INTO LONG BEACH. 
          AT LONG BEACH AND WHY THEY LEAVE LONG BEACH. 
          UM, SO WHEN YOU COMBINE ALL THAT, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THAT INCREASE IN CALLS. 
          BUT LIKE I STATED FROM 2014, IT'S A STEADY INCREASE. 
          AND JUST COMPARING FROM 2023 TO 2024, IT'S CLOSE TO 4% INCREASE. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, I THINK THE, THE LINE OF QUESTIONING'S BEEN GREAT, SO THANKS AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          I KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT, BUT THERE IS A LINE OF, UH, SPEAKERS HERE. 
          I'M GONNA, AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP PHILIP HANLIN, GABRIEL AVILA, TIM ISAACSON, MATTHEW WU, BRIAN VANDERWAL, CORY BARNETT, RYAN SWEENEY, DANIEL 
          [01:50:01]
WU, CATHERINE LANTER, SEWARD, KIM CRAWFORD, CHARLES JACOBIAN. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          I SAW YOU GOT PROMOTED. 
          MM-HMM . 
          AND LAMONT WINN. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          WHO'S PHILLIP? SIR, YOU'RE UP 90 SECONDS ON THE CLOCK. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          FIRST TIME, UH, JUST SOMETHING FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT. 
          HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN IT. 
          YOU GUYS, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. 
          UH, I'LL BEGIN WITH THE STORY ABOUT A 65-YEAR-OLD WOMAN CELEBRATING HER GRANDDAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY. 
          SHE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCES SEVERE CHEST PAIN. 
          WE ARRIVE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AND FIND HER WITH VERY LOW BLOOD PRESSURE AND A DANGEROUSLY FAST PULSE. 
          WE ARE A NON PARAMEDIC ENGINE, SO WE LACK THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND MEDICATIONS TO TREAT HER. 
          LONG BEACH WAS OUT OF RESCUES. 
          WE WAITED FOR HELP WHILE WE'RE, WHILE HER FAMILY PLEADED WITH US TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP HER. 
          AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, SHE STOPPED BREATHING, THEN WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST. 
          DESPITE OUR EFFORTS WITH CPR AND AN A ED AND A RESCUE ARRIVING ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, SHE DIDN'T SURVIVE. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          THIS IS A REAL CALL, UH, TOLD FROM FIRSTHAND PERSPECTIVE. 
          AND THESE ARE CALLS THAT HAPPEN EVERY DAY, SITUATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING ALL THE TIME HERE IN LONG BEACH. 
          IF YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT AND WHAT HAUNTS US, IT'S THE WHAT IF CALLS. 
          WHAT IF WE HAD A RESCUE THERE WITHIN THOSE FIRST CRITICAL MOMENTS? I'VE SERVED LONG BEACH CITIZENS FOR 18 YEARS. 
          I CONSIDER IT AN HONOR, AS DO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT AND ACROSS THE CITY SERVING RIGHT NOW. 
          OUR JOB IS SAVING LIVES AND RELIEVING SUFFERING, FACING INTENSE PROFESSIONAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES DAILY. 
          THE GRIEF OF LOSS LINGERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN RESOURCES FALL SHORT. 
          THIS GRIEF ATTACKS OUR MENTAL HEALTH FIERCELY. 
          AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT BEING THERE FOR ALL OF YOU WHEN YOU NEED US, WE ARE, WE ARE DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE, BUT WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO MATCH OUR DEDICATION WITH YOUR SUPPORT. 
          THOSE WHAT IF MOMENTS CAN TRANSFORM INTO SUCCESSFUL, SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES INSTEAD OF TRAGEDIES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR TIME. 
          ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, GABRIEL. 
          GABRIEL, YOU'RE UP 90 SECONDS THEN. 
          TIM ISAACSON'S AFTER GABRIEL. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          HELLO EVERYONE. 
          THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 
          I HAVE SERVED THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR FIVE YEARS NOW. 
          FOR THE LAST YEAR I'VE BEEN WORKING AS A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC. 
          EVERY DAY WE FACE UNCERTAINTIES, NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES AND MY FELLOW FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT ALSO FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH AS A PARAMEDIC. 
          WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IS WHETHER WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES IN THE CITY TO RENDER AID TO OUR RESIDENTS. 
          THE HARSH REALITY IS WE DON'T, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU A STORY THAT EMPHASIZES WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED, WHAT THE ADEQUATE RESOURCES. 
          ON MAY 8TH, 2024, DISPATCH RECEIVED A CALL FOR FOR A MIDDLE AGED MAN, UM, SORRY, IN RESPIRATORY DISTRESS. 
          FORTUNATELY, ENGINE 12, RESCUE 12, THE RESCUE I WAS ON THAT DAY, UH, STARTED PATIENT CARE. 
          INITIALLY A PATIENT WAS STABLE AND THEN WITHIN SECONDS, HE THEN WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST. 
          NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE WHEN WE GOT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. 
          WHEN I WAS THERE SITTING, AS I'M LEAVING THE HOSPITAL, I SAW THE PATIENT'S WIFE AND I TALKED WITH HER AND I TOLD HER THAT THE HOSPITAL'S DOING ALL THEY CAN TO REVIVE HIM. 
          I LEFT THAT HOSPITAL THAT DAY NOT KNOWING IF HE WAS GONNA BE A SURVIVOR. 
          WELL, LO AND BEHOLD, TODAY MR. HARLEY IS HERE WITH HIS WIFE DENISE, TO END UP, I KNOW I RAN OUTTA TIME THERE, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT EVERY DAY RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH ARE AT RISK BECAUSE WE HAVE INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES WHEN EVERY SECOND COUNTS, WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO ENSURE LIFE SAVING MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO SAVE THE LIVES. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND SUPPORT. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS TIM, THEN MATTHEW. 
          HI, UH, MY NAME IS TIM ISAACSON. 
          I LIVE AT 2 7 2 1 RUTGERS, UH, IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT. 
          UM, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN WITH THE DECLINE IN THE LEVEL OF PARAMEDIC SERVICES IN THE CITY. 
          I'VE WORKED IN THE CITY FOR 22 YEARS, 15 OF THOSE AS A PARAMEDIC. 
          I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 21 YEARS AND PURPOSELY BOUGHT A HOUSE IN TOWN BECAUSE I SAW FIRSTHAND THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE. 
          I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE PLACE THAT HAS BEEN SO GREAT TO MY FAMILY AND I I WANTED TO BE A LONG BEACH RESIDENT. 
          OVER THE LAST YEARS OUR, I'VE SEEN OUR DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO DELIVER TRULY 
          [01:55:01]
REMARKABLE SERVICE. 
          I'VE SEEN THE CALL VOLUME FOR SOME PARAMEDIC UNITS MORE THAN DOUBLE, AND I'VE SEEN STAFFING LEVELS REDUCED AND APPARATUS, UH, CUT. 
          I'VE ALSO SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT WE, THE LBFD HAVE NO LONGER BEEN ABLE TO COVER OUR, THE RUN LOAD IN OUR CITY. 
          NEVER BEFORE CAN I REMEMBER RELYING ON OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES TO COVER OUR WORKLOAD. 
          WE REGULARLY, REGULARLY NEED TO ASK FOR HELP FROM OTHER AGENCIES TO DO WHAT WE USED TO DO SO EXTREMELY WELL ON OUR OWN. 
          NOW, WHEN WE RUN OUT OF PARAMEDIC RESCUES, THE AREA THAT THAT I LIVE IN OFTENTIMES HAS NO AVAILABLE PARAMEDIC RESOURCES. 
          THE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR CITIZENS TO RESCUES IS 21,000 TO ONE IN LONG BEACH. 
          WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 55,000 TO ONE. 
          IT'S OVER TWICE THE NATIONAL STANDARD. 
          LOOKS LIKE I'M OUT OF TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND END THERE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS MATTHEW AND THEN BRIAN. 
          GOOD EVENING MAYOR. 
          CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UH, MY NAME IS MATTHEW WOO, AN ENGINEER, AN ACTIVE PARAMEDIC, UH, RIGHT NEXT DOOR AT STATION ONE. 
          UH, I WANNA THANK PHIL FOR SHARING THAT STORY. 
          UH, IT RESOLVES WITH ME NOT JUST AS A FELLOW PROVIDER, BUT BECAUSE I HAVE FAMILY IN TOWN THAT'S AFFECTED BY THIS. 
          UH, MY WIFE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE. 
          SHE'S A PROUD POLY GRAD AND MY MOTHER AND FATHER-IN-LAW STILL LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR TODAY. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WORRY FOR THEM, UH, WHAT IF THE ONE TIME THAT THEY CALL 9 1 1 IS ONE OF THESE TIMES WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM. 
          I'M SURE THIS WORRY IS SHARED BY ALL OF OUR FELLOW MEMBERS THAT ALSO RESIDE IN TOWN. 
          AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND ADDRESS OUR SHORTCOMINGS. 
          AND WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS HARD IT IS FOR US AS LONG BEACH FIREFIGHTERS TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE FAILED. 
          WE'VE FAILED TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH AND CHANGES OF THIS CITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE DECADES. 
          WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 69,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE LAST YEAR, REPRESENTING ROUGHLY A DOUBLING OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. 
          ALL THE WHILE WE HAVE FEWER RESOURCES TODAY THAN WE DID BACK THEN TO HANDLE THAT WORKLOAD, WHICH WE'LL ATTEST TO THE MENTAL, UH, TOLL OF THAT TAKES. 
          OF THOSE CALLS, 84% WERE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. 
          THE PROVISION OF WHICH HAS BECOME THE MAINSTAY OF MODERN FIRE SERVICE. 
          THE FOUNDATION OF THE 9 9 1 1 SYSTEM IS BUILT UPON THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATION THAT WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO HANDLE ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME AT THE DROP OF A HAT. 
          AS PROVIDERS, OUR EXPECTATIONS THAT WE'LL HAVE THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO UPHOLD OUR END OF THAT BARGAIN. 
          THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT WE CAN DO. 
          WE CAN'T BUILD A FIRE STATION FOR EVERY CITIZEN. 
          BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG SO FAR THE OTHER DIRECTION THAT THERE ARE TIMES THAT WE ARE UNAVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ANY AID. 
          ANOMALIES ARE EASY TO BRUSH ASIDE WHEN THEY FALL WELL OUTSIDE THE NORM. 
          HOWEVER, IF THEY START HAPPENING WITH IRREGULARITY, THE BORDERS OF UNCERTAINTY, THAT BECOMES THE NEW NORM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HENCE ALL OF US BEING HERE. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS BRIAN AND THEN COREY. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          BRIAN VANDERWAL, THREE 80 NDA. 
          I LIVE IN THE THIRD AND I WORKED WITH QUITE A FEW OF YOU ON INTERVIEW PANELS OVER THE YEARS. 
          UM, I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO HELP IN RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, UH, QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD. 
          UM, WE'RE DEFINITELY HAVING SOME, SOME ISSUES AND STRUGGLES WITH OUR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION DUE TO WELL-KNOWN CHALLENGES. 
          THESE CHALLENGES ARE BEING UNDERSTAFFED, INADEQUATE A LS RESOURCES AND INSUFFICIENT FUNDING. 
          THESE ISSUES NOT ONLY AFFECT OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WITH RECRUITMENT, RECRUITING NEW FIREFIGHTERS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE WELL AWARE OF THE STRUGGLES THAT WE FACE AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          THEY FOLLOW KIND OF UNDER THESE, UH, TWO MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS. 
          THE REPUTATION OF BEING UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDERFUNDED, DISCOURAGED IS TOP TALENT FROM APPLYING. 
          AND THEN OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE OFFERING BETTER SALARIES, SCHEDULES, WORKING CONDITIONS THAT DEFINITELY MAKE THEM A LITTLE MORE ATTRACTIVE. 
          IF WE CANNOT ATTRACT MOST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, RESPONSE TIMES INCREASE BURNOUT RISES AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT RISK. 
          BEYOND RECRUITING, KEEPING OUR EXPERIENCED FIREFIGHTERS IS JUST AS CHALLENGING. 
          WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES, CURRENT EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING EXCESSIVE HOURS LEADING TO FATIGUE, INCREASED RISK OF ILLNESS AND INJURY. 
          AND AS A SUPERVISOR, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT, THAT OUR OVERWORKED EMPLOYEES MAKE MISTAKES. 
          AND IN THIS PROFESSION IT'S CAN'T BE CATASTROPHIC. 
          FIREFIGHTERS ARE DAILY FORCED TO DO MORE WITH LESS. 
          AND THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER WHEN TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF HIGHLY TRAINED SKILLED FIREFIGHTERS HAVE LEFT THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE PAST HANDFUL OF YEARS. 
          LOSING A LARGE NUMBER OF TRAINED PERSONNEL IS NOT ONLY COSTLY, BUT IT TAKES YEARS TO DEVELOP THE EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO MENTOR NEW EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS HANDLE EMERGENCY SCENES IN A TIMELY MANNER. 
          ESSENTIALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE'VE LOST, WE'VE LOST WELL OVER 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN JUST THE PAST HANDFUL OF YEARS BY 
          [02:00:01]
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHOSEN OR BEEN FORCED TO GO TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN UNABLE TO STAFF AND THEN RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES. 
          SO WE MUST ADDRESS THESE ISSUES HEAD ON AND ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED FUNDING, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT. 
          AND, UH, BY FIXING THESE ISSUES, WE CAN NOT ONLY ATTRACT, BUT RETAIN DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE THANK YOU TO PROTECT THE CITY. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. 
          ALRIGHT, NEXT IS CORY, THEN RYAN. 
          UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. 
          UH, MY NAME IS CORY BARNETT. 
          I'VE BEEN A, UH, FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC WITH THE, UH, CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR 22 YEARS. 
          I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT TOO MUCH, UH, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AS WELL. 
          AND THAT PROBLEM IS HOW THE SHORTAGE OF RESCUES AND LONG BEACH AFFECTS OUR NEIGHBORING FIRE AGENCIES. 
          LONG BEACH IS NEARLY 500,000 RESIDENTS AND OPERATES WITH ONLY NINE A LS RESCUES. 
          THIS IS FAR BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT. 
          UH, AND AS A RESULT, WE RELY HEAVILY ON MUTUAL AID FROM LA COUNTY, LA CITY AND ORANGE COUNTY FIRE, WHICH CREATES A, A SERIOUS REGIONAL CHALLENGE FOR THESE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. 
          UM, SOME OF THESE THINGS INCLUDE INCREASED RESPONSE TIMES, UM, WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORING AGENCIES. 
          UH, RESPOND TO LONG BEACH, LEAVE THEIR OWN, UH, RESIDENTS VULNERABLE. 
          UH, NUMBER TWO, STRAINED RESOURCES. 
          A LS UNITS ARE PULLED FROM THEIR COMMUNITY, STRETCHING THEIR CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES IN THEIR JURISDICTION. 
          UH, NUMBER THREE, DELAYED CRITICAL CARE CONDITIONS LIKE CARDIAC ARREST AND STROKE REQUIRE IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION AND DELAYS CAN BE FATAL. 
          WE TALKED ABOUT THE 140, OR I'M SORRY, 106 SEVEN UM TIMES WE RAN OUTTA RESCUES, UH, FOR GREATER THAN FIVE MINUTES. 
          FIVE MINUTES IS AN ETERNITY ON A, ON A LLS CALL. 
          IT SHOULD BE ANYTIME YOU RUN OUTTA RESCUES. 
          IT SHOULDN'T BE A FIVE MINUTE CAVEAT TO THAT. 
          UM, IN ADDITION, UH, HIGHER COSTS OUTSIDE AGENCIES BEAR ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. 
          THE SOLUTION IS CLEAR. 
          WE MUST ADD MORE RESCUES. 
          STARTING WITH RESCUE TWO CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE CITY'S MOST POPULATED AREA. 
          IT WOULD IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES, REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON UH, NEIGHBORING AGENCIES AND ENHANCE, UH, PATIENT OUTCOMES. 
          LBFD IS AT A BREAKING POINT UNDER-RESOURCED, OVERWORKED AND UNABLE TO MEET THE CURRENT DEMAND. 
          IT'S TIME TO REINVEST IN OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES. 
          ENSURE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS RECEIVE THE LIFESAVING CARE THEY DESERVE. 
          BRINGING BACK RESCUE TWO IS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          NEXT RYAN. 
          GOOD. 
          RYAN? YES SIR. 
          AND AFTER RYAN, IT'S DANIEL. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          I'VE BEEN ASKED TO DISCUSS THE BURDEN OF BOUNCING FROM CRITICAL CALL TO CRITICAL CALL AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO TRANSITION BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY. 
          I COULD RECOUNT TALES OF BEING A FIREFIGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT AND ROUTE TO A CONFIRMED STRUCTURE FIRE AND THE CAUTIOUS EXHILARATION, EXHILARATION, EXHILARATION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. 
          ONLY TO HEAR DISPATCH COME OVER THE HEADSET AND SAY, ENGINE SEVEN, YOU'RE BEING DIVERTED TO A PEDIATRIC FULL ARREST, A BLOCK AWAY FROM YOUR CURRENT LOCATION, SECONDS LATER, HOLDING MY FIRST DEAD BABY. 
          THAT WAS THE SAME EXACT AGE AS MY NEWBORN. 
          I COULD SHARE STORIES OF MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF YOUR LBFD INVOLVED IN NEAR DEATH COLLISIONS, ON AND OFF THE JOB IN PER IN PERSONAL AND DEPART VEHICLES DUE TO ASTOUNDING SLEEP DEPRIVATION. 
          BUT I THINK THAT MENTAL HEALTH, HISTORIC DIVORCE RATES, ABJECT EXHAUSTION AND AND GROWING PURSUIT OF THERAPY IN THE FIREFIGHTING COMMUNITY AS WELL DOCUMENTED A RELEVANT SEG FEEL WORTH NOTING. 
          AND I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AS THE FIREFIGHTERS IN ATTENDANCE HERE TONIGHT, LIKE YOU COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. 
          I FIND IT REMARKABLE. 
          I CAN'T RECALL A TIME IN MY 10 YEARS WITH THE LBFD WHERE THIS GESTURE OF SOLIDARITY WAS REQUESTED, LET ALONE ANSWERED. 
          IN MY OPINION, IT SPEAKS TO THE SINCERITY AND SEVERITY OF OUR STANCE. 
          NONE OF US ARE POLISHED ORDERS. 
          WE ARE ALL RELUCTANT PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND THIS IS WILDLY OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE. 
          BUT MOSTLY WE ARE NOT CUT FROM THE CLOTH THAT ASK FOR HELP. 
          WE ARE THE TYPE TO FIND A WAY. 
          AND WHEN WE CAN'T FIND IT, WE MAKE A WAY. 
          AND YET HERE WE ALL STAND UNITED ASKING FOR THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO BETTER SERVE NOT ONLY OUR FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE DEPARTMENT SUFFERING THROUGH AN UNPRECEDENTED EXHAUSTION IN THE PARAMEDIC RANK, BUT ALSO AND MORE, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS COMMUNITY. 
          I PRAY THAT THIS REQUEST DOESN'T FALL UPON DEAF EAR EARS AND EXTENDS, UH, BEYOND THE NEED FOR RESCUE TWO BECAUSE CANDIDLY WE NEED IT. 
          GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS DANIEL AND CATHERINE. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          UM, SO AS WE HEARD EARLIER, UH, THE CITY SERVED BY 27 FIRE ENGINES AND TRUCKS. 
          UH, ONLY NINE PARAMEDIC RESCUES. 
          UM, BUT OF THESE 27 ENGINES AND TRUCKS, ONLY 12 ARE STAFFED WITH A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC WHEN WE'RE OUT OF RESCUES. 
          UM, NOT ONLY ARE THESE PATIENTS WAITING FOR A TRANSPORTING UNIT, BUT THEY'RE OVER HALF THE CITY, UH, WON'T RECEIVE PARAMEDIC LEVEL CARE FROM THE FIRST ARRIVING UNIT. 
          THEY WON'T RECEIVE MEDICATION OR TREATMENT FOR A HEART ATTACK OR THEIR LIFE-THREATENING CARDIAC EMERGENCY. 
          NO ADVANCED AIRWAY CAPABILITIES, NO BREATHING TREATMENTS FOR ASTHMA OR OR COPD. 
          NO MEDICATIONS TO STOP, STOP A SEIZURE, RELIEVE PAIN, OR REVERSE AN ALLERGIC REACTION. 
          NO WAY TO START AN IV OR TREAT BLOOD LOSS AND CERTAINLY NO WAY TO TRANSPORT TO A STROKE CENTER, TRAUMA CENTER OR ANY HOSPITAL. 
          UH, I'VE PERSONALLY BEEN ON A CALL, UH, WITH A PATIENT HAVING AN ONGOING UNTREATED SEIZURE FOR, UH, OVER 30 MINUTES. 
          AND UH, NOT ONLY DID THIS PATIENT HAVE TO WAIT TO BE TRANSPORTED, 
          [02:05:01]
BUT THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO RECEIVE POTENTIALLY LIFESAVING MEDICATION, UH, MEDICATION THAT I DIDN'T HAVE AND, AND A MEDICATION THAT COULD ONLY BE PROVIDED BY OUR PARAMEDIC RESCUES. 
          AND UNFORTUNATELY, I KNOW THAT MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT RARE AND, UM, MY COWORKERS BEHIND ME HAVE ALL HAVE THEIR OWN STORIES OF HAVING TO WAIT ON SCENE FOR EXCRUCIATING, UH, TIMES WITH A CRITICAL PATIENT. 
          UH, WHEN WE'RE OUT OF RESCUES, OUR RESPONDERS AND OUR COMMUNITY ARE LEFT HIGH AND DRY, UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE THAT WE, UM, SIGNED UP TO SERVE OUR CITY WITHOUT ADEQUATE UH, RESOURCES. 
          OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY ARE BEING SET UP, UH, FOR FAILURE. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          CATHERINE, YOU'RE UP. 
          AND THEN SEWARD. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME HERE TODAY ARE NOT THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT ASK FOR HELP. 
          THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HANDLE SOME OF THE MOST STRESSFUL SITUATIONS WITH RESILIENCE AND PRESS ON THROUGH UNBELIEVABLE STRESS. 
          THE FACT THAT WE'RE SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. 
          AS FIREFIGHTERS, WERE BUILT TO, TO HANDLE EMERGENCIES. 
          WE TRAIN FOR IT, WE PREPARE FOR IT, AND WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO ANSWERING THE CALL NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY. 
          BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CALLS NEVER STOP? UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE LACK OF RESOURCES IN THIS CITY, THIS IS A REALITY WE FACE ON A DAILY BASIS IN LONG BEACH. 
          WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? THE IMPACT IS TWOFOLD. 
          IT NOT ONLY AFFECTS US AS FIREFIGHTERS, BUT ALSO THE VERY PEOPLE THAT WERE SWORN TO PROTECT. 
          BELIEVE ME, WE DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE REACHING THE POINT WHERE WE'RE BECOMING DANGEROUS FOR US AND FOR THE CITIES CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH. 
          I CAN SAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I'M GLAD MY FAMILY DOES NOT LIVE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. 
          EVEN THOUGH I'M CONFIDENT WITH THE SKILL SETS OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE ARE FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE. 
          IT IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE FOR OUR CITY TO RUN OUT OF AMBULANCES. 
          IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          IF YOU NEED A PARAMEDIC LEVEL CARE, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT THAT AMBULANCE WILL NOT BE THERE IN A TIMELY MANNER BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING FROM ACROSS THE CITY. 
          THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THIS WILL COST SOMEBODY THEIR LIFE. 
          OUR OVERBURDENED DEPARTMENT IS NOW STRUGGLING WITH RETENTION, AND DUE TO OUR WORKING CONDITIONS, WE'RE LOSING NOT ONLY NEW RECRUITS, BUT SEASONED FIREFIGHTERS. 
          THEY SEE THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND KNOW THE GRASS IS GREENER ELSEWHERE. 
          AND I CAN'T SAY THAT I BLAME THEM. 
          THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS WILL WEAKEN THE VERY SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE CITY. 
          IF SOMETHING DOESN'T CHANGE, MANY MORE OF US ARE GONNA BE FORCED TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION FOR OUR HEALTH AND LONGEVITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, NEXT IS SEWER AND THEN CRAWFORD. 
          GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. 
          MY NAME IS SE KIM. 
          I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. 
          UM, MY IS ON FILE ON FOURTH AND MY FAMILY LIVES IN THE SIXTH. 
          WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IS THE LACK OF STAFFING AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO SERVE THIS GREAT CITY ANDS RESIDENCE. 
          I LIVED IN THE CITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS, BEEN A FIREFIGHTER FOR MORE THAN 17, AND WAS THE LEAD ARGUMENT RIDER FOR MEASURE LB, WHICH PASSED BY 80%. 
          THE CITY SKYLAND HAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED OVER THESE YEARS AND IS QUITE EVIDENT WITH ALL THE NEW HIGH-RISE AND MID-RISE CONSTRUCTION THAT THE CITY IS EXPANDING UP, DOWN, AND AROUND AT A BLISTERING PACE. 
          HOWEVER, THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFFING LEVELS AND THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES HAS NOT CHANGED. 
          ACTUALLY DAILY STAFFING HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM ONE FORTY FOUR, A HUNDRED FORTY FOUR FIREFIGHTERS TO 128. 
          SINCE I STARTED IN 2008, THE AMOUNT OF PARAMEDIC AMBULANCES HAS REMAINED THE SAME, WHICH EQUATES TO ONE PARAMEDIC PER 55,000 RESIDENTS, WHILE WITH FEWER HOSPITALS IN THE CITY DUE TO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL CLOSING ITS DOORS IN 2018. 
          IN 1960, THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYED 419 FIREFIGHTERS FOR A POPULATION OF 344,000. 
          WE CURRENTLY HAVE 381 FIREFIGHTERS FOR A PRO, UH, APPROXIMATELY 500,000 PEOPLE. 
          THAT MEANS THERE'S LESS THAN ONE FIREFIGHTER FOR EVERY 1000 RESIDENTS. 
          THIS IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE BECAUSE WE'RE AT A LEVEL LESS THAN LAFD STAFFING LEVEL, AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE MOST UNDERSTAFFED DEPARTMENTS IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF PER CAPITA. 
          WE WOULD NEED TO ADD THREE MORE RESCUES TO BE AT THE SAME RESCUE TO RESIDENT RATIO AS THE SECOND MOST UNDERSTAFFED FIRE DEPARTMENT NATION. 
          WE HAVE SEEN A DESTRUCTION AND CHAOS THAT HAS TRANSPIRED RECENTLY IN THE PACIFIC PALISADES AND THE POINTING OF FINGERS TO BLAME THAT ENSUED. 
          I AM NOT HERE TO POINT, I AM NOT HERE TO PLACE BLAME, BUT I'M STANDING HERE IN SOLIDARITY TO BRING AWARENESS FOR INEFFICIENCY. 
          THUS FAR, I HAVE FAITH IN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, IN OUR DEPARTMENT'S LEADERSHIP TO FINALLY WRITE THIS THING, SHIP. 
          WITH THE HELP OF LOCAL 3 72 AND THE SUPPORT OF UNITY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE THAT RESIDENTS DESPERATELY DESERVE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, SEWARD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, NEXT IS CRAWFORD AND THEN CHARLES. 
          GOOD EVENING MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME'S RICHARD CRAWFORD AND FOR THE LAST DECADE, I HAVE SERVED WITH AND OR HAVE SERVED AS A PARAMEDIC. 
          WORKING FIRSTHAND IN OUR COMMUNITY, I HAVE SEEN THE COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF DEDICATION, SACRIFICE, AND RESILIENCY OF OUR MEMBERS. 
          I, HOWEVER, HOWEVER, HAVE ALSO SEEN THE TOLLS, THE 
          [02:10:01]
MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLLS THAT OUR EVER-GROWING CALL VOLUME HAS PLACED UPON THEM. 
          I CURRENTLY WORK AT FIRE STATION THREE DIRECTLY UP THE STREET, WHICH HOUSES RESCUE THREE. 
          RESCUE THREE IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST RESCUES, NOT ONLY IN OUR CITY, NOT ONLY IN OUR COUNTY, NOT ONLY IN OUR STATE, BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. 
          OUR PARAMEDICS, REGARDLESS OF THE CALL VOLUME, ARE THE HIGHEST MEDICAL AUTHORITIES ON SCENE THAT EVEN SUPERSEDE MYSELF AS THE CAPTAIN. 
          THEY'RE MAKING LIFE THREATENING, UM, EXCUSE ME. 
          THEY'RE MAKING LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS IN THE HIGHEST, UH, STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. 
          THEY'RE TASKED WITH NOT ONLY ASSESSING, TREATING AND TRANSPORTING, UH, PATIENTS AND CONDITIONS THAT MANY CAN ONLY IMAGINE, BUT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CARE. 
          SO WHAT, UH, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE, WHEN THE VERY PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAVING THE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE PUSHED THROUGH OUR LIMITS? THE ANSWER IS VERY SIMPLE. 
          MISTAKES CAN HAPPEN. 
          THEY'RE HUMAN JUDGMENT SLOWS, REACTION TIMES DECREASE, THEIR ABILITY TO PROCESS CRITICAL INFORMATION IS DIMINISHED. 
          AND I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN FOR MANY YEARS. 
          THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION. 
          THIS IS WHAT OCCURS IN OUR CITY EACH AND EVERY DAY. 
          WE CANNOT IGNORE THIS ANY LONGER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. 
          ALRIGHT, OUR FINAL TWO SPEAKERS, PLEASE. 
          UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          MY NAME'S CHARLES OPIA AND I'VE BEEN WITH THIS ORGANIZATION FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS. 
          WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT PROMOTING TO ESCAPE AND LONGEVITY IN THE POSITION AS IT STANDS, THE LAST DECADE OR SO, FIREFIGHTERS HAVE LIMITED OPTIONS TO AVOID BEING A PARAMEDIC HERE IN THE CITY. 
          THE, THE POSITION SHOULD BE SOUGHT AFTER. 
          I COULD ASK YOU GUYS WHAT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OFFERS SUCH, UH, A BIG PAY INCENTIVE, UH, AND BENEFITS WITH NO VOLUNTEERS. 
          THIS IS A HUGE RED FLAG. 
          AS A FIREFIGHTER, YOUR ONLY REAL OPTION TO AVOID BEING SENT TO PARAMEDIC TRAINING IS TO TAKE A PROMOTIONAL EXAM FOR ENGINEER CAPTAIN OR HOPE TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL. 
          OR IN MY CASE, I WORKED FOR A, A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC FOR FOUR YEARS AND I VOLUNTARILY GAVE UP THAT 18% PAY INCREASE, UH, TO BE HOME WITH MY FAMILY. 
          I HAD TWO YOUNG KIDS, AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS HOME SOME DAYS, I WAS NOT THERE MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY, UH, IN THE EARLY AGES OF MY CHILD. 
          CHILDREN'S, UH, LIFE, UH, ALSO RUSHING INTO PROMOTE FOR POSITION IS NOT A GOOD, UM, UH, REASON TO PROMOTE AS IT STANDS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          OUR TRAINING, THE REASON WHY WE ARE SO GOOD AT WHAT WE DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS BECAUSE OF OUR TRAINING, WHEN WE SEND BRAND NEW, UH, YEAR IN A DAY, ROOKIE FIREFIGHTERS TO PARAMEDIC SCHOOL WITH LIMITED EXPERIENCE, UH, WE'RE THROWING THEM IN TO, TO PRETTY MUCH FAIL. 
          UH, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOLD AND SHAPE OUR YOUNGER FIREFIGHTERS GET A FEW YEARS EXPERIENCE UNDER THEIR BELT, AND WE NEED A BETTER PROGRAM. 
          SO THEY'RE, UM, UH, ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THAT, THAT SHOULD BE A SOUGHT AFTER POSITION. 
          AND CURRENTLY IT'S NOT, UH, THE MENTAL, UH, WELLBEING, UH, SOMETHING I LOOK FOR AS A COMPANY OFFICER IN THE DAY TO DAY FROM PERSONAL FRIENDS, UH, THAT I CONSIDER FAMILY. 
          WE NEED TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR THAT AT ALL TIMES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEVERMIND, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, MOCA. 
          YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TONIGHT. 
          FIREFIGHTERS WHO SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY READY TO PROTECT THIS CITY WITH EVERYTHING THEY HAVE WITHOUT HESITATION. 
          BUT YOU'VE ALSO HEARD SOMETHING ELSE. 
          WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO OPERATE UNDER A PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL THAT DEMANDS MORE WHILE PROVIDING LESS, PUTTING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITIES AND THEIR LIVES AT RISK EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          AND YET, WE ALWAYS ANSWER THE CALL WITHOUT HESITATION, NO MATTER THE DANGER, NO MATTER THE HOUR. 
          BECAUSE WHAT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT ISN'T THE FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. 
          IT'S THE THOUGHT OF NOT HAVING WHAT WE NEED TO SAVE A LIFE OR WORSE, THE INABILITY TO EVEN RESPOND TO THAT CALL BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF RESOURCES. 
          BUT NOW WE ARE THE ONES MAKING THE CALL. 
          WE'RE STANDING BEF, YOU KNOW WHAT, 3, 7 2, LET'S STAND OUT. 
          WE'RE STANDING BEFORE YOU IN OUR MOMENT OF NEED, ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH US, TO HAVE OUR BACKS THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS HAD YOURS. 
          WE NEED RESOURCES. 
          WE NEED SUPPORT. 
          WE NEED ACTION. 
          A SYSTEM THAT IS STRETCHED THIN IS A SYSTEM THAT BREAKS DOWN. 
          AND WHEN OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE OVERWORKED, BURNED OUT, UNSUPPORTED, THE WELLNESS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FEELS THE IMPACT. 
          THIS IS NOT A DEBATE ABOUT COMFORT OR CONVENIENCE. 
          THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY FOR US AND FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. 
          THE VERY PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT. 
          EVERY DELAY, EVERY GAP IN RESOURCES, EVERY MOMENT WE ARE STRETCHED TOO THIN, PUTS OUR COMMUNITY'S LIVES AT RISK. 
          MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE REFUSE TO FAIL THIS CITY. 
          IT'S NOT IN OUR DNA. 
          WE REFUSE TO LET OUR COMMUNITY DOWN, BUT WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE. 
          SO TONIGHT WE ASK YOU NOT JUST TO LISTEN, BUT TO ACT. 
          WE HAVE ALWAYS ANSWERED THE CALL FOR THOSE IN NEED. 
          [02:15:01]
NOW WE NEED YOU TO ANSWER OURS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          DANG, THAT WAS, THAT WAS POWERFUL. 
          LAMONT. 
          UH, BEFORE WE GO BACK TO COUNCIL, JUST A FEW REACTIONS. 
          YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST COMMENTING TO, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KIRK, 'CAUSE SHE REMEMBERS, UH, BACK IN THOSE DAYS WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, AND IF THIS ARMY SHOWED UP IN JULY OF 20 20 10, RESCUE 12 WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN, BEEN CUT. 
          AND THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO JUST HOW STRONG, I'LL SAY IT, LOCAL TH 3 7 2 HAS BECOME OVER THE, OVER THE PAST DECADE, 15 YEARS ACTUALLY ON DATING MYSELF, UH, HOW STRONG YOU ALL HAVE BECOME. 
          CONGRATULATIONS ON, UH, JUST THE WAY YOU'VE ALL PRESENTED AND STEPPED UP FOR LONG BEACH HERE TONIGHT. 
          JUST A, A A FEW INITIAL REACTIONS. 
          I THINK WHAT ALL OF YOU SHARED, YOUR PERSONAL STORIES, AND I THINK WHAT RESONATES WITH ME MOST HERE TONIGHT IS HEARING, UH, I THINK IT'S, I THINK MANY TIMES IT'S TAKEN FOR GRANTED. 
          IF SOMEONE GOES UP CALL AFTER CALL AND SEES VERY DEVASTATING, UM, HEALTH CRISES AND TRAGIC, YOU KNOW, TRAGEDIES AND WE COUNT ON YOU SO MUCH, AND YOU'D NEVER REALLY SHOW UP AND SAY, THIS IS HOW I'M AFFECTED BY THIS. 
          I'VE NEVER, NEVER IN, YOU KNOW, THE 15 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY AND CONSISTENTLY, YOU KNOW, I SELDOM EVER MISS A COUNCIL MEETING, EVEN SINCE I WAS A, A CHIEF OF STAFF. 
          I'VE NEVER, I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT KIND OF, UH, PRESENTATION, UM, SHOWING HOW, HOW YOU ALL ARE AFFECTED. 
          AND THAT RESONATES WITH ME BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO CARE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. 
          AND I, AND I, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO TELL US AGAIN. 
          UM, BECAUSE, UH, THAT WAS POWERFUL. 
          I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS HARD FOR YOU TO SAY, UM, AND TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP TONIGHT TO SUPPORT OUR FIREFIGHTERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          BECAUSE SELDOM DO WE HEAR, UH, VERY PUBLICLY FOLKS SHOW UP AND SAY, SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          UM, THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY HUSBAND. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND THANK, THANK THEM. 
          AND I'M JUST FORTUNATE AND BLESSED THAT WE HAVE A, A GREAT FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE. 
          THE OTHER THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IS IT WAS A LOT, A LOT OF PEOPLE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE A PARAMEDIC, A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC. 
          SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL, BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, AGAIN, I'M, I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, UH, OVER TIME, UM, WHAT WAS PREMIUM, WHAT THE DEMANDS WERE ALWAYS ABOUT, WERE ABOUT ENGINES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. 
          AND FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT A LONG TIME KNOW THAT. 
          WHEREAS THE MAJORITY OF OUR CALLS OVER TIME HAVE BEEN MORE AND MORE MEDICAL. 
          THAT'S JUST THE FACT OF LIFE. 
          THE MORE AND MORE MEDICAL CALLS. 
          AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE, UM, OVER TIME, LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE, WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN MORE, UH, MORE ATTENTION BEING BROUGHT TO RESCUES. 
          AND I, I WAS A, I WAS A PART OF THAT BACK WHEN WE WERE FIGHTING FOR RESCUE 12 THAT WASN'T INITIALLY RESTORED WITH MEASURE A. 
          WE HAD TO FIGHT AFTER MEASURE EIGHT INCLUDED. 
          BUT I WELCOME IT, I WELCOME A PIVOT TO FOCUSING ON, UH, MODERNIZING OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR RESPONSE TO MEET WHAT THE DATA TELLS US IS THE MOST GROWING DEMAND. 
          UM, I THINK, I THINK WHAT I'VE, WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM YOU AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK, BUT I I NEED TO JUST SAY THIS. 
          I THINK THOSE STEPS THAT WE'VE TAKEN WITH THE PEAK LOAD STAFFING STAFFING MODEL WAS IN RESPONSE TO, UH, THIS STANDARD OF, UM, OUT OF RESCUES, WHICH IS FAIRLY A NEW STANDARD THAT, THAT HAD NEVER BEEN, I'D NEVER HEARD A DEPARTMENT OR A CITY USE THAT AS A STANDARD. 
          I'VE HEARD NA, OTHER NATIONAL STANDARDS, BUT I'D NEVER HEARD THAT AS A STANDARD. 
          AND, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT IS A NEW STANDARD AND YOU ALL ARE PIONEERING SOMETHING VERY NEW, UH, BY SAYING WE SHOULD NEVER, EVER BE OUT OF A RESCUE. 
          AND, AND FOLKS WHO MAY NOT NOT KNOW, THAT'S A, THAT'S BOLD TO DO, TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT KIND OF STANDARD ON MEDICAL SERVICES THAT WAS IN RESPONSE. 
          THE CONCEPT OF PAU IS ALSO AN INNOVATION BECAUSE RESCUE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE ONLY, THE ONLY APPARATUS. 
          IF YOU HAVE TRAINED CAPTAINS AND ENGINEERS WHO ALSO, UH, ARE ABLE TO RESPOND, THAT'S A WAY OF GETTING, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUR RESOURCES OFF THE BENCH. 
          AND SO WE SUPPORTED THAT PILOT, BUT WE, BUT WHAT, WHAT YOU ALL ARE PROPOSING IS A FUNDAMENTAL TRANSITION IS WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. 
          AND I THINK WHAT'S NEEDED IS A REAL TRANSITION PLAN SO THAT IT'S LESS ABOUT KEEPING UP WITH CALLS AND MORE ABOUT TRANS TRANSFORMING THE PURPOSE AND THE ROLE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO MEET WHAT WE KNOW IS GROWING NEED. 
          AND AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION THAT, THAT IS SEEN IS VERY CLEAR TO ME TONIGHT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, UM, UH, MOVING FORWARD. 
          SO I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          WE'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL COMMENTS FOR A SECOND. 
          ROUND COUNCIL MEMBER X OTI, UH, I LEGITIMATELY ONLY HAD ONE QUESTION, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO JUST ECHO WHAT OUR MAYOR SAID AND I WILL SHARE THAT. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASS TOOK AND I WERE JUST SPEAKING AND WE WERE ACTUALLY, AS YOU ALL WERE COMING UP AND 
          [02:20:01]
TALKING AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THE AUDIENCE, WE ACTUALLY WERE COUNTING THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE BEEN FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS THAT HAVE BEEN IN OUR HOUSES FOR CALLS THAT WE HAVE HAD. 
          I THINK I'VE SHARED WITH SOME OF YOU ALL THAT I HAD A, UH, EMERGENCY AFTER MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN, I NEED AN A LS UNIT. 
          'CAUSE I HAD A MASSIVE POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE, UH, SUCH THAT MY HUSBAND COULD NOT TRANSPORT ME TO THE HOSPITAL. 
          SO I HAD TO HAVE AN AMBULANCE COME AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TO MY HOUSE. 
          AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE IDEA OF THEM NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO ME. 
          RIGHT? WHEN YOU CALL 9 1 1, YOU JUST ASSUME THAT AN AMBULANCE WILL COME IN A FEW MINUTES AND TAKE CARE OF YOU. 
          AND I DON'T THINK UNTIL THIS, UNTIL WE'VE HAD THE CONVERSATION OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT I EVER ENTERTAIN THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD BE OUT OF A RESCUE, RIGHT? OR IF I CALLED AND I'D HAVE TO CALL BACK, RIGHT? AS THE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MENTIONED. 
          AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, RIGHT? THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME HERE AND SHARE WITH US YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AROUND WHAT YOU'VE, WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE FIELD, RIGHT? AND GIVING US A FIRSTHAND LOOK. 
          'CAUSE SOMETIMES YOU SEE NUMBERS, RIGHT? AND I'M A DATA PERSON, RIGHT? BUT PUTTING FACES AND NAMES AND EXPERIENCES TO THAT DATA, COLORS THAT PICTURE SO MUCH MORE FOR US, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING. 
          SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING YOUR TIME. 
          I KNOW MANY OF YOU'LL PROBABLY JUST FINISH THE SHIFT OR GETTING READY TO GO TO A SHIFT, RIGHT? SO THIS IS A LOT TO ASK YOU TO BE AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILIES. 
          UM, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME AND SHARE YOUR HEARTS WITH US. 
          UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK, UH, CHIEF, JUST ON ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THE MAYOR HAD SHARED. 
          UM, AND IN ONE OF YOUR INFOGRAPHICS YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, AN ENGINE OR A TRUCK WILL RESPOND WITH A BLS OR A A LS UNIT. 
          WHEN WE HAVE A, WHEN WE HAVE A CALL, RIGHT, AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALL, UM, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ENGINES OR TRUCKS RESPONDING, UM, AND THEY GET THERE FIRST, RIGHT? SO IF THERE'S NOT A-A-B-L-S OR AN IS THERE, LEMME REPHRASE THAT. 
          WHEN SOMEONE CALLS, RIGHT? AND A TRUCKER AN ENGINE, UM, COMES RIGHT? SOMETIMES I IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU DON'T REALIZE INITIALLY THAT MAYBE AN A LS UNIT IS NECESSARY UNTIL THAT TRUCKER ENGINE IS ON. 
          THE IS IS IS ON THE FIELD, RIGHT? IS THAT THE, IS THAT THE LOCATION WHEN THAT HAPPENS? AND IF THERE'S NOT AND YOU KNOW, A UNIT AVAILABLE, WHAT HAPPENS? RIGHT? SO IF THEY CALL AND YOU GET AN ENGINE OR A TRUCK THAT, THAT, THAT GOES AND THEY'RE JUST LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE ACTUALLY NEED AN A LS UNIT. 
          UM, BUT THERE'S NOT ONE AVAILABLE. 
          CAN YOU WALK US KIND OF THROUGH THE PROCESS, PROCESS OF LIKE, WHAT HAPPENS THERE, RIGHT? BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OF OUR PILOT PROGRAMS, ET CETERA. 
          WHAT'S THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH TO ADDRESS THAT NEED? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. 
          UH, DR. 
          JOAN. 
          RICK. 
          SO ON THAT SCENARIO, LIKE I STATED, IN THAT TIER DISPATCH SYSTEM, YOU COULD UPGRADE AND DOWNGRADE. 
          SO ON THAT SCENARIO, YOU JUST PROVIDED A FIRE ENGINE OR A FIRE TRUCK ARRIVES ON SCENE AND TO DO ASSESSMENT, AND THEY REALIZE THAT THEY NEED A, AN A LS PARAMEDIC, A LS UNIT TO TRANSPORT THAT PATIENT. 
          AND IF THAT CALL DID NOT COME IN AS A CHARITY, THEY WILL UPGRADE. 
          IF WE'RE OUT OF UNITS, YOU WILL GET A RESCUE. 
          YOU, I MEAN, YOU'LL GET A PARAMEDIC AMBULANCE COMING TO YOU, BUT IT MIGHT BE COMING FROM A DIFFERENT CITY. 
          SO YOU WILL GET A, UH, AN AMBULANCE. 
          BUT AS WE STATED, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A, AN ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT, CRITICAL CALL AND TIME COUNTS. 
          SO WHEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR AN AMBULANCE FROM ANOTHER CITY, THEY WILL ARRIVE. 
          BUT IT'S NOT THE RESPONSE TIME THAT YOU WANT, AND THAT'S NOT THE SERVICE THAT OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE. 
          THANK YOU, CHIEF, THAT WAS ALL MY QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN ALLEN? UM, YES. 
          UH, THANK YOU. 
          UM, CAN YOU PULL UP, UM, SLIDE FOUR PLEASE? I JUST WANT YOU TO DO THAT. 
          I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, UM, RETENTION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AS RECRUITMENT. 
          UM, I JUST REMEMBER THE DAYS THAT, UH, LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS LIKE A LEGACY DEPARTMENT. 
          NO ONE EVER LEFT THIS JOB TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE CAME AND THIS IS WHERE, WHERE THEY STAYED. 
          AND SO TO HEAR THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF SERVICE IF IT'S 30, UH, UH, FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE'VE LOST. 
          BUT I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CONCERNING. 
          SO HOW ARE WE GONNA, YOU KNOW, KEEP THESE FOLKS? AND, UM, BUT SO MY QUESTION TO YOU, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS AND YOU LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, ELIMINATED, ARE THERE ANY PLANS OF, OF BRINGING OR RESTORING ANY OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED? WELL, THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION. 
          UH, COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. 
          UM, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA BE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE BEER PROCESS, AND, UM, AND WE'LL BE REQUESTING RESOURCES. 
          UM, AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, FUNDING IS A CHALLENGE FOR A LOT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, AND FUNDING IS A CHALLENGE FOR THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          AND AS YOUR FIRE CHIEF, YES, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS TO RESTORE THESE RESOURCES, UM, TO BRING RESOURCES, TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          BUT I DO REALIZE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. 
          IT'S A LARGE CITY, AND THERE'S A VARIETY OF NEEDS. 
          AND SO, UM, I'M GONNA ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND, 
          [02:25:01]
AND STAFFING AND PROJECTS FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURES. 
          OUR STATIONS ARE OLD, AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, BUT, UM, I WILL LEAVE THAT DECISION UP TO THE MAYOR AND, AND, UH, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE THE FUNDING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, CHIEF, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. 
          AND REALLY JUST A BIG THANK YOU, UM, TO ALL OF EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT, UM, BOY, YOUR, YOUR TESTIMONY WAS SO, UH, IMPACTFUL AND, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. 
          UH, AND LAMONT, YOU AS WELL, I THINK THAT REALLY HIT A HOME. 
          AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK WITHIN, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRIORITIES IN THIS CITY, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY. 
          SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO REFLECT AS A, EACH OF US IN OUR OWN WAYS, UM, TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT A PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, UH, RECEIVE A RESCUE AND THEY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. 
          I KNOW THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, SO I APPRECIATE, UM, UH, EVERYONE BEING HERE. 
          AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN RESTORING THIS AND FUNDING THIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN, UH, THANK YOU. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. 
          IT'S, UH, I'M JUST GONNA SAY IT'S A VERY RARE OCCASION, BUT WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF SOLIDARITY IN THE AUDIENCE. 
          AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO SPOKE. 
          IT'S ALSO VERY RARE THAT WE HAVE A NEWS REPORTER, THE STATURE OF RICK CHAMBERS IN THE, IN THE CHAMBER. 
          AND, UH, THANKS TO CHANNEL FIVE AND, UH, KTLA AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE THE STORY ON THE 10:00 PM NEWS TONIGHT. 
          UM, I HAVE ONE QUESTION I WANNA GET TO KIND OF THE NUMBERS AGAIN, CHIEF, SO IF YOU WANNA GET BACK TO ME ON THIS OR IF YOU HAVE 'EM, UH, HANDY, UH, YOU CAN LET ME KNOW. 
          BUT, UH, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF CALLS RESCUES RUN FROM 8:00 PM TO 8:00 AM AFTER PEAK LOAD RESCUE TWO GOES OUT OF SERVICE? I THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. 
          YEAH, WE'LL NEED TO GET BACK TO YOU WITH THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK, I DON'T, I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          I ALSO WANNA SPEAK BRIEFLY. 
          WELL, LET, LET ME SAY THIS. 
          SO WITH ALL THIS SOLIDARITY WE'RE SEEING IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THE SOLIDARITY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE SHOWED WITH ME ON THE RESTORATION OF ENGINE 17. 
          AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE SAME EFFORT HERE ON, ON THIS ISSUE MOVING FORWARD. 
          UM, ALSO JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE POINT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT MORALE AND, UM, EMPLOYEE RETENTION, WHATNOT, UM, THOSE TERMS, UH, NONE OF US ON COUNCIL REALLY CAN RELATE TO OTHER THAN COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN WHO SERVED AS A POLICE OFFICER, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MORALE THAN WE SEE. 
          AND JUST AN ANECDOTE FROM MY DAD WHO SERVED FOR 29 YEARS ON THE DEPARTMENT, I, I WENT TO HIM ONE TIME WITH, UH, AN ISSUE I WAS HAVING AT WORK IN, IN A SALES ORGANIZATION. 
          I KIND OF COMPLAINED ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE LACK OF SUPPORT WE WERE GETTING AND WHATNOT. 
          AND HE RESPONDED BY SAYING, TRY DEALING WITH THAT WHEN YOUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE. 
          AND NOT ONLY DO YOU OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE THAT, BUT AS WAS UH SAID, TONIGHT THEY'RE DEALING WITH LIFE AND DEATH ISSUES WITH THE VICTIMS THEY'RE HELPING. 
          SO THE IDEA OF MORALE ARE NOT SUPPORTING THIS GROUP IS JUST SOMETHING WE CAN'T TOLERATE. 
          WE HAVE TO GIVE 'EM 100% OF OUR SUPPORT, UH, BASICALLY BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND A GREAT VALUE THEY BRING TO OUR CITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          AND FINALLY, VICE MAYOR URANGA. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND I WANNA THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR COMMENTS. 
          TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I SUFFERED A STROKE. 
          YOU GUYS RESPONDED, YOU TOOK CARE OF ME. 
          IT, NOW I CAN BE SEEN AND NOT VIEWED BECAUSE OF YOU. 
          I NOW SIT ON THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND I PROMISE YOU WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THIS MARY, MARY CAREFULLY, BECAUSE THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
          IF NOT THE MOST, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE GET AS A, AS A CITY GOVERNMENT AND THAT WE GIVE AS A CITY GOVERNMENT, I'LL STILL RECOVERY, BUT IF NOT FOR YOU GUYS, I WOULDN'T BE HERE. 
          AND BECAUSE OF THE THE STRONG FEELINGS THAT I HAVE, I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA DO OUR DAMNEDEST TO KEEP YOU GUYS GOING, TO 
          [02:30:01]
GIVE YOU ALL YOU WANT, YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOBS. 
          IN THE PRIOR LIFE, I WAS RECRUITMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY. 
          I WORKED WITH, UH, THEN POLICE OFFICER CINDY ALLEN TO RECRUIT POLICE OFFICERS, BUT I ALSO WORKED WITH A BIG NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS, CAPTAINS, BATALION CHIEFS TO RECRUIT FIREFIGHTERS. 
          AND IT WAS A JOB THAT WAS VERY COED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA REGION IN IN THE COUNTRY TO WORK FOR LONG BEACH IN CLASS ONE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT CLASS ONE, NOT MEANING CLASS ONE, MEANING YOU HAVE ALL THE BREADTH OF EXPERIENCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR FIREFIGHTERS FROM HIGH RISES TO APARTMENTS, GARAGES, ROGERS, AND BRINGING DOWN CATS FOR TREES. 
          SO IF MY HANDS ARE OFF TO YOU, I APPLAUD YOU AND I'M GONNA DO THAT NOW. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAN. 
          ALRIGHT, WELL, WELL, UH, UH, THANK YOU ALL. 
          JUST TO WRAP, THAT WAS THE LAST COUNCILMAN COUNCIL COMMENT. 
          UM, UH, SO WHAT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS THIS IS A RECEIVING FILE WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO LOOK FOR STRUCTURAL SUPPORT IN THE FY 26 BUDGET. 
          ON THE NEXT ITEM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REST OF, UM, FY 25, UH, FOR THIS YEAR. 
          UM, TOM, YOU WANT TO, YOU WANNA, UH, UH, CHIME IN HERE ON A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT AND HOW, HOW WE'RE GONNA PROCEED MOVING FORWARD? YEAH, WELL, WE CAN CERTAINLY ON THE NEXT ITEM AND, AND, UH, UM, CLEARLY THERE'S, UH, A BIG NEED HERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THE COUNCIL, AND SO WE WANNA BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE SOLUTIONS. 
          UH, IT IS A ZERO SUM GAME, SO WE NEED TO GO BACK AND DO SOME HARD WORK TO SAY, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, DEFUND AND DEPRIORITIZE TO PRIORITIZE? AND THAT'S THE JOB THAT THE COUNCIL DOES. 
          UH, AND WE TAKE THAT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. 
          I, I DO WANNA UNDERSCORE THAT WHAT I THINK YOU'RE SEEING TODAY IS THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE CITY, UM, IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS. 
          UH, DURING THE CUTS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT TODAY, UH, WE LOST THOSE RESOURCES. 
          UH, WE ALSO LOST ABOUT 200 POLICE OFFICERS. 
          WE LOST ABOUT 800 CITY STAFF IN OUR, UM, IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS, IN OUR, IN OUR LIBRARIES AND OTHERS. 
          AND SO, UH, YES, WE HAVE BEEN ASKING OUR ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR AREAS, INCLUDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, TO DO MORE AS WE HAD TO RIGHT SIZE TO THE BUDGET. 
          AT THE SAME TIME WE SAW RISING PERSONNEL COSTS, WE SAW RISING COSTS FOR EVERYTHING FROM WHAT WE PURCHASED TO, UH, TO EVERYTHING ELSE. 
          AND WE'VE NOT SEEN OUR REVENUES KEEP UP. 
          AND SO I'VE BEEN REALLY THANKFUL TO THE COUNCIL, UH, WITHOUT MEASURE A, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THOSE RESTORATIONS, BUT ALSO MEASURE A SUPPORTS HUNDREDS OF POLICE AND FIRE POSITIONS THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE HERE HAD WE NOT HAD MEASURE A, WHICH ALSO FUNDS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          AND SO I DO THINK AS WE GET INTO OUR STRATEGIC RETREAT TO, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE, WE REALLY NEED TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS BECAUSE YES, WE NEED RESCUES. 
          YES, WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS. 
          YES, WE NEED MORE PARKS AND MORE LIBRARIES. 
          WE ALSO NEED MORE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. 
          WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT $2 BILLION WORTH OF SIDEWALKS AND TREES AND, AND OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. 
          AND SO BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THOSE NEW RESOURCES, BECAUSE WITHOUT NEW RESOURCES, IT IS A ZERO SUM GAME. 
          IF ONE AREA GOES UP, ANOTHER AREA IS GONNA GONNA FEEL THAT. 
          AND, AND I THINK WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RAISE ALL OF THAT UP TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT HIGHER LEVEL OF STANDARDS AND HELP OUR FIRE, UH, STAFF, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME OBVIOUSLY VERY HIGH CALL VOLUMES, UH, AND, AND SERVE BETTER OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL. 
          SO, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE REALLY SHOULD LOOK AT IN OUR STRATEGIC RETREAT. 
          AND THEN WE CAN TALK, UH, NEXT, UH, ABOUT THE ITEM. 
          UH, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR FROM THE MOTION, UH, THAT YOU'RE GONNA ASK ME TO COME BACK WITH ABOUT 420,000. 
          I FEEL CONFIDENT WE CAN DO THAT. 
          IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GONNA LIKE ALL THE SOLUTIONS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING YOU ONE BACK, UH, AS SOON AS TWO WEEKS. 
          UM, AND THEN BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEN LOOK AT IT, UH, FROM A FUTURE PERSPECTIVE. 
          GREAT. 
          YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING THAT'S, THAT'S, I'M VERY CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TONIGHT AND WHAT THE BUDGET PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE, UM, BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE A STRATEGIC CONVERSATION. 
          I THINK OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ADDING MORE, MORE DENSITY, SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, COMPREHENSIVELY IMPACT FEES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. 
          LIKE ARE WE GETTING WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS MORE DENSITY IN HIGH RISES? I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THE TECHNOLOGY, LITHIUM BATTERIES, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOW, UH, CREATING MORE DEMAND. 
          WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING CHIEF AND AS YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, HOW WE'RE ACCOMMODATING THOSE NEW DEMANDS AND HOW WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE OR RECOUP COSTS FOR THAT. 
          AND WE NEED TO ALSO THINK ABOUT THE TRANSITION THAT'S NE THAT'S NEEDED AS IT RELATES 
          [02:35:01]
TO LIKE, WE KNOW ADDITIONAL, WE SEE THE TRENDS ON MEDICAL CALLS. 
          AND SO WHAT, WHAT'S THE TRADE OFF HERE? UH, HOW IS THE DEPARTMENT GONNA LOOK IN FIVE YEARS AND IN 10 YEARS? THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT I'M INTERESTED IN HAVING AND NOT A PIECEMEAL, LET'S DO A PILOT HERE. 
          LET'S DO A PILOT THERE. 
          WHERE ARE WE GOING OVER THE NEXT DECADE SO WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY, THIS WAS THE, THE, THE TIME WHEN WE, WE FIGURED IT OUT. 
          UH, DESPITE CHALLENGES IN THE BUDGET, THAT'S REALLY THE CONVERSATION I'M INTERESTED IN HAVING. 
          BUT THAT SAID, THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, SHOWING UP MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. 
          MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          WELL NOW GO TO ITEM 32 PLEASE. 
          ITEM 32, REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 YEAREND 
          [32. 
	
		
			25-54434
			Recommendation to receive and file the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24) Year-End Budget Performance Report and increase appropriations in several funds across several departments for various purposes to reflect final expenditures. (Citywide)
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Financial Management
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
BUDGET PERFORMANCE REPORT AND INCREASED APPROPRIATIONS IN SEVERAL FUNDS ACROSS SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES TO REFLECT FINAL EXPENDITURES CITYWIDE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          STAFF REPORT PLEASE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO, UH, THIS IS OUR YEAR END REPORT. 
          THIS IS WHERE, UH, WE, UH, LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WHAT HAS GONE UP, WHAT HAS GONE DOWN OVER, OVER THE LAST, UH, 20 OR LAST 12 MONTHS. 
          UH, AND, AND WE'RE CLOSING OUT, UH, THE ITEM. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT $2.3 MILLION IN THE TITLE, IN THE, I'M SORRY, GENERAL FUND. 
          AND SO WE'LL GIVE A BRIEF REPORT, UH, THIS HAS BEEN OUT, UH, FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT. 
          AND THEN, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE A MOTION. 
          WE DO NEED TO APPROVE THIS TODAY. 
          UH, AND THEN, UH, IF WE WANNA ADD ON ANY OTHER MOTION AS WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE LAST ITEM, UH, WE CAN BRING THAT BACK IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. 
          SO I WILL TURN TO OUR, UH, BUDGET TEAM. 
          GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. 
          THIS REPORT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE CITY OF LONG BEACH'S FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET PERFORMANCE. 
          AND THIS PRESENTATION WILL HIGHLIGHT A FEW KEY PARTS OF THE REPORT, INCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND PERFORMANCE AND KEY RECOMMENDATIONS BEING MADE. 
          AS A REMINDER, THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND WAS ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER, 2023, PROJECTING AT THE TIME AN $8.8 MILLION STRUCTURAL SHORTFALL, WHICH WAS SLATED TO BE COVERED WITH ONE TIME FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT, SECURING OUR CITY'S FUTURE AND OTHER RESERVES SET ASIDE FOR THIS PURPOSE. 
          THE BUDGET INCLUDED ONE-TIME USES OF 26.9 MILLION FUNDED BY ONE TIMES RESERVED IN FISCAL YEAR 23, AND REVENUE FROM A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT DESIGNATED FOR WATER QUALITY RELATED PROJECTS. 
          IN JUNE, 2024, THE FISCAL YEAR 24 MIDYEAR BUDGET PERFORMANCE REPORT WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL, WHICH REFLECTED AN IMPROVED OUTLOOK FOR THE FISCAL YEAR AS A RESULT OF HIGHER REVENUE PROJECTIONS IN KEY SOURCES SUCH AS UTILITY USERS, PROPERTY AND TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAXES, AS WELL AS AM EMERGENCY AMBULANCE FEES, INTEREST EARNED FROM POOLED CASH AND A HIGHER TRANSFER FROM THE UPLANDS OIL FUND GROUP, ALONG WITH LOWER PROJECTED EXPENDITURES DUE TO SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FROM VACANT POSITIONS IN DEPARTMENTS AT THAT TIME, THE GENERAL FUND WAS PROJECTED TO END FISCAL YEAR 24 WITH AN OPERATING SURPLUS OF 10.8 MILLION OF WHICH 7 MILLION WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE HELD FOR CRITICAL ONE-TIME NEEDS AS A PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET FOR HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS. 
          THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES HOW THE GENERAL FUND EDITED FISCAL YEAR 24 WITH SUFFICIENT SURPLUS TO COVER 7 MILLION IN ONE-TIME, USES FOR CRITICAL AND PRIORITY PROJECTS IN FISCAL YEAR 25 PLUS AN AVAILABLE ENDING BALANCE OF 2.3 MILLION. 
          UH, THE FISCAL YEAR 24 GENERAL FUND SOURCES TOTAL 811.1 MILLION COMPRISED OF 724.2 MILLION IN REVENUE, AND 86.8 MILLION IN OTHER SOURCES, INCLUDING OF THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT ACTIVITY AND OTHER SOURCES IS LARGELY COMPROMISED. 
          COMPRISED OF A 29.8 MILLION RELEASE IN FUNDS EARMARKED IN FISCAL YEAR 23 THAT WAS PLANNED TO BALANCE THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET TO FUND CRITICAL ONE-TIME NEEDS AND 11.2 MILLION PLANNED TO OFFSET UNFUNDED NEGOTIATED LABOR COSTS APPROVED AFTER BUDGET ADOPTION. 
          AND AS TO THE USES THE FISCAL YEAR GEN FISCAL YEAR 24 GENERAL FUND USES TOTAL 813.4 MILLION COMPRISED OF 783.3 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES AND FISCAL YEAR 24 INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 30.1 MILLION IN OTHER USES, PRIMARILY MADE UP OF ENCUMBRANCES PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED ONE-TIME PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT FULLY EXPENDED IN FISCAL YEAR 24 AND WILL BE REAPPROPRIATED IN FISCAL YEAR 25 COUNCIL DISTRICT PRIORITY FUNDS. 
          AND THE $7 MILLION EARMARKED FOR CRITICAL ONE-TIME NEEDS PROGRAMMED AS A PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET. 
          AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, THE FISCAL YEAR 24 ENDING FUNDS AVAILABLE IS 2.3 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND GROUP. 
          THE ENDING BALANCE WAS PARTIALLY MADE AVAILABLE BY DEFUNDING APPROXIMATELY 0.8 MILLION IN PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED ONE-TIME PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE CITY MANAGER'S COVID CRITICAL RESPONSE SET ASIDE, AND A PORTION OF CLEAN ENERGY FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POWER MARKET COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM TO ALLOW FUNDS TO FALL TO THE BOTTOM LINE AND SUPPORT YEAR END PRIORITY PROJECTS. 
          THE TABLE ON THIS SLIDE OUTLINES THE PROPOSED USES FOR THE YEAR END FUNDS AVAILABLE, WHICH INCLUDES PER CITY POLICY, UH, POINT 11000005% SET ASIDE FOR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY COUNCIL'S FINANCIAL POLICY. 
          [02:40:01]
ADDITIONALLY, 0.7 MILLION FROM LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT BY PRACTICE WILL BE ALLOCATED TO SUPPLEMENT EACH RESPECTIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT'S ONE-TIME DISTRICT PRIORITY FUNDS FISCAL YEAR FUND ENDING FUNDS AVAILABLE IS ALSO REC RECOMMENDED TO FUND 1 MILLION FOR ONE TIMES IDENTIFIED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON VARIOUS STATES, INCLUDING ADOPTED FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR TRAFFIC CALMING STRATEGIES SUPPORT AND PROP ONE MATCHING FUND SUPPORT. 
          AND THE REMAINING 0.48 MILLION IS RECOMMENDED TO FUND ADDITIONAL PRIORITY PROJECTS SUCH AS VISUAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORT. 
          ONE MORE SEASON OF HOOPS AFTER DARK AND A REQUEST FROM THE POLICE OVERSIGHT DEPARTMENT FOR CONSULTING FEES FOR AUDITING SERVICES. 
          OVERALL GENERAL FUND REVENUES ENDED THE YEAR 27.3 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE FISCAL YEAR 24 MID-YEAR ESTIMATES OF THIS AMOUNT, 23.3 MILLION IS LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDING DESIGNATED TO COVER LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT USES PLANNED TO CONTINUE IN FISCAL YEAR 25, EXCLUDING REVENUES FROM THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUND YEAR-END GENERAL FUND REVENUES WERE 1% HIGHER THAN FISCAL YEAR 24 MIDYEAR ESTIMATES. 
          THIS SLIDE CAPTURES OUR MAJOR REVENUE DRIVERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, WHICH WILL ALSO INFORM PROJECTIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 AS WELL AS FISCAL YEAR 26, WHILE MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES LIKE PROPERTY TAX CAME IN AS ANTICIPATED. 
          THIS AND THE NEXT SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE MAJOR VARIANCES FROM FISCAL YEAR 24 MIDYEAR ESTIMATES, INCLUDING SALES AND USE TAX, UTILITY USERS, TAX AND FRANCHISE FEES AND INTEREST POOLED CASH COMING IN LOWER THAN THE JUNE, 2024 MIDYEAR ESTIMATE. 
          WHILE THIS SLIDE SHOWS THAT EMERGENCY AMBULANCE FEES AND BUSINESS LICENSE TAX CAME IN HIGHER THAN THE 2024 MIDYEAR ESTIMATE, THIS REPORT ALSO REVIEWS NOTABLE DEPARTMENT GENERAL FUND PERFORMANCE. 
          THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS ON THIS SLIDE REQUIRE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS IN THIS REPORT TO COVER UNCONTROLLABLE COSTS BEYOND WHAT COULD BE SUPPORTED WITHIN THE BUDGETED RESOURCES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, OR OPERATIONAL OVERAGES WITHOUT SPECIFIC OFFSETS, INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS STORM RESPONSE, INCLUDING POTHOLES AND TREE TRIMMING, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING WRITE-OFF OF UNCOLLECTIBLE REVENUES OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. 
          FIRE EFFORTS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN STAFFING, TO PROVIDE QUALITY FIRE SUPPRESSION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE OR BEAUTIFICATION OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RETURN OF STATE GRANT FUNDS FOR TINY HOMES PROGRAM. 
          A FEW OTHER KEY HIGHLIGHTS IN THE GENERAL FUND. 
          THE MEASURE A SALES TAX REVENUE UNDERPERFORMED DUE TO SIMILAR TRENDS IMPACTING SALES AND USE TAX REVENUE. 
          THE FUND ENDED THE YEAR WITH A 2.7 MILLION SHORTFALL AS ANTICIPATED AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24 MIDYEAR PROJECTION. 
          AND TO BALANCE THE MEASURE A PLAN, THE ANNUAL TRANSFER TO CIP WAS REDUCED, BUT WITH NO PROJECT IMPACT. 
          AS INTEREST EARNINGS ON UNSPENT 2023 LEASE REVENUE BOND PROCEEDS WILL BACKFILL THE REDUCED TRANSFER. 
          AND IN FISCAL YEAR 24 IN ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF 2.4 MILLION WAS MADE TO THE CITY'S EMERGENCY RESERVE TO BRING THE BALANCE UP TO 50 MILLION, WHICH IS WITHIN THE CITY'S POLICY MINIMUM OF 8% OF FISCAL YEAR 23 OPERATING COSTS AND IS 7.5% OF FISCAL YEAR 24 NORMAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY BELOW THE TARGET MINIMUM. 
          STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR RESERVE BALANCES AND PLAN FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS. 
          AND THE GENERAL FUND ALSO INCLUDE A, INCLUDED A PLAN TRANSFER FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE HEALTH OPERATING FUND TO PREVENT BUDGETARY FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM GOING NEGATIVE IN THE AMOUNT OF 7.8 MILLION, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 2.8 MILLION ABOVE WHAT WAS PLANNED FOR IN THE FISCAL YEAR, LARGELY DUE TO HIGHER THAN PROJECTED OIL REVENUES, THE TIDELANDS OPERATING FUND GROUP AND DID THE FISCAL YEAR WITH AN OPERATING SURPLUS OF APPROXIMATELY 16.5 MILLION. 
          IN ADDITION, 5.3 MILLION WAS RELEASED FROM RESERVES NO LONGER OBLIGATED AND AVAILABLE FOR USE. 
          THE ENDING BUDGETARY FUNDS AVAILABLE IN FISCAL YEAR 24 IS 21.8 MILLION OF WHICH 7 MILLION WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2024 AS A PART OF THE ADOPTED FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET FOR TIDELANDS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. 
          AND THE REMAINING BUDGETARY FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 14.8 MILLION IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE TIDELANDS AREA AS LISTED ON THE TABLE IN THIS SLIDE, THE MARINA FUND BALANCE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE. 
          ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT TO UTILIZE FUND BALANCE INCLUDES 1.5 MILLION FOR MARINE STADIUM NEW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, 2 MILLION FOR THE DAVIES BOAT LAUNCH RAMP, RESTROOM AND PARKING LOT PROJECT, AND 8 MILLION FOR ENTRANCE CHANNEL DREDGING AND PENINSULA BEACH. 
          ALSO OUTLINED IN THIS REPORT IS AN UPDATE FROM LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT, WHICH OUTLINES PROGRAMS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO FISCAL YEAR 25 AND A FULL REPORT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE RELEASED IN APRIL. 
          AND LASTLY, THIS REPORT INCLUDES VARIOUS BUDGET ADJUSTMENT REQUESTS TO ACCURATELY REFLECT FISCAL YEAR 24 YEAR END TRANSACTIONS AND MATCH APPROPRIATIONS TO EXPENDITURES. 
          LASTLY, AS UH, THE CITY MANAGER HAS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY TO FUND ANY POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS IDENTIFIED BY CITY COUNCIL AS A PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET, IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TAKE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS OR A COMBINATION OF REPRIORITIZING AN ITEM FROM THE 2.3 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 24 SAVINGS THAT IS AVAILABLE TO BE SPENT ON A HIGHER PRIORITY RECONSIDERATION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24 ADOPTED ONETIME PRIORITIES APPROVED IN BY THE COUNCIL AND NOT YET SPENT OR ALLOCATED FOR REPRIORITIZATION AND REALLOCATION OF PRIOR YEAR'S ONETIME PRIORITIES THAT REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR REPRIORITIZATION. 
          THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 
          [02:45:02]
ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU. 
          UH, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME, YOU WENT OVER, OVER IT QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY, BUT THERE WAS SOME PRETTY BIG STUFF IN THERE. 
          BIG INVESTMENTS IN TITLES, UH, SOME OF 'EM DIRECTLY RELATED TO, TO SOME OF OUR GROW LONG BEACH STRATEGIES, PREPARATION FOR 2028, UH, SOME OF THE, UM, INVESTMENTS AND FOCUS ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS RELATED TO SORT OF, UH, SEA WALLS AND THOSE THINGS. 
          UM, AND THE AMPHITHEATER, UH, INVESTMENTS, SO THAT'S BIG. 
          UM, ALSO NOTING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 
          UM, AND CERTAINLY WELL NOTED, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE END. 
          SO THAT SAID, WE'RE GONNA NOW GO TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI FOR MOTION. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          UM, YEAH, ALSO A GREAT REPORT. 
          UM, I ENJOY READING JUST, I ALWAYS LIKE TO TELL STAFF THAT THERE'S, I PROMISE YOU I READ ME AND MY STAFF, WE READ YOUR WHOLE REPORT, SO THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO IS READING YOUR ENTIRE BUDGETARY REPORT AND APPRECIATES YOU. 
          UH, AND SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO UPDATE THE, THE CURRENT MOTION, UM, THAT'S ON THE FLOOR. 
          SO, UH, AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO, TO, UM, ACCEPT THE MOTION THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND THEN ALSO AMEND IT, UM, AND MAKE THE CURRENT MOTION INCLUSIVE OF TO BE IDENTIFIED FUNDING FOR THE RESCUE TWO P LOAD UNIT THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED IN THE LAST ITEM, AND TO, TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THAT IN THE NEXT, AND TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, REGARDING HOW TO FUND THAT RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. 
          IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. 
          GREAT. 
          FANTASTIC. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, VICE MAYOR URANGA, UH, Y MOTION? GREAT. 
          ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. 
          MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          ALL RIGHT, GREAT. 
          OKAY, LET'S GO. 
          ITEM NUMBER 29, COMMUNICATION FOR MAYOR RICHARDSON. 
          COUNCILWOMAN THRASH ENUK CHAIR OF THE HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE. 
          RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER, 
          [29. 
	
		
			25-54498
			Recommendation to request City Manager, Community Development Department, and Health Department to partner with LACAHSA and LA County in developing a shallow subsidy program for vulnerable seniors and expanding the city’s First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program, include recommendations in the City’s ongoing budget development process to ensure support for these housing first strategies, and refer to the Housing and Public Health Committee for input and discussion.
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Rex Richardson, Mayor; Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Councilwoman, Eighth District, Chair, Housing and Public Health Committee
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT WITH L-A-C-A-H-S-A AND LA COUNTY AND DEVELOPING A SHALLOW SUBSIDY SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR VULNERABLE SENIORS AND EXPANDING THE CITY'S FIRST TIME HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
          INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE CITY'S ONGOING BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO ENSURE SUPPORT FOR THESE HOUSING FIRST STRATEGIES AND REFER TO THE HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE FOR INPUT AND DIS UH, DISCUSSION. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          UH, AS I OPEN IT UP, I SEE THAT SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKERS ARE LIKE OUT OF ORDER, SO LET ME KNOW IF THESE ARE THE COMPLETE FOUR OR IF THEY'RE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. 
          ALRIGHT, SO, UH, TODAY, UH, WE'RE INTRODUCING, UH, ANOTHER ITEM IN A SERIES OF ACTION ITEMS THAT I INTRODUCED AT THE STATE OF THE CITY, UH, IN JANUARY. 
          AND ALL OF THESE ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES FOR THIS YEAR. 
          LAST MONTH WE, UH, PARTNERED WITH OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO BRING FORWARD AN ITEM RELATED TO THE CITY'S FLEET TRANSITION, AND THEN WE DID AN ITEM RELATED TO SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND. 
          THIS WEEK WE'RE FOCUSED ON HOUSING, SO I'M PROUD TO PARTNER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH INTU, WHO'S CHAIR OF OUR H OUR HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE ON AN IMPORTANT CALL TO ACTION TO EXPAND LOCAL HOUSING SOLUTIONS BY STRATEGICALLY LEVERAGING NEW REVENUE AVAILABLE TO LONG BEACH FROM LA COUNTY. 
          MEASURE A LA COUNTY MEASURE A WAS APPROVED BY 57% OF THE VOTERS THIS PAST NOVEMBER, AND WE REACHED AN IMPRESSIVE 60%. 
          WE BEAT 60% IN LONG BEACH. 
          SO LONG BEACH ACTUALLY OVERPERFORMED THE COUNTY ON MEASURE A LA COUNTY MEASURE A'S NEW REVENUE MEASURE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE REGION'S HOUSING CRISIS. 
          RATHER THAN ADDRESS IT CITY BY CITY, IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL, UH, HOUSING SOLUTION AND FUNDING SOLUTION, UH, THAT CREATED DEDICATED REVENUE TO BUILD AND TO PRESERVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND SUPPORT OUTREACH AND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUAL AND FAM INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING INSECURITY AND HOMELESSNESS. 
          SO WE'VE BEEN AT THE TABLE, UH, HELPING TO ADVOCATE FOR THESE RESOURCES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. 
          UH, BACK IN 2020 WHEN I SERVED AS CHAIR OF LA CASA, UH, EXCUSE ME, CHAIR OF SCAG, WHEN WE PASSED THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT, UH, WE RECOMMENDED THAT NEW AGENCIES BE CREATED TO HELP ACTUALLY BUILD THE HOUSING UNITS THAT WE NEED. 
          AND SO, UH, THAT'S HOW LA CASA WAS ESTABLISHED. 
          UH, THE AGENCY IS REFERENCED HERE, AND THEN WE CONTINUED TO WORK AT THE TABLE WITH LEADERS ACROSS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY NEIGHBORHOODS, NEIGHBORING CITIES, TENANT GROUPS, UH, LABOR GROUPS, DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS IN SUPPORTING LA COUNTY MEASURE 
          [02:50:01]
A, WHICH IS THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR LA CASA. 
          AND NOW I'M CHAIR OF LA CASA LA COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS AGENCY. 
          THIS IS THE AGENCY THAT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE NEW FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTY RELATED TO HOUSING STRATEGIES. 
          AND SO WE'RE CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING LA CASA'S FIVE YEAR FUNDING PLAN OR MEASURE A'S FIVE YEAR FUNDING PLAN TO DEVELOP THE LARGEST SOCIAL IMPACT FUND FOR HOUSING AND TO DIRECTLY FUND CITIES. 
          THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS EXPECTED AS A RESULT OF MEASURE A, TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY A BASE OF 17 MILLION NEW DOLLARS, UH, IN FUNDING EACH YEAR BETWEEN, UH, A NUMBER OF SOURCES. 
          AND THIS ITEM ASKS US TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CASA TO PRIORITIZE THESE RESOURCES ON CREATING SOME, UH, PROVING HOUSING SOLUTIONS. 
          UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WE, WE ALREADY HAVE TESTED OUT A SHALLOW SUBSIDY PROGRAM THROUGH A GRANT. 
          WE KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND KEEPING SENIORS, UH, WHO ARE ON A FIXED INCOME WHEN THEIR RENT OR COSTS GO UP, HELP PAY THE DIFFERENCE AND IT KEEPS THEM IN THEIR HOMES. 
          OR OUR FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I WAS A BENEFICIARY OF A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAM, UH, BACK WHEN I WAS 25, 26, AND, AND NOW, UH, ALMOST 50 50 PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM MOST RECENTLY. 
          AND WE, WE SEE THAT IT WORKS. 
          WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND BOOST AND SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM. 
          SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT. 
          WE THINK, YOU KNOW, SENIORS AND HOME OWNERSHIP ARE TWO REALLY GOOD FIRST IDEAS, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS WE CAN SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD. 
          SO I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO'VE, UH, SUBMITTED LETTERS OF SUPPORT WHO'VE BEEN IN TOUCH, CONTACT MY OFFICE, UH, TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT, INCLUDING THE DISABLED RESOURCE CENTER, LONG BEACH FORWARD GRAY PANTHERS, AMONGST OTHERS WHO'VE ADVOCATED FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. 
          UH, AND THAT SAID, I WANT TO HAND IT NOW, UH, HAND IT NOW OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH IN, IN TOOK, WHO'S GONNA SEE THIS THROUGH? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT BACKGROUND. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR STEADFAST LEADERSHIP, UM, AND CHAMPIONING THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE, UH, FOR OUR RESIDENTS. 
          SO COLLEAGUES, UH, TODAY'S MOTION IS MORE THAN JUST A POLICY DECISION. 
          WE'VE BEEN HAVING QUITE A FEW, UH, MORAL CONVERSATIONS TODAY AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT AND CONTINUES TO BE PART OF OUR MORAL COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          UM, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS DEDICATED MY CAREER TO ADVANCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS, I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE POWER OF PROACTIVE INVESTMENTS THAT REALLY FOCUS ON KEEPING FAMILIES SECURE AND HOUSED DURING THE PANDEMIC. 
          I HELPED LEAD THE LA CO REGIONAL RECOVERY FUND. 
          THIS DELIVERED URGENT RELIEF TO KEEP ROOFS OVER PEOPLE'S HEADS AND BUSINESSES AFLOAT. 
          WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS INTO LA COUNTY AT THAT TIME. 
          I ALSO HELPED THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME BEGIN TO DELIVER RENT RELIEF DURING COVID, UH, ALMOST MORE THAN $5 BILLION TO MAKE SURE WE KEPT PEOPLE HOUSED. 
          AND THEN MOST RECENTLY, I'M WORKING ASIDE ALONGSIDE LA COUNTY AS WELL TO SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE DEVASTATING FIRES AND ALTADENA AND PALISADES. 
          WHAT ALL OF THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE TAUGHT ME IS THAT CRISIS DEMANDS NOT JUST WE, WE DON'T JUST NEED REACTIVE AID, WE NEED SUSTAINED REGULAR STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS THESE SYSTEMATIC INEQUITIES. 
          AND MAYOR, IT'S EXCITING TO NOTE THAT MEASURE A FUNDING OFFERS THIS TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO DO JUST THAT. 
          SO BY UH, ASKING OUR, UH, CITY TO LOOK AT EXPANDING THOSE SENIOR SHALLOW SUBSIDIES, WE CAN ENSURE THAT OUR SENIORS AGE IN PLACE WITH DIGNITY AND ARE SURROUNDED BY THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY HELP TO BUILD. 
          WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ASPIRING HOMEOWNERS, SUCH AS YOURSELF AND OTHERS OF US HERE, UM, WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE HERE IN LONG BEACH, WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BE ROOTED HERE IN LONG BEACH. 
          HOME OWNERSHIP ISN'T JUST ABOUT EQUITY, IT'S ABOUT LEGACY, SECURITY AND BELONGING. 
          AND AS A NONPROFIT LEADER, I HAVE SEEN HOW STRATEGIC SUBSIDIES CAN BREAK CYCLES OF INSECURITY. 
          SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LEVERAGING THESE NEW RESOURCES WISELY, UH, PAIRING THEM WITH THESE COUNTY DOLLARS, UH, WITH OUR LOCAL INNOVATION AS LONG BEACH SO THAT WE CAN CREATE THOSE PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY AND DISPLACEMENT. 
          THIS IS HOW WE SAFEGUARD OUR NEIGHBORS. 
          UM, I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING THIS MOTION. 
          LET'S SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE, LONG BEACH PRIORITIZES ITS RESIDENTS, THEIR DIGNITY, THEIR DREAMS, AND THEIR RIGHT TO CALL THE CITY HOME. 
          TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A FUTURE WHERE NO SENIOR FEARERS FEARS EVICTION 
          [02:55:01]
AND EVERY FAMILY HAS A SHOT AT HOME OWNERSHIP. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT, WELL SAID. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          UH, CHAIR NEXT IS COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          UM, CHAIR THRASH INTAKE FOR LEADING ON THIS AND THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY TO KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE OVERSEEING MEASURE A'S EFFORTS AS THE CHAIR OF LA CASA. 
          I'M GRATEFUL TO THE VOTERS FOR SECURING A BASELINE OF 17 MILLION IN ANNUAL FUNDING FOR LONG BEACH. 
          WITH THIS MONEY COMES HOPE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. 
          I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE HOUSING ADVOCATES THAT, UM, SUPPORT THIS AND THAT ORGANIZED, UM, TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS MONEY. 
          THIS IS REAL HOPE AND ACTION BEING TAKEN. 
          UM, BACK IN 2023, I AUTHORED AN ITEM REQUESTING WE EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF A SENIOR SAFE HOME IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND LA COUNTY. 
          UNDERSTANDING THAT OLDER ADULTS ARE VULNERABLE TO ABUSE AT THE GREATEST RISK, AND ALSO ARE IN THE GREATEST RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. 
          JUST AS EARLY DEATH AND OTHER HEALTH HARMS, I STRONGLY SUPPORT SUBSIDIZING AIM TO KEEPING OUR ADULTS HOUSED AND EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME. 
          PREVENTING AND INTERVENING IN A PATHWAYS TO HOMELESSNESS IS NEEDED. 
          INVESTING IN STABLE AND PERMANENT HOUSING, LIKE HOME OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS CAN TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TACKLING OUR MOST DIRE SOCIAL NEEDS HERE IN THE CITY. 
          SO THANK YOU BOTH. 
          HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. 
          ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          WE HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. 
          I'LL READ YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP, UH, MAYA KAREN RESIDE, NAFE SHAYLA DIAZ, NAZI A, UM, MICHAEL AND POLLY. 
          FIRST UP IS MAYA. 
          YOU WENT HOME AFTER MAYA. 
          IT IS KAREN. 
          HELLO. 
          MEASURE A FUNDING WAS SOLD TO VOTERS AS FUNDING TO ADDRESS AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS IN LA COUNTY. 
          SO WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EXPECTED TO COME IN, IT'S DEEPLY CONCERNING THAT LONG BEACH PROPOSES WITHHOLDING THAT MONEY FROM HOMELESS PEOPLE AND INSTEAD PRIORITIZING PEOPLE WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO PURCHASE A HOME IN LONG BEACH WHERE THE AVERAGE HOME PRICE IS $800,000, THIS HOME BUYER PROGRAM PROVIDES UP TO 20 5K FOR A DOWN PAYMENT. 
          ASSUMING SOMEONE HAS NO MONEY SAVED 20% DOWN WITH 20 5K MEANS YOU CAN ONLY AFFORD $125,000 HOME, WHICH WE ALL KNOW DOES NOT EXIST IN LONG BEACH. 
          THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN USE THIS PROGRAM, THEREFORE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ALREADY IN SAVINGS. 
          IS THIS THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION THAT MEASURE A WAS INTENDED FOR? YOU ALL WERE VERY INTENT ON THE DATA EARLIER. 
          SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PROVEN PROGRAM AS YOU DESCRIBE IT, WHICH HAS HELPED A WHOPPING ALMOST 50 FAMILIES SINCE 2017. 
          IN 2017, THERE WERE 1,863 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH AND IN 2024 THERE WERE OVER 3000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN LONG BEACH BY EVERY METRIC OF SUCCESS. 
          THIS DOWN PAYMENT PROGRAM HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO FAIL, GIVING MONEY TO HOMEOWNERS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS DOES NOT ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. 
          DO NOT PUT MORE MONEY, ESPECIALLY THIS MEASURE A FUNDING INTO THIS PROGRAM. 
          THERE ARE MANY OTHER HOUSING FIRST STRATEGIES YOU CAN FUND IN THIS BUDGET. 
          IF YOU WANNA ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS FIRST, RECOGNIZE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS A LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE AND ACT WITH THE URGENCY THAT SUCH AN ISSUE REQUIRES. 
          THE CITY EXPECTS TO RECEIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR THROUGH MEASURE A, AND INSTEAD OF TAKING THE MONEY AWAY FROM THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY, YOU COULD OFFER TO PLACE PEOPLE INTO THOUSANDS OF VACANT, UH, UNITS ACROSS THE CITY AND USE THAT MONEY TO PAY FOR IT OR INVEST MORE IN THE PILOT UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME FOR THOSE FOLKS OR STRONG RENTAL SUBSIDIES. 
          IF YOU WANNA PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, YOU NEED TO HELP TENANTS STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT THAT REQUIRES. 
          IN THE LETTER THAT YOU WROTE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM, YOU ADMIT THAT QUOTE, MANY SENIOR RENTERS ARE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS DUE TO RISING HOUSING COSTS AND THE INCREASING COST OF LIVING IN THE 2024 POINT IN TIME COUNT. 
          THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE FOLKS REPORTED FOR WHY THERE WERE HOMELESS WAS DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS. 
          THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH. 
          YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE THINGS. 
          SO YOU MUST ALSO KNOW THAT THE RISING COSTS THEMSELVES HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED. 
          IF 
          [03:00:01]
ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL IS SERIOUS ABOUT ENDING HOMELESSNESS, THEN PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR OWN DATA AND TAKE WHATEVER STEPS NECESSARY NOW TO PASS RENT CONTROL, PROVIDE ROBUST RENTAL SUBSIDIES AND REMOVE LO LOOPHOLES IN THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING RENOVATIONS SO PEOPLE CAN REMAIN HOUSED. 
          I WANNA EMPHASIZE THIS LAST POINT REGARDING REMOVING THE SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION LOOP LOOPHOLES IN THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE. 
          YOU'LL HEAR TODAY OF ANOTHER FIVE HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE AT RISK OF EVICTION DUE TO THIS SHADY LOOPHOLE. 
          AND WE KNOW THIS NUMBER IS MUCH HIGHER AS LONG AS LANDLORDS CAN LEGALLY WORK AROUND THIS JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE, THEY WILL IN FACT, LANDLORD ATTORNEYS LIKE DENNIS BLOCK PUBLICLY ENCOURAGE LANDLORDS TO ENGAGE IN THIS DECEIVING PRACTICE. 
          SO IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, LISTEN TO THE TENANTS CLOSE THESE LOAD POLLS AND PASS RENT CONTROL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE PROCEED, I JUST WANNA LET FOLKS KNOW, AND I'M GONNA RESPOND TO THIS LATER, BUT UH, THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, SO LA CASA HAS TWO TRANCHES OF FUNDING. 
          ONE IS ON HOMELESSNESS DOLLARS, THAT'S NOT THIS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PPO DOLLARS, WHICH ARE PRODUCTION, PRESERVATION AND PREVENTION DOLLARS. 
          SO YOU STILL GET A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS SIDE ON HOMELESSNESS, JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR. 
          SO PLEASE PROCEED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I'M KIERAN REID. 
          I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAPE PANTHERS. 
          UH, WHEN I GOT THE PHONE CALL FROM TOMMY NEWMAN OF UNITED WAY WHO SAID HE HAD A LITTLE PROJECT THAT HE WANTED US TO WORK ON, I, UM, I'LL DO ANYTHING TOMMY ASKED ME TO DO. 
          HE'S BRILLIANT. 
          AND UH, HE DIDN'T TELL ME THAT THERE WAS A SECOND PART TO IT. 
          AND, UM, MYRON WILLAN AND I STARTED GOING TO MEETINGS AND THEY WERE LIKE 200 PEOPLE FROM LA COUNTY AND US FROM LONG BEACH . 
          AND IT WAS REALLY HORRIBLE. 
          NOBODY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SENIORS OR DISABLED PEOPLE. 
          MYRON AND I MENTIONED THEM EVERY CHANCE WE GOT. 
          THEY ARE, THE PEOPLE ARE SO NEGLECTED AND SO SUFFERING FROM A LACK OF HOUSING. 
          THEY'RE THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT LANDLORDS EVICT AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SENIORS AND DISABLED PEOPLE HAD HOUSING. 
          AND ONLINE WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 INTERNS THIS SEMESTER. 
          A LOT OF THEM ARE LISTENING ONLINE. 
          WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT OUR WEEKLY MEETING, AND THEY GOT EXCITED BECAUSE THEY'RE EXACTLY THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE WANT IN THE HOME. 
          EXPANSION, OWNERSHIP, EXPANSION PROGRAM. 
          THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA GO ON AND GET MASTERS AND PHDS. 
          THEY'RE OUR FUTURE FIREFIGHTERS, POLICEMEN, DOCTORS. 
          THEY'RE GONNA BE VALUABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO ANYWHERE. 
          THEY'RE SO SMART. 
          WE WANNA RETAIN THEM. 
          WE WANT THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OLDER ADULTS. 
          OLDER ADULTS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR SO LONG. 
          BY 2030, OLDER ADULTS ARE GONNA OUTNUMBER CHILDREN IN LONG BEACH. 
          WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT OLDER ADULTS. 
          MAYOR, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU. 
          YOU ARE FORWARD THINKING. 
          YOU HAVE VISION. 
          WE NEED TO DO THINGS FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS. 
          RIGHT NOW, WE'RE BEING PREYED ON BY SCAMMERS. 
          WE'RE THE FIRST TO GET EVICTED IN OUR HOMES. 
          UH, WE HAVE A NEW CABINET. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH MY HUD HOUSING. 
          THERE AREN'T MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING, SO WE HAVE TO START HEADING THESE THINGS OFF. 
          WE HAVE TO BE A LEADER IN LA COUNTY. 
          I WENT TO THE, UM, LA COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING THIS MORNING AND WE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. 
          ALL CITIES, THE COMMUNITY HAS COME OUT TONIGHT. 
          WE ARE ALL THE COMMUNITY. 
          LA COUNTY IS A COMMUNITY. 
          IT'S NOT JUST LONG BEACH. 
          THERE ARE 88 OTHER CITIES. 
          WE WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH MEASURE A BECAUSE WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER, AND ANDY KERR WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT REALLY HELPED THIS TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          SO WE THANK YOU GENA, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON BOTH PARTS AND BRINGING IN MORE MONEY FOR THE CITY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. 
          I THINK IT'S, UH, I DON'T SEE SONAI AFTER SONAI WAS SHAYLA. 
          UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR. 
          MEMBERS COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL. 
          UH, MY NAME IS SHAYLA DIAZ AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER ON LANES LAND BEACH FOR JUSTICE ECONOMY CAMPAIGN. 
          I'M MIHIR IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 29. 
          I REALLY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THESE STRATEGIES TO COUNCIL TODAY. 
          UM, MEASURE A IS REALLY, UM, BRINGS A PIVOTAL OPPORTUNITY TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH SO WE CAN PRESERVE AND EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREVENT OUR RISK TENANTS FROM FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS. 
          MEASURE A WAS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS, HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND TENANT PROTECTIONS. 
          LET ME REPEAT THAT. 
          TENANT PROTECTIONS INVESTING IN THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL 
          [03:05:01]
PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ALIGNS WITH, UM, THE CITY'S HOUSING ELEMENT AND MEASURE A VOTER MANDATE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          WE ASK THAT THE CITY ALSO LOOKS INTO INVESTING FUNDING, UM, INTO RIGHT TO CANCEL PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. 
          ACCORDING TO 2024, HOMELESS COUNT, 16.5% OF UNHOUSED RESIDENTS CITED EVICTION AS A COST FOR HOMELESSNESS. 
          LONG BEACH VOTERS WHO SUPPORT MEASURE A, SUPPORT IT WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT IT WOULD CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY. 
          WITH CLTS, THIS WILL CREATE A PATHWAY TO HOME OWNERSHIP FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES. 
          WE URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE HOUSING STABILITY AND TENANT PROTECTIONS BY DIRECTING MEASURE A FUNDING TOWARDS THESE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HOUSING JUSTICE AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN CREATING A MORE STABLE AND EQUITABLE LONG BEACH. 
          THANKS FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. 
          ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS NAZI. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, MICHAEL IS NAZI. 
          PLEASE COME FORWARD. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS NAZI BUNI AND I'M THE DIRECTOR WITH THE HOUSING FOR ALL LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. 
          AND I WANNA SHARE SUPPORT FOR ITEM 29, HIGHLIGHTING, HIGHLIGHTING THE HOUSING STRATEGIES PRESENTED TODAY TO SUPPORT SENIORS AND OUR LOCAL, SORRY, AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN ACCESSING MUCH NEEDED RENTAL SUBSIDIES AND EXPANDING THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
          TWO POLICIES, AS WAS MENTIONED, THAT ARE REALLY CRITICAL STRATEGIES, UH, AMONG OTHER CRITICAL STRATEGIES THAT WE HOPE TO EXPLORE, UM, WITH COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AS WELL. 
          MEASURE A WAS PASSED WITH A 60% MANDATE IN LONG BEACH DUE TO THE ADVOCACY OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO MOBILIZED TO KNOCK ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS. 
          THE MEASURE IS SET TO BRING IN 17 MILLION OF NEW FUNDING TO LONG BEACH AND IS DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING PRODUCTION, PRESERVATION, AND PROTECTION. 
          WITH THIS NEW ANNUAL FUNDING FOR MEASURE A, THE CITY HAS A PIVOTAL OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE PREVENTING AT-RISK TENANTS FROM FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS. 
          WE ASK THAT THE CITY LOOK AT THE FUNDS HOLISTICALLY, INVESTING IN THESE HOUSING, HOUSING SUBSIDIES, AND ENSURING THAT INVESTMENT IS IN PROVEN PROGRAMS LIKE THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST CONTINUES. 
          THIS FUNDING IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING HOUSING STABILITY AND LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY IN LONG BEACH. 
          AND WE ASK THAT IT'S PRIORITIZED EARLY ON IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. 
          UM, DISCUSSIONS MUCH LIKE THE ITEMS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, PROGRAMS LIKE THE TENANT'S RIGHTS TO COUNSEL HAVE BECOME A LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT THROUGH PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PAC EVICTION. 
          COMMUNITY. 
          LAND TRUSTS OR CLTS ARE COMMUNITY LED HOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT ENSURE PERMANENT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM DISPLACEMENT. 
          THIS MODEL HELPS STABILIZE COMMUNITIES BY CREATING A PATHWAY TO HOME OWNERSHIP FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES. 
          AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF TENANT PROTECTIONS AND INNOVATIVE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING MODELS THAT MEASURE A WAS MEANT TO SUPPORT. 
          AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH BUDGET DECISIONS, WE URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE HOUSING STABILITY AND TENANT PROTECTIONS BY LOOKING AT THE FULL RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT MEASURE A WILL SUPPORT AND DIRECTING FUNDING TOWARDS THOSE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS. 
          YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ADVANCING HOUSING FIRST STRATEGIES WILL ENSURE THAT LONG BEACH REMAINS A PLACE WHERE ALL RESIDENTS CAN THRIVE. 
          AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, UH, TO HOUSING JUSTICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN CREATING A MORE STABLE AND EQUITABLE LONG BEACH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MICHAEL. 
          AND THEN POLLY. 
          UH, GOOD EVENING. 
          MEASURE A WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN LA COUNTY. 
          AND NOW AS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO COME IN, IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO MYSELF AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THE CITY PROPOSES TO WITHHOLD THAT MONEY FOR THE HOUSELESS AND MOST FINANCIALLY IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS OR REDIRECT, I SHOULD SAY. 
          THIS PROGRAM HAS FAILED TO SHOW ANY REAL METRICS OR DATA TO SHOW IT'S PROVEN AS YOU CLAIM IT TO BE. 
          LIKE SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE DATA SHOWS IT'S HELPED 40 FAMILIES SINCE 2017. 
          AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE STATISTICS FOR HOMELESSNESS HOMELESSNESS HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED FROM 1,863 AND 2017 TO OVER 3000 AND 2024. 
          IF THE CITY WAS ANY KIND OF SERIOUS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU WOULD ADDRESS POVERTY AND HOUSELESSNESS IN ALL OF THE PRACTICAL AND TRANSPARENT WAYS AVAILABLE TO YOU. 
          THIS WOULD INCLUDE MATERIAL RESOURCES AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE FOR THE MOST FINANCIALLY THREATENED OF US RENT CONTROL, ROBUST RENTAL SUBSIDIES, AND ESPECIALLY REMOVING LOOPHOLES IN THE JUST ORDINANCE CAUSE SUCH AS THE RENOVATIONS OR THE SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION LOOPHOLES IN THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE. 
          WE'VE, WE'LL HEAR A TOTAL OF JUST THE, I KNOW OF FIVE HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE AT RISK OF FALLING VICTIM TO THESE CALLOUS LOOPHOLES JUST TONIGHT, AND YOU AND EVERYONE HERE. 
          AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT EVEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG WITH THAT NUMBER. 
          SO AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT PUT MORE MONEY INTO THIS DISINGENUOUS PROGRAM. 
          RENT CONTROL NOW, ROBUST RENTAL SUBSIDIES AND REMOVE LOOPHOLES IN THE JUST ORDINANCE CAUSED, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ASSIST IN THE RENT EVICTIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS POLLY. 
          UH, ARE Y'ALL SKIPPING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY? NO, IT'S NEXT. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, REX, OWNER OF MULTIPLE PROPERTIES, I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO SAY OTHER THAN CLOSE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL LOOPHOLES, ENACT RENT PROTECTIONS, AND PUT 
          [03:10:01]
A LEASH ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS. 
          THE IDEA THAT HOMELESSNESS AND HOME OWNERSHIP ARE THIS CLOSELY RELATED IS STRAIGHT UP IGNORANCE. 
          YOU'RE IGNORING THE TENANTS. 
          THE NOTION THAT LESS THAN 50 HOMES SINCE 27, SINCE 2017 IS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IS LAUGHABLE. 
          MY NEIGHBOR HAS DEMENTIA. 
          SHE CAN'T WORK. 
          86% OF HER SOCIAL SECURITY PAYCHECK GOES TO RENT. 
          SHE'S BEEN WAITLISTED FOR SENIOR HOUSING. 
          SHE'S TOLD SHE HAS A SIX TO 10 YEAR TIMELINE AT THE SAME TIME. 
          HER SLUMLORD HAPPILY INCREASES THE RENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR. 
          STOP APPEASING SLUM SLUMLORDS, PRIORITIZE TENANT PROTECTIONS AND ACTUAL HOUSING STABILITY. 
          ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          UH, JUST TO, JUST, JUST FOR CLARITY. 
          SO MEASURE A IS COUNTYWIDE EFFORT. 
          ABOUT $1.1 BILLION IS A PROJECTION FROM, FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THAT 60, JUST NORTH OF 60% OF THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO HOMELESS SERVICES, OUTREACH, UH, HOMELESS, TRADITIONAL HOMELESS SERVICES. 
          THE NEW FUNDS OF ABOUT 35% GOES TO THREE PRIORITIES. 
          THAT'S HOUSING PRODUCTION, HOUSING PRESERVATION, AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, UH, THAT ARE DIFFERENTLY, DIFFERENT FROM THE INITIAL, UH, UH, 65%. 
          SO THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE ALLOCATE, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT ARE IN THAT PPP SECTION ADMINISTERED NOT BY THE COUNTY, BUT BY LA CASA. 
          AND, UH, BY NO MEANS ARE FOLKS, UH, PRO PROPOSING TO SPEND ALL $17 MILLION ON THESE TWO STRATEGIES. 
          UH, YOU'LL SEE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AS THE FUNDS COME FORWARD, THERE WILL BE A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT PROTECTIONS AS IT RELATES TO, UH, UH, RIGHTS TO COUNCIL. 
          UH, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT COMMITMENTS COUNTYWIDE ARE GONNA GO OUT TO RIGHT COUNCIL AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE IS INTEREST AT THE LA CASA BOARD TO GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN IN HAVING ONE COUNTYWIDE RIGHTS TO COUNCIL FUNDED PROGRAM. 
          AND THEN CITIES CAN SUPPLEMENT IF THEY WANT ADDITIONAL SERVICES. 
          SO THERE'S A WHOLE NEW CONVERSATION. 
          BUT THE POINT, THE POINT HERE IS THAT TWO YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO, FOUR YEARS AGO, WE WERE COMING FROM A STANDPOINT OF NO DEDICATED HOUSING, NO DEDICATED FUNDING FOR HOUSING PRODUCTION IN LONG BEACH. 
          AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT SINCE 2013 IN THE CITY. 
          WHEN THE GOVERNMENT, WHEN THE STATE, UH, WHEN THE GOVERNOR AT THE TIME ELIMINATED REDEVELOPMENT WHERE WE USED TO ALLOCATE 20 TO $25 MILLION EVERY YEAR TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION. 
          WHEN THAT ENDED, WE'VE GONE 12 YEARS STRAIGHT WITHOUT DEDICATED FUNDING. 
          WE FINALLY HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THAT BECAUSE OF MEASURE A. 
          WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INTO INNOVATIVE WAYS TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL, UH, STRATEGIES THAT WORK. 
          SO SOMEONE SAID THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME. 
          THAT'S WHAT A SHALLOW SUBSIDY IS. 
          IT'S A GUARANTEED INCOME, BUT TARGETED AS SENIORS WHO ARE SOME OF THE MOST, UH, UH, RENT BURDENED AND, UM, UH, FOLKS WHO NEED THE NEED THAT SUPPORT. 
          SO IT'S SAYING START WITH THOSE VULNERABLE SENIORS AS ONE OF THOSE STRATEGIES AND HOME OWNERSHIP, IT CALLED OUT AS A, AS A HOME OWNERSHIP STRATEGY UNDER PPO TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT IT'S NOT A HOMELESS PREVENTION STRATEGY, BUT LOOK AT AN OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD WEALTH AND HAVE ECONOMIC STABILITY MOVING FORWARD. 
          SO IT'S CALLED OUT, UH, IN MEASURE A AND CALLED OUT IN THE ENABLING LEG ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR, UH, FOR LA CASA THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HOME OWNERSHIP STRATEGIES. 
          SO WE DIDN'T PILOT THIS IN 2017. 
          UH, IT ACTUALLY WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE RECOVERY ACT PLAN IN 2021. 
          AND SO A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDING SUPPORTED SO FAR, 44, 45 INDIVIDUALS. 
          SO, JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR ON WHAT THIS IS, THIS IS SAYING START WITH SOME OF THESE, BUT WHEN YOU GET IN THE FULL BUDGET PROCESS, WE'LL LOOK AT A WHOLE ROBUST SET OF STRATEGIES, INCLUDING RIGHT TO COUNSEL AND, UH, DEDICATED, UM, FUNDING ON HOUSING PRODUCTION THAT SAID, UM, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. 
          MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE, PLEASE. 
          [
	
		
			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.
		
	]
HI, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          RIGHT, JUST A MOMENT. 
          I HAVE TO CALL FORWARD, UH, THE NAMES I HAVE, LET'S SEE. 
          OH, I THOUGHT YOU SAID NUMBER ONE. 
          OH, , ARE YOU CINDY MILAD? YES. 
          OKAY. 
          YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE ME. 
          I I WAS SAYING MANY TIMES I WAS SAYING THERE'S TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS. 
          I WAS CALLING THE FIRST ONE AND AT THE END OF THE MEETING, THERE'S A SECOND ONE. 
          OH, BUT SINCE YOU'RE THERE, LET ME READ OFF THE NAMES AND THEN YOU CAN PROCEED. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THERE'S CINDY MILAD, SUE BAKER MAYA, ERIC MESA, MARK KING, GERALD LAVENDER, LOUIS DU DU, JENNIFER MARTINEZ, MAR MARTINEZ, SALMON, PENNY MORRIS, AND MELANIE ANDREWS. 
          ALRIGHT, CINDY, YOU'RE UP. 
          OKAY. 
          HI, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          UM, YOU KNOW ME, I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND I'VE, UH, 
          [03:15:01]
I LIVE IN CAL HEIGHTS AND I CAME TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND I'M REALLY GLAD I WAS HERE FOR THIS MEETING BECAUSE, UH, WHAT I LEARNED TODAY ABOUT THE CITY'S EMERGENCY SERVICES WAS, UH, FRIGHTENING. 
          AND, UH, COUNCIL PERSON URANGA, YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SAVED BY THE EMERGENCY SERVICES, BUT MS. KERR OR ME, WE MAY NOT BE. 
          AND I'M REALLY SHOCKED, UH, WHEN I, WHEN I HEARD HOW HEARTFELT THESE FIREFIGHTERS PARAMEDIC WAS ABOUT THE LACK OF THINGS THEY NEEDED TO DO THEIR JOB. 
          AND WHEN I HEAR THAT AND, AND I LOOK THROUGH LINE ITEMS IN YOUR ORDER OF BUSINESS ON THE FIVE OR SIX TIMES I'VE BEEN HERE, AND I SEE HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE SPENDING ON THINGS, IT'S REALLY UPSETTING. 
          AND YOU SAID YOUR FIRST PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          WELL, IN REGARDS TO OUR DEVELOPMENT, WE DON'T, THE MEETING THAT WE, I HAD HOPED THAT YOU WOULD BE THERE, UH, LAST, UH, ON THE 26TH. 
          I EMAILED YOU A FEW TIMES, BUT I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. 
          YOU ARE AT THE INITIAL MEETING WHERE YOU TOLD THE FOLKS, DON'T WORRY, EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY. 
          THE L-B-C-I-C HAS NOT LOWERED THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING. 
          AND THE CONSENSUS OF THE RESIDENTS THAT SHOWED UP OVER TWO 50 WERE, THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          IT'S NEEDED, BUT THIS BUILDING IS TOO HIGH. 
          NOW, MR. KONZ TOLD ME AT A PRIVATE MEETING WITH ME AND C-H-N-A-A PRESIDENT, THAT EACH UNIT IS GONNA COST $600,000 TO BUILD AT 73 UNITS. 
          THAT FOUR, THAT'S $43,800,000. 
          NOW TO HELP THE FIREFIGHTERS, WHY DON'T YOU LOWER THE BUILDING AND GIVE THEM SOME OF THE MONEY? WE DON'T NEED IT. 
          FIVE STORIES HIGH. 
          IT POSES A SAFETY RISK. 
          HOW ARE THE FIRE FIREFIGHTERS GONNA GONNA GET IN WHEN THE DEVELOPERS TAKE THAT IMPORTANT ALLEY TO USE FOR THEIR PROJECT? OKAY, IT'S TOO LARGE. 
          THE TRAFFIC ON THAT NARROW STREET WILL NOT EVEN ACCOMMODATE TWO TWO CARS. 
          ONE CAR HAS TO PULL OVER. 
          SO YOU TALK ABOUT CARING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, THIS IS GONNA CAUSE A WHOLE HOST OF TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. I KNOW THERE'S A TRAFFIC SURVEY UNDERWAY. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF ALL YOU COUNCIL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TO THE SITE TO SEE HOW SMALL IT IS AND TO SEE HOW NARROW THE STREETS ARE THERE. 
          AND YOU'RE PROPOSING TO, TO ADD OVER 250 PEOPLE THERE. 
          YOU TALK ABOUT ADDING EMERGENCY SERVICES, THEY'RE GONNA BE THERE ON A DAILY BASIS. 
          IN ADDITION, YOU'RE, UH, PUTTING A BIKE WAY TO YOUR TIME INCLUDED STREETS ON ORANGE. 
          THAT'S ANOTHER $33 MILLION THAT COULD BE BETTER SPENT FUNDING OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR EMERGENCY WORKERS. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. 
          NEXT IS SUE BAKER. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR LESS THANK SUE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND GIVE THEM SOME MONEY. 
          I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS, UM, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AS, AS WELL AS, UH, CITY MANAGER MOCA. 
          UM, I, MY NAME IS SUE BAKER AND I JUST WANNA SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BIKE LANE ON ORANGE AVENUE. 
          WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW MEETINGS AND I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR HAS BEEN AT A NUMBER OF THE MEETINGS. 
          UM, I DO LIVE ON ORANGE AVENUE AND THE MOST CURRENT DESIGN FOR THE BIKE LANE FROM BIXBY ROAD TO WARDLOW BY PUBLIC WORKS. 
          AND, AND IT WAS BASED A LOT ON RESIDENTS, UM, RESPONSES WAS TO PUT A TWO-WAY, UH, BIKE LANE LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF ORANGE, WHICH ELIMINATES ALL THE PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF ORANGE FOR ALL THREE BLOCKS. 
          AND I DO LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF ORANGE. 
          AND, UM, THAT DESIGN IS VERY SCARY TO US. 
          UM, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSES TO CARRY OUR GROCERIES IN. 
          I DON'T HAVE A DRIVEWAY. 
          WE HAVE A CAR IN THE BACK, BUT I PARK IN FRONT. 
          UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DU UH, DUPLEXES AND AUDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          AND, UM, THEY CAN'T ALL PARK IN THE BACK. 
          WE DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, UM, ROOM. 
          AND SO WHEN OUR PARENTS COME TO VISIT, WHEN FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN COME TO VISIT, WHEN DISABLED PEOPLE, UM, COME TO VISIT OUR HOMES, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSES. 
          UM, I GET, I GO TO A LOT OF MEETINGS. 
          I GET DROPPED OFF BY FRIENDS AT NIGHT. 
          THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO SIT IN THE TRAFFIC LANE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE I GET IN INTO MY HOUSE, UM, SAFELY IF MY HUSBAND OR I BECOME DISABLED. 
          UM, WE'LL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. 
          ANY CONTRACTORS OR SERVICE INDIVIDUALS OR ANYBODY, UM, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE GONNA CLOG THE ALLEYS TO, UM, DO CONSTRUCTION 
          [03:20:01]
OR, UM, UH, SUPPORT BUSINESS. 
          OUR BUSINESSES, OUR BUSINESS NEEDS, EXCUSE ME. 
          UM, THE DE THE, THE DESIGN WILL DEFINITELY, BECAUSE I'VE TALKED TO THEM, DRIVE OUT THE BUSINESSES AT ORANGE AND WARDLOW, INCLUDING BLACKBIRD CAFE, WHICH IS OUR FAVORITE. 
          UM, AND IT WAS, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE'RE NOT A PARKING IMPACTED AREA CURRENTLY, BUT WHY DO WE WANNA BECOME A PARKING IMPACTED AREA? UM, THEY WERE CITING THAT 60% OF THE PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT NIGHT, BUT IF YOU TAKE ALL THE ENTIRE SIDE AND PUT IT TO THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'RE OVER A HUNDRED PERCENT OF PARKING, 120%. 
          AND, UM, OUR GOAL IS TO NOT BE PARKING IMPACTED. 
          THAT'S WHY MANY OF US MOVED UP THERE. 
          UM, THERE IS A CONVENTIONAL BIKE LANE OPTION, WHICH IS ALTERNATE, UH, ALTERNATIVE TO IT BEST FITS WITH THE CURRENT DESIGN OF BIKE LANES IN THE AREA. 
          THE BIKE RIDERS OR CYCLISTS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, THEY DON'T LIKE TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH TO GO NORTH OR EVEN ESPECIALLY GOING NORTH ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET, YOU'RE GOING AGAINST TRAFFIC. 
          AND, UM, SO WE THINK THAT THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT YOU CAN SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN ON ORANGE, SUCH AS REDUCING THE SPEED LIMIT, ADDING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. 
          UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE TO BERI RIDING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD BASICALLY. 
          AND IN NORTH OF, UH, AREA NORTH OF BIG SPEED, THE BIKE LANES, UM, IS A CONVENTIONAL BIKE LANE. 
          AND THEN TO ALL OF A SUDDEN FOR THOSE THREE BLOCKS HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BIKE LANE. 
          UM, I THINK IS, WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOUR TIME IS CONCLUDED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS MAYA. 
          UH, I WANNA START BY UPLIFTING THE, THE DEMANDS OF THE USW HEALTHCARE WORKERS HERE TODAY WHO DESERVE A FAIR CONTRACT WITHOUT FAIR WAGES AND WITH THE RAPIDLY RISING COST OF LIVING. 
          MANY WORKING CLASS PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH FACE THE RISK OF EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS AS WE WERE DISCUSSING. 
          AND TODAY, I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT EVICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS ARE A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. 
          JUST LIKE THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES THAT YOU DISCUSSED AND VERY STRONGLY SUPPORTED EARLIER IN THE CITY'S PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE 2024 POINT IN TIME COUNT, THE MAYOR SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED. 
          AND THAT QUOTE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS, WE'RE REPORTING A DROP IN OVERALL HOMELESSNESS. 
          END QUOTE. 
          FROM 2023 TO 2024, THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS FOLKS IN THE CITY COUNTED, ALLEGEDLY DROPPED BY ABOUT 70 PEOPLE. 
          BUT WHAT THE CITY LEAVES OUT IS THAT OVER 100 HOMELESS PEOPLE WEREN'T COUNTED BECAUSE THEY DIED ON THE STREET DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. 
          AND THEY DIED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF CITY LEADERSHIP. 
          AND SOMEHOW THAT GETS SPUN INTO A PR SUCCESS IN THE 2024 POINT IN TIME COUNT. 
          THE CITY FOUND THAT THE LEADING CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS WAS FINANCIAL ISSUES. 
          AND THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY WAS LISTED AS EVICTION. 
          THESE WERE THE SAME LEADING CAUSES FOUND AGAIN AND AGAIN OVER THE LAST FEW POINT IN TIME. 
          COUNTS AND TENANTS HAVE COME DIRECTLY TO YOU FOR YEARS NOW TELLING YOU, ONE, WE WANT RENT CONTROL PASSED. 
          TWO, WE WANT ROBUST RENTAL SUBSIDIES. 
          AND THREE, WE WANT LOOPHOLES IN THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE, SUCH AS SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION EVICTIONS TO BE REMOVED. 
          YOU HAVE THE DATA, THE MONEY, THE POWER, AND THE DEMAND OF THE PEOPLE TO DO THESE THINGS. 
          AND YET YOU FOCUS ON OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVEN'T SAID WE WANTED. 
          EVERY DAY YOU FAIL TO ACT, IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT THE DEATH OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS IS A PRICE YOU ALL ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR POWER AND PROFIT. 
          AND IT IS BLACK PEOPLE WHO BEAR THE MOST VIOLENCE OF YOUR CHOICE. 
          HOMELESS FOLKS IN LONG BEACH ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BLACK PEOPLE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AT RISK OF EVICTION, WHICH IN ITSELF INCREASES THE RISK OF DEATH. 
          IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKDROP OF CITYWIDE ABANDONMENT AND VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE THAT BRANDON BOYD WAS MURDERED BY BY LONG BEACH POLICE LATE LAST YEAR. 
          AND FROM THE CITY BUDGET MEETINGS AND COMMENTS MADE TODAY BY TOM MOCA, IT APPEARS THAT INSTEAD OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR BRANDON'S MURDER, LBPD MAY ACTUALLY BE REWARDED WITH INCREASED FUNDING AND WEAPONS TO USE AGAINST THE PEOPLE ALL WHILE Y'ALL PRETEND YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HOUSE PEOPLE SAFELY OR PAY THEM A FAIR WAGE. 
          THIS IS ANTI-BLACKNESS IN ACTION. 
          JUSTICE FOR BRANDON BOYD, JUSTICE FOR THE BOYD FAMILY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL BLACK RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, NEXT IS ERIC. 
          GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UH, MY NAME IS ERIC MESSA. 
          I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. 
          MY NEIGHBORS AND I THINK EVICTIONS ARE NOT AS SOLUTIONS. 
          THE CITY RECEIVES MONEY TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS THAT HELPS, BUT WHAT HELPS THE MOST ARE STRONG AND PERMANENT PROTECTIONS TO PREVENT EVICTION. 
          WE COME HERE TODAY BECAUSE OUR LANDLORD, UH, SERVED US WITH A 60 DAYS NOTICE. 
          UH, FOR FOOD REMODELING, THE HOLE IN THE LAW IS A DANGER TO OUR FAMILIES. 
          THE CITY MUST REMOVE THIS FROM THE LAW. 
          THE LANDLORD SERVED FIVE SEPARATE UNITS WITH THIS 60 DAY NOTICE AFTER WE TOLD HIM HE WAS BREAKING THE LAW WITH AN ILLEGAL RENT DECREASE. 
          UH, THIS 
          [03:25:01]
RETALIATION, AND IT IS, UH, IT IS CLEAR. 
          IT IS CLEAR THAT THE LANDLORD IS USING THE SUB REMODEL AS A LOOPHOLE TO EVICT US. 
          ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT THING IS THE CONTROL OF INCOME AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST EVICTION. 
          FOR LACK OF PIGMENT. 
          UH, THE CITY MUST ACT NOW, CURRENTLY SINCE LAST YEAR. 
          IT SAYS AND SAYS THAT CHANGES ARE COMING, AND SO FAR NOTHING HAPPENS. 
          WE ASK FOR SUPPORT AND HELP TO OUR FAMILIES. 
          WE CANNOT CONTINUE IN DANGER OF EVICTION. 
          WE DEMAND CHANGES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT IS MARK KING. 
          IS MARK HERE? AFTER THAT IS JARRELL LAVENDER. 
          OKAY. 
          AFTER JARRELL IS LUIS DENIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ES. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          THANK YOU ES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO TO BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO, UH, STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS IN SUPPORT AND IN REQUEST FOR, FOR BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS. 
          ALSO, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR HOUSING ADVOCATES FOR A NEED TO LIMIT EVICTIONS BY CLOSING THE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL LOOPHOLE AND INTRODUCE RENT CONTROL, HONORABLE CITY LEADERS. 
          MY NAME IS LUIS EZ AND HONORABLY. 
          WE REPRESENT MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS AS HEALTHCARE WORKERS HERE IN LONG BEACH. 
          IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND HERE AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS FROM USW LOCAL 28 0 1 ON WHAT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT BARGAINING PROCESS FOR ALL OF US. 
          THE UNION HAS BEEN BARGAINING WITH THE HOSPITAL FOR NEARLY A YEAR, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO REACHING AN AGREEMENT. 
          WE HAVE BEGAN A LABOR MOVEMENT GIVEN OUR EMPLOYER, OR HAS TAKEN A STAND AGAINST OUR UNION AND ITS WORKERS. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          WE ARE HERE SEEKING ALLIES IN OUR MOVEMENT WITH THE PASSAGE OF HEALTHCARE MINIMUM WAGE. 
          WE HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS AS LIVABLE WAGES BECOME ATTAINABLE. 
          WE, AS WE SEE OTHER NEIGHBORING HOSPITALS ADOPT A HEALTHCARE MINIMUM WAGE HIGHER AND MORE COMPETITIVE FOR THE HEALTHCARE LABOR MARKET. 
          OUR EMPLOYER TAKES A POSITION THAT CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE STAFF RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND WORKER SATISFACTION BY IMPOSING A LOWER HEALTHCARE MINIMUM WAGE ON ALL WORKERS. 
          WE, AS THE UNION SISTERS AND BROTHERS, HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE UNJUST INCREASES BEING PROPOSED. 
          CURRENTLY, A 40 CENT INCREASE FOR OUR LOWEST PAID MEMBERS WITH INCREASE OF 5 CENTS FOR THE NEXT YEAR. 
          WE HAVE TAKEN A POSITION THAT ALL WORKERS NEED LIVABLE WAGES REGARDLESS OF POSITIONS OR RESPONSIBILITIES. 
          HEALTHCARE CAN BE DANGEROUS WORK. 
          WE WANT GUARANTEES IN OUR CONTRACT THAT THE HOSPITALS TAKING SAFETY SERIOUSLY. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS RECENTLY INVOLVING PATIENTS BRINGING WEAPONS INTO OUR FACILITY. 
          WE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HELD YOUR FAMILY'S HAND WHEN YOU COULD NOT. 
          BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AND ITS RESTRICTIONS SACRIFICING OURSELVES AND AT TIMES OUR FAMILIES, AT THE EXPENSE OF TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN. 
          WE LOVE WHAT WE DO, WHICH IS TO CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          LONG BEACH MEMORIAL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXCELLENCE. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ANNOUNCED, UH, THAT IT HAS MADE NEWS LEADS WEEKS FOR WORLD'S BEST HOSPITALS 2025 FOR THE SEVENTH YEAR IN A ROW. 
          MEMORIAL SHOULD BE REWARDING US FOR OUR EXCELLENCE, NOT GIVING US CRUMBS. 
          WE DESERVE COOKIES, NOT JUST THE CRUMBS. 
          AS A LONG BEACH NATIVE WHO HAS GONE TO WHITTIER ELEMENTARY AND DISTRICT SIX, FRANKLY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND DISTRICT ONE, MILLIKEN HIGH AND DISTRICT FOUR. 
          SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. 
          PLEASE SUPPORT US IN OUR BATTLE AGAINST FAIR WAGES FOR FAIR WAGES AND BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HEY, MR. DUIS. 
          MR. ES QUESTION, WHO YOU REPRESENT AT LONG BEACH MEMORIAL? WHAT SEC? WHO, WHO'S WHO'S? I AM AN ENDOSCOPIC TECHNICIAN. 
          OKAY. 
          BUT WE REPRESENT OVER 20 DIFFERENT CLASS, WELL, ACTUALLY OVER 40 CLASSIFICATIONS IN THE MEDICAL SETTING. 
          OKAY. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          I WAS CURIOUS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS CONFLICT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER AFTER JENNIFER'S PENNY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          AND AFTER PENNY, MELANIE OR LAST GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT ON THE ORANGE AVENUE BACKBONE BIKE LANE PROJECT. 
          HOPEFULLY WE'RE NOT AT THE POINT OF LISTENING FATIGUE. 
          UM, I HAVE LIVED ON ORANGE AVENUE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. 
          CLOSE TO 36TH STREET WAS PART OF THE GROUP THAT ADVOCATED FOR THE LIGHT THAT WE GOT AT 36TH STREET. 
          I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT THE BIKEWAY PLAN 
          [03:30:01]
THAT IS FAVORED CURRENTLY IS THE ONE THAT WOULD ELIMINATE ALL OF OUR PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET FROM BIXBY TO WARDLOW, I AM ONE OF THOSE AFFECTED. 
          I LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF ORANGE. 
          WE HAVE NO DRIVEWAY. 
          OUR TENANT USES OUR ONLY, UM, PARKING SPOT IN THE ALLEY. 
          WE WILL USE ANY ABILITY WITH THIS TWO-WAY BIKE LANE ON OUR SIDE TO EVER BE ABLE TO PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. 
          UM, AGAIN, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO UNLOAD GROCERIES OUT OF MY CAR? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY SON IS DROPPED OFF FROM BASEBALL PRACTICE AND CAN'T, THEY CAN'T STOP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE? MY HUSBAND HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY A FEW YEARS AGO. 
          HOW DO I LOAD HIM IN MY CAR TO RUSH INTO THE ER? IF I CAN'T STOP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, MY ELDERLY PARENTS ARE GOING TO COME VISIT. 
          I WILL LOSE THAT ABILITY OF BEING ABLE TO STOP AND UNLOAD THEM OUT OF THE CAR. 
          WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A RESIDENT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET NEEDS A HANDICAPPED PARKING, VALID HANDICAPPED PARKING, AND WE NOW HAVE A TWO-WAY BIKE LANE THAT'S SEPARATED BY CURBS WITH THE STREET. 
          WE HAVE AMAZING BUSINESSES ON WARDLOW AND ORANGE THAT WILL LOSE THEIR CUSTOMER PARKING. 
          ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S A PROPOSED HOUSING PROJECT THAT WILL BRING SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PARKING WITH IT. 
          THE PARKING WILL BE OUT THERE. 
          WE NEED ALL THE PARKING POSSIBLE THAT WE HAVE ON ORANGE AVENUE. 
          I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN HONESTLY CONSIDER ELIMINATING THREE ENTIRE BLOCKS OF, UM, RESIDENTIAL PARKING BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE A LOT OF NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON HOMEOWNERS AND ON BUSINESSES. 
          UM, I THINK THE PART THAT'S THE MOST FRUSTRATING IS THAT THIS BIKE LINE WILL THEN JUST END IT. 
          UM, WARDLOW, THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL IS WITHDRAWN FROM THE PLAN. 
          THEY PROBABLY WITHDREW THAT. 
          IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CREATE A BIKE LANE. 
          FURTHER. 
          WE ALL KNOW IF YOU DRIVE ON ORANGE, LIKE I DO THIS, IT NARROWS. 
          WE HAVE FREEWAY, UM, ENTRANCE AND EXIT RAMPS. 
          WE HAVE A STEEP HILL THAT'S VERY COMPLICATED TO CREATE A BIKE LANE FOR. 
          SO THE THREE BLOCKS OF ORANGE BETWEEN BIXBY AND WARDLOW, THEY'RE ALL RESIDENTIAL. 
          BUT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE BEING TREATED LIKE WE'RE NON-RESIDENTIAL, THAT WE CAN JUST COPE WITH HAVING ALL OF OUR MUCH NEEDED PARKING ELIMINATED. 
          BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE PROJECT HAS TO GO ALL THE WAY TO WARDLOW. 
          IT CAN'T STOP AT BIXBY. 
          IT CAN'T DETOUR BIXBY. 
          AND SO WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW MAKE IT WORK IN A VERY COMPLICATED RESIDENTIAL AREA OF ORANGE. 
          UM, THE SECOND OPTION PRESENTED, WHICH WOULD ALLOW A CONVENTIONAL BIKE LANE MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE. 
          WE, UH, WOULD BE LOSING THE MIDDLE LANE THAT WOULD IMPACT MANY PEOPLE. 
          UM, BUT ALL THE RESIDENTS ON ORANGE AVENUE AGREE THAT LOSING THE PARKING IS, UM, THE FURTHER ISSUE, UH, THE MOST PROBLEMATIC. 
          SO I JUST WANNA CONCLUDE AND SAY I'M A PROUD LONG BEACH RESIDENT. 
          I THINK MY TAX DOLLARS ARE DOING A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS IN THIS CITY. 
          I JUST AM DISAPPOINTED THAT I DON'T THINK THAT PARTS OF THIS PROJECT ARE BEING THOUGHT ABOUT LOGICALLY. 
          AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL BE THOUGHT ABOUT IN A LOGICAL MANNER THAT WILL NOT ELIMINATE PARKING FROM THE THREE PLS. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANKS PENNY. 
          APPRECIATE YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          OUR FINAL SPEAKER, MELANIE? YES. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. 
          YOU'RE GETTING PAID IS NOT ENOUGH. 
          THIS IS A TOUGH MEETING. 
          I HAVE SAT ON SCAG. 
          I UNDERSTAND. 
          AND GUESS WHAT I'M HERE FOR. 
          I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU. 
          I AM DR. 
          MELANIE CURTIS ANDREWS FORMER COUNCIL PERSON FROM LONG BEACH. 
          I MEAN FROM COMPTON COLLEGE REPRESENTING LONG BEACH, UH, AT THE FOURTH STREET CENTER, SENIOR CENTER. 
          WE DID A BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM DOWN UP THE SENIORS PUT IT TOGETHER. 
          WE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COME OUT. 
          I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. 
          UH, I JUST LOVED IT. 
          IT WAS SO DIVERSE AND WE HAD YOUNG PEOPLE AND PROFESSIONALS AND AN ORIGINAL WORK, AND WE'RE HOPING WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO MORE. 
          UH, WE THANK DANA CLARK AND HER STAFF AT THE FOURTH STREET CENTER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROTOCOL IS, BUT I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE MARSHALL ACADEMY OF THE ARTS DANCE TEAM WHO PERFORMED AT OUR FINAL SHOW. 
          AND THEY'RE LIKE 10 YEARS OLD AND THEY WERE SO PROFESSIONAL. 
          I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM GET SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          I THINK YOU GUYS ARE A WONDERFUL COUNCIL. 
          I HAVE WORKED IN OTHER CITIES. 
          I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. 
          YOU ARE, YOU ARE PROFESSIONAL, YOU'RE CONCERNED, AND YOU SEEM TO BE WORKING TOGETHER. 
          I HAVE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR 20 YEARS. 
          I WASN'T VERY INVOLVED WITH THE ARTS UNTIL THE MAYOR, WHOM I WAS INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE ADVERTISING FOR THE NEW BILL SAID, YOU NEED TO COME HOME. 
          SO I'M HOME AND YOU'LL SEE ME. 
          I AM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF INNER CITY SHAKESPEARE ENSEMBLE, AND I'M A PROFESSOR AND I TAUGHT AT LONG BEACH STATE, AND I AM HONORED TO BE A CITIZEN OF LONG BEACH. 
          AND I'M JUST GONNA BE 
          [03:35:01]
AROUND, BUT I'M USUALLY NICE AND I'M REALLY HAPPY AND I'M GLAD I'M THE LAST SPEAKER. 
          SO YOU CAN GO HOME KNOWING THAT YOU WERE LOVED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WELL, YOU CAN SPEAK AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, MELANIE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU ARE THE BEST. 
          YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANNA DO ANOTHER THREE MINUTES, ? ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. 
          YOU, YOU EARNED IT . 
          I WAS ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR 20 YEARS. 
          DON'T ASK ME. 
          HAVE MORE TIME. 
          I WAS RECENTLY AWARDED THE GETTY FOUNDATION AWARD FOR MY WORK, UH, IN COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY ARTS. 
          AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE UNITED NATIONS, THE UNITED NATIONS INVITED ME TO SPEAK AT THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE IN JOHANNESBURG. 
          WOW. 
          SOUTH AFRICA. 
          SO I WILL BE, REPRESENT, I'LL BE THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN THERE, AND I'LL BE THE ONLY LONG BEACH RESIDENT THERE. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          SO IF WE CAN FIND, IF YOU HAVE ANY LONG BEACH TRINKETS YOU WANNA GET 'EM, THERE'LL BE DESMOND TUTU FOUNDATION, LOTS OF, UH, ROYAL PEOPLE AND CITIZENS. 
          I'LL BE SPEAKING AT FOUR SCHOOLS AND AT THE FINAL EVENT. 
          SO I'D LIKE TO BRING SOME LONG BEACH WITH ME. 
          I THANK THOSE OF YOU THAT CAME TO THE SHOW. 
          VICE MAYOR, SECOND DISTRICT, UH, THE MAYOR BROUGHT ME BACK HOME. 
          SO I'M HERE. 
          DEAR LORD, I'M HERE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          AMEN. 
          ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A NEW PROTOCOL OFFICER. 
          WE, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT TO JOHANNESBURG AS A GOOD AMBASSADOR TO LONG BEACH. 
          WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY, I'M PROUD OF YOU, FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND, AND BRING THE RIGHT STUFF. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          I'LL TALK TO IT. 
          SOMEBODY IN YOUR OFFICE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          NOW WE'LL GO TO OUR ONLY HEARING. 
          ITEM 28. 
          PLEASE REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD. 
          CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GRANT AN ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT WITH CONDITIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT WITH 
          [28. 
	
		
			25-54446
			Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and grant an Entertainment Permit with conditions for entertainment with dancing to Bite Catering Couture, DBA Bite Catering Couture, at 440 Elm Avenue. (District 1)
Levine Act: Yes
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Financial Management
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
DANCING TO BITE CATERING, COUTURE AT 4 4 0 ELM AVENUE, DISTRICT ONE. 
          YOU HAVE AN OATH. 
          PLEASE STAND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO TESTIFY IN THIS ITEM. 
          YOU AND EACH OF YOU DO SOLEMNLY STATE THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE AND THE CAUSE NOW AND PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. 
          SO HELP YOU GOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YOU MAY BE SEATED. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          WE'LL GO TO STAFF. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          WE HAVE JUNIE STO, BUSINESS SERVICES OFFICER, AND TARA MORTENSON, BUSINESS RELATIONS MANAGER, WHO WILL GIVE THE PRESENTATION. 
          GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. 
          UH, BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, THERE IS AN APPLICATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT WITH DANCING FOR BIKE CATERING, COU COUTURE, LLC. 
          THE ESTABLISHMENT IS LOCATED AT FOUR 40 ELM AND OPERATES AS A HALL RENTAL, UH, BIKE CATERING COUTURE LLC HOLDS THE FOLLOWING LICENSE TYPES FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL, A TYPE 47 ON SALE, GENERAL EATING PLACE, TYPE 58, CATERER PERMIT, AND TYPE 68 PORTABLE BAR. 
          UH, ALL APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, POLICE, FIRE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HAVE REVIEWED THE APPLICATION AND HAVE PROVIDED THEIR RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS AS CONTAINED IN THE HEARING PACKET. 
          THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT A SHOULD BE NOTED FROM THE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS SECTION. 
          UH, ONE INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES AS PROVIDED IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT SHALL BE RESTRICTED TO, UM, A SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, 8:00 AM TO 11:00 PM B, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, 8:00 AM TO 1:00 AM AND C UP TO SIX TIMES A YEAR. 
          HOURS MAY BE EXTENDED WITH ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR PER THE A UP UH, TWO. 
          OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES AT THE PREMISES SHALL BE RE RESTRICTED TO IN THE NORTHERN PARKING LOT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ALLOWED FROM 10:00 AM TO 10:00 PM AMPLIFIED MUSIC FOR THE PURPOSES OF WEDDING CEREMONIES. 
          OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING AND AMBIENT BACKGROUND MUSIC ADHERE TO EXTERIOR NOISE LIMITS ASSET FORTH UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 8 81 60 IN THE SOUTH GARDEN. 
          OUTDOOR USE ALLOWED BETWEEN 10:00 AM AND 10:00 PM AND NO AMPLIFIED MUSIC IS ALLOWED IN THIS AREA. 
          I, ALONG WITH TARA MORTENSON, MANAGER OF BUSINESS SERVICES, ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. 
          UH, THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE IS WITH US TONIGHT AND MAY ALSO HAVE A COMMENT, UH, HE WISHES TO MAKE. 
          THIS CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT. 
          UH, THANK YOU. 
          NOW WE HAVE THE, UH, THE OWNER, 
          [03:40:04]
VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. 
          UM, I APPRECIATE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. 
          UM, YOU HAVE SOME PAPERS THAT HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED THAT OUTLINE, UM, OUR EXHIBITS FOR, UH, THIS CONVERSATION. 
          UH, AND, UM, I HOPE YOU, UH, SOMEDAY COME AND VISIT US AT FOUR 40 L. 
          UM, AS AN OVERVIEW, UH, YOU'LL SEE WE'VE TAKEN A BEAU LIKE WHAT WAS A ONCE DILAPIDATED, UH, FALLING DOWN HISTORIC LANDMARK THAT WAS USED BY JUST A FEW PEOPLE KIND OF IN A SMALL CONGREGATION. 
          UH, IS NOW A GORGEOUS, UH, 1913 ERA, UH, HISTORIC LANDMARK, UH, THAT'S BEEN FEATURED IN THE STATE OF THE CITY. 
          UM, ITS EXTERIOR HAS BEEN IN A SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL THAT WAS BEFORE OUR TIME. 
          UH, THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN SHOT FOR A SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL WITH SOME OF THE, THE RENOVATIONS THAT WE MADE. 
          UM, IT HAS 30 FOOT COFFERED CEILINGS WITH HISTORIC ACOUSTICS THAT WE'VE RESTORED A 7,000 SQUARE FOOT BALLROOM THAT WE HEARD FROM AN HBO SCOUT AS ONE OF THE, THE TOP, UH, UH, WEDDING VENUE, UH, KIND OF SCENE LOCATIONS IN THE, IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA. 
          UM, AND A HISTORIC 2,500 PIPE ORGAN WITH MURRAY HARRIS PARTS, UH, FROM 1908 OR SO. 
          THAT IS A FUTURE REPAIR PROJECT AND WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, ORGANISTS ACROSS THE, UH, SOUTHLAND WOULD BE EAGER TO PLAY AT, WITH, UH, WITH AN ORCHESTRAL, UM, UH, COMPLIMENT. 
          UM, SO I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD, UH, WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH CITY STAFF, UH, SO I APPRECIATE THE HELP OF, OF, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND THE PEOPLE FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 
          UH, THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AT KIND OF MOVING KIND OF THIS ALONG. 
          I THINK WE'RE MOSTLY IN ALIGNMENT ON, UH, THE USE OF THE BUILDING. 
          UM, AND SO THAT IS EXHIBIT ONE. 
          UM, AND JUST, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A SENSE OF ALSO WHO'S DONE THIS PROJECT. 
          SO RIGHT NOW, WE, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, UH, KIND OF THE CITY NEEDING STRUCTURAL REVENUE. 
          WE'VE TAKEN A NON-PROFIT BUILDING, MOVED IT INTO A FOR-PROFIT THAT'S NOW GONNA BE PAYING PROPERTY TAX, UH, MOVED IT FROM A, UH, NON-SALE TAX PRODUCING CHURCH TO A, UM, A SALES TAX PRODUCING, YOU KNOW, LARGE BUILDING THAT CAN HOLD UP TO A THOUSAND PEOPLE AT A TIME. 
          UH, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF THAT, AN EVENT VENUE HAS THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT OF BEING ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE INTO TOWN. 
          THEY'LL SPEND OTHER MONEY WHILE THEY'RE HERE. 
          THEY'LL STAY IN ONE OF THE LOCAL HOTELS. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL GO TO KIND OF OTHER AREAS. 
          SO THE ESTIMATE ON THAT IS FOR EVERY DOLLAR REVENUE THAT WE PRODUCE FOR THE CITY, TWO MORE SPENT KIND OF WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE AREA. 
          UM, SO SOME OF THE POTENTIAL PUBLIC USES THAT WE ALL AGREE ON, I THINK ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WOULD BE AN ARTS AND CULTURE KIND OF DESTINATION. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THAT MOST OF OUR USE IS GONNA BE, UH, PRIVATE EVENTS. 
          AND SO I THINK WE'RE WELL ALIGNED WITH THE CITY KIND OF ON THAT PIECE. 
          UM, WHERE I THINK WE RUN INTO SOME OF THE, UH, KIND OF THE WORDING ON THE ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT CONDITIONS, UM, IS THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WOULD APPEAR TO CONFLICT WITH THE CONDITIONS. 
          SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, DOING A DANCEATHON THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO RAISE, UH, FUNDS FOR THE CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK. 
          OR, UH, HOSTING ONE OF THE LOCAL LONG BEACH YOUTH CHORUSES TO HAVE A CONCERT FOR THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS UNDER HISTORIC, YOU KNOW, ACOUSTIC CEILINGS, UM, THAT KIND OF ARE UNRIVALED IN THE AREA. 
          UM, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING A HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE. 
          YOU KNOW, I KNOW, UH, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS HAS PUT TOGETHER THE DI DE LOS MARTA, YOU KNOW, SO WE WOULD KIND OF LOOK AT MAYBE BRINGING TOGETHER SOME FACE PAINTING IN A MARIACHI BAND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND MAKE IT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 
          AND SO I THINK KIND OF ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN THE WAY THAT THIS IS WRITTEN, UH, IS THAT CONDITION 12 FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS. 
          UM, AND SO, UH, THERE'S KIND OF THE REAL QUESTION OF WHY WOULD THAT BE THE CASE? UM, AND WE'LL GO INTO THAT. 
          UM, AND THEN KIND OF THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO GET AN OCCASIONAL EVENT PERMIT, UM, WHICH I THINK WE'D NORMALLY BE OKAY WITH, EXCEPT FOR WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS OF AN OCCASIONAL EVENT PERMIT. 
          UH, YOU CAN ONLY FILE IT 30 BUSINESS DAYS IN ADVANCE, AND YOU CAN ONLY, UH, ANY EVENT HAS TO BE MORE THAN 10 DAYS APART. 
          SO, SAY, AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE OLYMPICS, WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE A VENUE LIKE OURS UTILIZED EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL LONG BEACH ARTISTS AND LOCAL LONG BEACH CULTURE AND DO OTHER THINGS. 
          FOR ALL THESE GREAT VISITORS THAT WERE COMING IN, YOU WOULD HAVE THESE RESTRICTIONS TO WHERE WE COULDN'T BOOK IT 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE. 
          YOU KNOW, THE INQUIRIES ARE COMING TWO YEARS OUT. 
          UM, AND, UM, WE COULDN'T, UH, DO ANYTHING, UH, CLOSER THAN 10 DAYS APART. 
          UH, AND YOU KNOW THAT THESE ARE VERY LIMITED EVENTS THAT WORK ONLY FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS. 
          AND SO THESE WOULD BE EVENTS LIKE SAIL G OR THE, YOU KNOW, THE LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX OR THE MARATHON. 
          THESE ARE ALL, YOU KNOW, COUPLE DAY EVENTS WHERE YOU'D WANNA DO A COUPLE OF EVENTS KIND OF CONSECUTIVELY. 
          UM, SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, ON EXHIBIT THREE, UH, WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, IS THAT UNDER LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE 5 72 1 15 ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITY IS DEFINED IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE, UH, THAT IT MEANS ANY ACTIVITY CONDUCTED FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF DIVERTING OR ENTERTAINING A CLIENTELE IN PREMISES OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 
          UH, AND AS YOU'LL SEE, UM, 
          [03:45:01]
LATER ON THE PREMISES, OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BECOMES AN IMPORTANT KIND OF FEATURE OF THIS CONVERSATION. 
          UH, WHERE WE'RE LEADING. 
          WE'RE, UH, AND OUR LEGAL COUNSEL HAVE READ THAT VERY LITERALLY. 
          AND, UM, I THINK CITY COUNCIL, UH, STAFF OR CITY STAFF, UH, HAS A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION THAN WE DO. 
          UM, SO IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, NUMBER FOUR AND YOU LOOK AT, UH, KIND OF JUST HOW THEY, UH, THEY LOOK AT ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT ISSUANCE IN, UH, THE DEPARTMENT. 
          UH, THEY'VE REMOVED THE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC LANGUAGE, UH, FROM THAT DEFINITION. 
          AND I, I THINK THAT'S WHERE SOME OF OUR, UH, DEFINITIONAL CON UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DIFFERENCES CAN COME FROM. 
          UM, IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, EXHIBIT NUMBER FIVE, UH, YOU'LL SEE THAT PD 30 HAS ACCESSORY USE OF A BANQUET HALL RENTAL FOR DANCING BY. 
          RIGHT. 
          UM, AND SO THAT'S AN ENTITLEMENT THAT WE HAVE BY, RIGHT, UH, AS A BANQUET HALL, IF YOU LOOK AT LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE 5 72 1 30 D, UM, IT REINFORCES THAT, RIGHT? AND SAYS THAT THE HOLDER ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT SHALL NOT ALLOW OTHERS TO USE OR RENT HIS OR HER LOCATED PREMISES FOR DANCING OR OTHER ENTERTAINMENT USES. 
          AND THAT THIS RESTRICTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO A LOCATION WHICH IS ADDITIONALLY LICENSED FOR HALL RENTAL, WHICH WE ARE. 
          AND SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT WE HAVE THAT RESTRICTION THAT'S BEEN ISSUED AS PART OF THESE CONDITIONS, EVEN THOUGH THE MUNICIPAL CODE EXPLICITLY STATES THAT IT SHALL NOT BE USED TO RESTRICT THAT. 
          UM, CITY CONDITION NUMBER SIX PROHIBITS NIGHTCLUB OPERATIONS, UH, WHICH OCCUR UNDER A TYPE 48 LICENSE. 
          AS THE CITY STAFF HAS MENTIONED, WE HAVE A TYPE 47, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT. 
          UH, WE DO THINK THAT THAT TAKES CARE OF THE REMAINDER OF WHAT YOU SEE IN, UH, IN ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, WHICH IS POLICE DEPARTMENT CONDITIONS NUMBER 12. 
          UM, AND THE LANGUAGE FOR THAT, UM, IS THAT THE PERMITEE SHALL NOT CONVERT THE HALL RENTAL OR ANY PORTION THEREOF INTO A PUBLIC DANCE NIGHTCLUB. 
          AND THEN IT, SO THAT PART IS KIND OF DUPLICATED WITH, UH, THE, THE CITY CONDITION. 
          AND THEN IT ADDS, ALL ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITY SHALL BE RESTRICTED TO PRIVATE GATHERINGS. 
          THE PERMITEE SHALL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO RENT THE HALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING A CONCERT DANCE OR JUST JOCKEY EVENT, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 
          SO IN OUR READING OF THE, THE LANGUAGE, THIS IS A DENIAL OF THE ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT BECAUSE ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITY IS, UH, OUTLINED AS ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PERFORMED IN A PREMISES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 
          AND THEN THIS IS SAYING YOU CAN'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS IF YOU'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 
          UM, SO, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THIS READING, UH, THAT SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED. 
          UM, IT, IT BASICALLY DENIES THE, THE APPLICATION. 
          UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE, THE EVENTS THAT ARE, UM, GONNA BE AFFECTED ARE THE ONES THAT WE MENTIONED. 
          IT'S THE CHILDREN'S CONCERT WHERE THEY INVITE THEIR PARENTS, UH, AND THE COMMUNITY. 
          IT'S THINGS LIKE ARCHITECTURE WEEK WHERE WE HAVE A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE. 
          IT WOULD BE ONCE WE'VE RESTORED THE HISTORIC ORGAN, HAVING A CONCERT WITH THE LONG BEACH PHILHARMONIC, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          LIKE TO ME, LIKE YOU'RE TAKING WHAT IS A BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC PUBLIC LANDMARK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY AS PART OF KIND OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND PART OF THEIR CULTURE. 
          THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT, UM, MARY, UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S PREVENTING US FROM DOING THAT WITHOUT FILING, YOU KNOW, FOR PERMITS AND GETTING ALL THESE OTHER THINGS TO HAPPEN, AND ONLY DOING IT 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE, WHICH PERMITS US FROM PROMOTING IT. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE SEE THE MOST PROBLEMS, UH, WOULD BE, UM, UH, ITEM NUMBER 12 IN THE POLICE CONDITIONS. 
          AND WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU STRIKE THAT BECAUSE THE BASICS OF US NOT BEING A, UM, A DANCE HALL, UH, OR A NIGHTCLUB IS, OR US NOT BEING A NIGHTCLUB, IS ALREADY COVERED BY THE, THE CITY CONDITION. 
          UH, NUMBER SIX. 
          UM, THE OTHER THING THAT WE FIND IS PROBLEMATIC IS, UM, YOU'LL SEE IN EXHIBIT EIGHT L BMC 7 72 0.1 20 N SAYS, CONDITIONS MAY NOT BE IMPOSED THAT CONFLICT WITH ANY LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, OR THAT CONFLICT WITH THE PERMITEES A, B, C LICENSE. 
          UM, IF YOU LOOK AT CONDITION AT, UH, EXHIBIT NINE AND 10, UH, AND 11, SO NINE, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE ALCOHOL ENTITLEMENT BY, RIGHT? SO THERE IS NO CUP 10 AND 11 HAVE A MOST RESTRICTIVE CLAUSE. 
          THAT'S TI THAT INCLUDES CUP LANGUAGE. 
          AND SO BY WRIGHT, WE DON'T HAVE A CUP, BUT NOW CITY STAFF HAS INSERTED A COP, I'M ASSUMING, 'CAUSE IT'S BOILERPLATE. 
          UM, AND THEN THEY PUT A MOST STRINGENT KIND OF CLAUSE ON TOP OF THAT, UM, WHICH CONFLICTS WITH, UH, AS I MENTIONED, L BMC SEVEN POINT 72 WITHOUT ONE 20 POINT N, WHERE THIS ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT CAN'T CONFLICT WITH ANYTHING THAT'S KIND OF ALREADY ESTABLISHED. 
          SO WE THINK THAT THOSE TWO PIECES ARE PROBLEMATIC. 
          UM, BUT OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU COME VISIT US. 
          WE THINK THIS IS A GORGEOUS FACILITY THAT'S GONNA BRING A SPOTLIGHT TO LONG BEACH. 
          WE HAVE A BUNCH OF FILM AND COMMERCIAL AND KIND OF OTHER PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY. 
          UM, AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, HOSTING, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOUR, UM, MOST, UM, PRECIOUS AND IMPORTANT EVENT. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE A FURTHER COMMENT. 
          DO WE HAVE ANY ONE FURTHER COMMENT? OKAY. 
          HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THIS HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BEHIND THE RAIL. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY COMMENT? COUNCILMAN? YES. 
          COUNCILMAN COUNCIL ZEN. 
          THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          AND, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH JU AND TARA FOR THAT PRESENTATION. 
          AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR BEING IN DISTRICT ONE. 
          I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY'S VERY 
          [03:50:01]
EXCITED TO HAVE YOU IN, IN THAT SPACE. 
          UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I WANTED TO SEE FROM CITY STAFF, UM, IS CAN YOU, UM, PLEASE EXPLAIN AND CLARIFY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, THE, THE BUSINESS OWNER JUST SHARED WITH US? CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          UM, TO ADDRESS THE, THE MAIN, UM, ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH HIS COMMENTS, UM, JUST WANNA BRING FORWARD THAT CITY STAFF INTERPRET, UH, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EVENTS DIFFERENTLY THAN MR. GO, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, LESS STRICTLY. 
          SO, UM, WE HAVE A A DIFFERENT VIEW THAT HAS A WIDER VIEW OF IT THAN WHAT'S BEING EXPRESSED BY HIM. 
          UM, STAFF IS NOT INTENDING TO LIMIT OR PREVENT BY CATERING FROM SUCCESSFULLY OPERATING AND HAVING WONDERFUL EVENTS WITH ENTERTAINMENT AT HIS VERY UNIQUE FACILITY. 
          WE DO HAVE TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS WITH THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          WE WANNA ENSURE HE'S A GOOD NEIGHBOR, JUST AS EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR. 
          UM, SINCE HE DOES NOT HAVE A TRACK RECORD FOR OPERATIONS YET, WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO TRY AND MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITY MAY CAUSE AN IMPACT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THERE MAY BE EVENTS THAT MAY FURTHER IMPACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MORE THAN THE AVERAGE EXPECTED EVENT THAT WE THINK WILL HAPPEN THERE, THAT HE DOES OBTAIN AN OEP OR AN SEP. 
          THIS WOULD BE FOR EVENTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO SPILL OUT OF THE LOCATION, POTENTIALLY HAVE FOLKS LINE UP OUTSIDE IMPEDE TRAFFIC, CREATE GREATER THAN AVERAGE WEDDING NOISE, UM, ET CETERA. 
          THINGS THAT INCLUDE NIGHTCLUBS, RAVE DANCE PARTIES, AND CONCERTS FROM WELL-KNOWN MUSICAL ACTS WITH TICKETS SOLD ON EVENTBRITE, FOR INSTANCE. 
          UM, WHILE WE'RE EAGER TO BRING EVENTS TO LONG BEACH, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SUCH EVENTS NECESSITATE FURTHER PERMITS BEYOND THE ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT ISSUED BY FM AND MAKE REQUIRED AND MAY REQUIRE SAFETY PLANS APPROVED BY THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT'S PARKING PLANS DESIGNATED DROP-OFF AND PICKUP LOCATIONS FOR UBER AND LYFT, AND ADDITIONAL PLANS FOR PARKING BEYOND, UM, HIS NORMAL PLANS. 
          SO RIGHT NOW, CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT CITY COUNCIL, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONDITIONS AS IS. 
          AND WE ENCOURAGE MR. GO AND BY CATERING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OPERATIONS AND ENGAGE IN AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS WITH THE CITY BUSINESS LICENSE STAFF AND WITH SPECIAL EVENTS STAFF. 
          UM, SO THAT WHEN HE BOOKS AN EVENT THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, UM, AND HAS THIS GREATER SCOPE AND POTENTIAL FOR A GREATER SCOPE, HE CONTACTS US. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT INTERACTIVE PROCESS AND COMMUNICATE WITH HIM AND COMMUNICATE WITH STAFF AND FIND OUT, DO WE NEED TO HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL, UM, OVERSIGHT? DO, IS THERE A RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY? PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC WELFARE? WHICH THE CODE VERY EXPRESSLY POINTS OUT IS A PART OF THE, UM, CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE APPLYING, AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT FROM THERE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TARA, FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. 
          UM, SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF MR. GO WOULD WANT TO HAVE ANY OF THE EVENTS THAT HE JUST, UM, SHARED WITH US, THAT WOULD BE OKAY, BUT UNDER THE CONDITIONAL USE THAT WE'RE GIVING, THE LICENSING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO APPROVE TODAY, SO MANY OF THE, UM, EVENTS THAT HE'S, UH, HE PRESENTED TONIGHT, WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH HIM ABOUT HOW, UM, SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, SEEM FINE. 
          THEY, THEY SHOULDN'T BE EXPECTED TO HAVE FOLKS LINING UP IN ADVANCE. 
          FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF, UM, IF YOU HAVE A POP MUSIC CONCERT AND IT'S A WELL-KNOWN ARTIST, YOU MIGHT HAVE FOLKS WHERE IT'S GENERAL ADMISSION AND FOLKS WOULD LINE UP ON THE SIDEWALK, IN ESSENCE, WANTING TO GET INTO THE VENUE EARLY OR MAKE SURE THEY GET A GOOD SEAT. 
          AND THEN THAT WOULD BE IMPACTFUL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE SIDEWALK WOULDN'T BE PASSABLE THE WAY THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PASSABLE. 
          AND WE WOULD WANNA HAVE THE SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING TEAMS SETTING UP A PLAN FOR WHERE ARE FOLKS GOING TO BE WAITING, IS THIS GOING TO BE A SAFE SPACE? DO WE NEED TO EVALUATE WHETHER WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL THERE TO SECURE THE AREA AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE WAITING? UM, WOULD THOSE FOLKS BE GETTING DROPPED OFF AND THEN HAVE IMPACT? SO WE'D BE LOOKING FOR KINDS OF EVENTS LIKE THAT. 
          UM, WE HAVE DEFINITELY ASSURED HIM THAT, UH, WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PREVENT THE EVENTS. 
          WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE AND ALSO THE, UM, OBTAINING A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT. 
          ALSO WHAT COMES WITH IT IS ALSO NOTIFYING THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS TYPE OF EVENT OR THIS BIGGER, LARGER SCOPE THAT EXISTS OUTSIDE OF HIS REGULAR FOOTPRINT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IMPACT THE COMMUNITY. 
          IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK AND SAY, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT. 
          IT'S JUST LETTING FOLKS KNOW LIKE, HEY, THAT MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD NIGHT TO HAVE LITTLE JIMMY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY AND HAVE ALL OF THEIR FAMILY TRY TO COME WHEN WE HAVE THIS EVENT WHERE IT'S TAKING UP PARKING, IT'S TAKING UP OTHER IMPACT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, AND YOU KNOW, THIS REMINDS ME OF THE 
          [03:55:01]
SPECIAL EVENTS I'VE HAD, UM, IN THE DISTRICT AND, AND THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH. 
          AND THAT'S VERY ALIGNED WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, IF IT, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE EVENT AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY. 
          UM, I KNOW HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT, UM, THERE WAS A NEED FOR ONLY 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE, AND I KNOW THAT SOME EVENTS YOU HAVE TO BOOK THEM WAY AHEAD OF IN ADVANCE. 
          UM, CAN YOU CLARIFY ON THAT AS WELL, PLEASE? UM, SO SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING DOES HAVE REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR PERMITS. 
          CLEARLY, IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO HAVE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, UM, UH, OPINE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING, YOU NEED TO HAVE A, A CERTAIN TIME THAT YOU, UM, APPLY IN ADVANCE SO EVERYONE CAN GET THEIR WORK DONE OBVI, AND, AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE SAFETY IN THE WAY THAT WE WANT TO. 
          UM, SO THEY HAVE THOSE LIMITATIONS. 
          UM, CERTAINLY ONCE MR. GOLD BECOMES, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, A FREQUENT USER, UM MM-HMM  OF THE, THE GROUP HAS CONNECTIONS, HAS THOSE CONTACTS WITH THE SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING OFFICE THAT, UM, THEY'LL GET TO LEARN EACH OTHER AND GET TO LEARN THE PROCESS AND HE'LL BE ABLE TO REACH OUT AND HAVE BETTER CONTEXT AND THINGS MAY, MAY BE FASTER AND MAY BE ABLE TO BE PROCESSED FASTER. 
          UM, WE DON'T WANNA PROMISE THAT UPFRONT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE IT YET. 
          UM, AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE AND WAIT UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT HOW THAT'S GONNA GO. 
          UM, I HAVE CONTACTED THE OFFICE AND SPOKEN WITH TASHA, WHICH, UM, YOU ALL KNOW QUITE WELL. 
          UM, AND SHE'S ASSURED ME THAT, UM, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MR. GO OVER OTHER ITEMS THAT HE'S DOING AND THAT THEY'D BE ABLE TO PROCESS. 
          UM, THOSE PERMITS. 
          THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PERMITS. 
          HE SPOKE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT AN OEP, BUT THERE'S ALSO TIMES WHEN HE WOULD NEED A SPECIAL EVENTS PERMIT, UM, AN S SE, AN SEP, WHICH WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THE OEP. 
          AND SO THAT DOES REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERABLE STAFF TIME TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND ENSURE THAT SAFETY THAT'S FOR WHEN HE'S SPILLING OUT ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND, AND NEEDS THAT ADDITIONAL, UM, OVERSIGHT. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN, TARA, FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. 
          UM, I AM REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE, I DON'T KNOW IF NOW'S THE TIME FOR, I, I KNOW MR. GOLD ROSE HIS HAND, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN SPEAK OR ANYTHING AT THIS NOW, DON, IF YOU'RE ASKING IF HE CAN RESPOND. 
          YES, YES. 
          YEAH. 
          SO, UM, I THINK LIKE PRACTICALLY, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, IF YOU COULD COME TO THE MIC SIR, PLEASE GO TO THE PODIUM. 
          SPEAK THE MICROPHONE PLEASE. 
          MR. THANK YOU. 
          I THINK WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH REVIEW. 
          WE'RE HAPPY TO KIND OF DO THAT. 
          I THINK PRACTICALLY THE ISSUE IS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT REVIEW, UM, END UP BECOMING INCREDIBLY BUREAUCRATIC AND BLOCKING THE EVENTS FROM ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN BOOKING IN LONG BEACH. 
          UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS, SO ANY EVENT MUST BE 10 DAYS APART. 
          SO SAY IF IT'S TWO DAY EVENT, WE CAN'T DO IT. 
          UH, RIGHT, YOU CAN'T DO BACK TO BACK. 
          UH, THEY HAVE TO BE 10 DAYS APART. 
          UH, WE CAN ONLY BOOK IT 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE. 
          SO HOW MANY KIND OF MAJOR PRODUCTIONS, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANTED TO DO A BIG CONCERT WITH SNOOP DOGG OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT EVERYONE WOULD BE REALLY EXCITED TO DO AND PULL A PERMIT FOR IT, WE CAN ONLY BOOK IT 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE. 
          I MEAN, COME ON, THAT'S, NO ONE'S GONNA BOOK UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. 
          YOU CAN'T SELL TICKETS UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. 
          UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK LIKE WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THE REVIEW. 
          UM, WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO WITH THAT, THAT PERMIT. 
          UM, ON TOP OF HAVING AN ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT THAT ESSENTIALLY DOESN'T GRANT US ANYTHING. 
          SO WE'VE GOTTEN CONDITIONS WITH NO KIND OF ADDITIONAL BENEFITS. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL REVIEWS THAT WE'D BE HAPPY TO DO FOR THESE SPECIFIC EVENTS. 
          BUT THEY HAVE ALL THESE OTHER CONDITIONS, LIKE YOU CAN ONLY DO THEM SO MANY TIMES. 
          UM, THEY HAVE TO BE SO MANY DAYS APART. 
          YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW DAYS, ONLY 30 DAYS A WINDOW TO FILE THEM. 
          LIKE, IT JUST MAKES IT SO THAT THAT WILL NEVER ACTUALLY HAPPEN. 
          I MEAN, PRACTICALLY, UH, YOU'D LOSE ALL OF THAT REVENUE POTENTIAL JUST GOES OUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE NO ORGANIZER IS GONNA ALLOW THAT AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY AND PREVENT FILING, YOU KNOW, 30 DAYS UNTIL 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE ON A MAJOR PRODUCTION. 
          LIKE, IT JUST, IT'S NOT GONNA WORK. 
          UM, SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S MORE OF OUR OBJECTION, KIND OF TO KIND OF THE WAY THIS IS, UH, BEING OUTLINED KIND OF, RATHER THAN, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING ANY SIGNIFICANT CONCERN OF WORKING WITH FIRE OR POLICE OR WHATEVER. 
          WE WANT TO HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS. 
          WE WANNA KIND OF DO WELL BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THAT'S AN ISSUE. 
          IT'S MORE OF JUST LIKE THE OTHER LINE ITEMS THAT GO WITH THESE LAWS BECOME REALLY PROBLEMATIC AND IT MEANS THAT WE WANNA ACTUALLY BOOK ANYTHING. 
          THANK YOU, MR. GOB. 
          OH, COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I COULD PROVIDE JUST SOME CLARITY TO, UM, BRING SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. 
          MR. GO IS CORRECT. 
          EXCUSE ME. 
          HE IS, UM, HE'S TELLING YOU WHAT THE RESTRICTIONS ARE ON AN OEP, BUT THE EVENT THAT HE TALKED ABOUT FIRST, SNOOP DOG, THAT WOULD BE AN SEP. 
          AND SO THAT WOULD BE A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT. 
          THAT SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT WOULD ALLOW FOR A THREE DAY EVENT. 
          IT WOULD ALLOW FOR, UM, MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT AN OEP DOES. 
          AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THE LIMITATIONS ALL EXACTLY 
          [04:00:01]
THE LIMITATIONS. 
          SO, UM, THERE ARE OTHER AVENUES AND THERE IS AN ABILITY FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. 
          AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE SNOOP DOGG, I'M SURE. 
          UM, BUT WE'D, UH, ALSO LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO APPLY FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT BECAUSE THAT CLEARLY WOULD REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, KNOW SEPARATE SIDEWALK STUFF. 
          WE MIGHT EVEN WANT IT TO ACTUALLY BE CLOSING THE STREET IN FRONT, UM, TO ALLOW FOR, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL, UM, IMPACT THAT, THAT MAY HAPPEN. 
          PAPARAZZI, I MEAN, THERE, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE GONNA COME WITH THAT, WHICH YOU ALL KNOW TASHA IS AMAZING AT FIGURING OUT. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TARA, FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. 
          UM, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT YOU ARE SO PASSIONATE, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT YOU WANNA BRING HERE. 
          AND, AND WHAT I'M SEEING IS THAT, UM, OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR CITY STAFF DEPARTMENT IS VERY WILLING, UM, TO HELP YOU. 
          I THINK TODAY WE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, AND GIVE YOU THE LICENSE THAT IS NEEDED TODAY. 
          AND, UM, AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S GONNA HELP YOU AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF TO DO SOME AMAZING THINGS IN YOUR, UM, DISTRICT. 
          SO I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT ME IN THIS, UM, IN VOTING FOR THIS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SORO. 
          UM, NO COMMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          SEE NO FURTHER COMMENT. 
          UH, LET'S TAKE A VOTE. 
          I'M AN AYE. 
          MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          NEXT TIME IS ITEM THREE, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN KERR. 
          RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCREASE THE FINES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE AIRPORT NOISE COMPATIBILITY ORDINANCE, AND TO UPDATE 
          [30. 
	
		
			25-54497
			Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC), Chapter 16.43, to increase the fines for violations of the Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance and to update outdated references.
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
OUTDATED REFERENCES. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER . 
          YES, THANK YOU, MR. VICE MAYOR. 
          AS MANY OF US KNOW, AN INCREASE IN GENERAL AVIATION ACTIVITY AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN IMPACTING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO LIVE NEAR THE AIRPORT. 
          AND UNDER THE FLIGHT PATHS, BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, MY COLLEAGUES AND I REQUESTED A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON GENERAL AVIATION OPERATIONS FROM LGB, WHICH RELEASED ON OCTOBER 31ST, 2023, INCLUDED A LIST OF SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM AIRPORT STAFF FOR EFFORTS WITHIN THE AIRPORTS AND CITY'S AUTHORITY TO WORK TOWARDS MITIGATING CONCERNS OVER NOISE AND AIR QUALITY, AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES. 
          ONE OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO REVIEW THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING A FEE STRUCTURE FOR VIOLATORS OF THE NOISE ORDINANCE AS DEFINED BY OUR CITY CODE, WHICH IS THE TOPIC OF THIS ITEM TONIGHT. 
          SEEING AS THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ALSO OUTLINED THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF OUR ORDINANCE AND ITS GRANDFATHERED STATUS UNDER THE AIRPORT NOISE AND CAPACITY ACT ANCA, WE HAVE MET, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THE CORRECT PROCESS AND TAKE A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE AND PROTECT THAT GRANDFATHERED STATUS. 
          THE ORDINANCE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN DECADES, AND WHILE MUCH OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE NUANCES OF COMPLIANCE WITH ANCA, IF IT WERE TO REMAIN UNCHANGED, WE WOULD BE LEFT WITH OUTDATED LANGUAGE THAT DOES NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT CURRENT AIRPORT OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS THE OUTDATED FINES THAT DUE TO INFLATION NO LONGER ACCURATELY REFLECT THE VALUE OF THE DETERRENT MEANT TO DISCOURAGE VIOLATORS. 
          LAST MAY, OUR CITY ATTORNEY SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR A LEGAL OPINION FROM THE FAA ON A PROPOSAL TO DOUBLE THE ORIGINAL FINE AMOUNTS TO ADJUST FOR INFLATION AND TO ALLOW FOR FUTURE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENTS TO ACCOUNT FOR FUTURE INFLATION. 
          IN NOVEMBER, THE FAA OFFICE OF CHIEF COUNSEL ISSUED THEIR OPINION CONFIRMING THAT THE INCREASES AS PROPOSED WOULD NOT TRIGGER COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH ANCA OR JEOPARDIZE OUR ORDINANCES GRANDFATHERED STATUS. 
          WITH TONIGHT'S ITEM, I REQUEST THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT STEP, REVISING THE ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THE MODERN STANDARDS. 
          WHILE THIS ITEM REPRESENTS A SMALL STEP TOWARDS MITIGATING CONCERNS AROUND GENERAL AVIATION, IT IS CERTAINLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND A CRUCIAL ONE AT THAT. 
          AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, THE AIRPORT MEETS QUARTERLY WITH FLIGHT SCHOOL OPERATORS AND OTHER GA PILOTS TO ACTIVELY CHECK IN ON OPERATORS' PRACTICES AND PATTERNS AND TO HELP IDENTIFY WAYS FOR PILOTS TO TAKE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS INTO MEANINGFUL CONSIDERATION. 
          MY OFFICE HAS BEEN PRESENT AT SOME OF THESE MEETINGS AND HAVE FELT THERE IS A GENERAL APPETITE FOR VOLUNTARY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS FROM GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS AND BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AIRPORT'S OFFICIAL FLY FRIENDLY PROGRAM THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR THAT SAID, AMENDING AND UPDATING THE ORDINANCE TO ACCURATELY REFLECT THE TODAY'S AIRPORT OPERATIONS AND THE STRENGTH OF TODAY'S DOLLAR WILL HELP US TO HOLD TRUE VIOLATORS ACCOUNTABLE IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY. 
          I WANNA THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY 
          [04:05:01]
AND STAFF FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN ENSURING THAT WE ARE THOUGHTFUL AND ACCURATE IN IMPLEMENTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE, PROPOSING REASONABLE AMENDMENTS, AND WAITING FOR THE FAA OPINION BEFORE ANY ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT. 
          IT HAS TAKEN US SOME TIME TO GET HERE, AND I RECOGNIZE IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING FOR RESIDENTS IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, BUT WE WANNA DO THIS RIGHT. 
          UH, WE KNOW THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE, AND I RECOGNIZE THE CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION MAY NOT FEEL THE SAME URGENCY TOWARDS QUIETER AND CLEANER SKIES, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WITH CONTINUED ADVOCACY TO OUR LOCAL FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR CITY'S CONTINUED EFFORTS TOWARDS THE REALIZATION OF THE OCTOBER 31 REPORTS, SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS TOWARDS MITIGATING COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION AND FIND A HEALTHY BALANCE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND I THINK I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY WANTED TO ADD IN TERMS OF TIMELINE OR, UM, NEXT STEPS ON WHEN WE CAN EXPECT THIS TO COME FORWARD. 
          SO, AS YOU HAD MENTIONED, UM, COUNCILWOMAN KERR, UH, WE DID WANT TO COORDINATE WITH THE FAA, UM, BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT IN ORDER FOR US TO PROTECT OUR GRANDFATHERED STATUS. 
          UM, AND SO AFTER OBTAINING THE, UH, LEGAL OPINION FROM THE FAA, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH AMENDING THE ORDINANCE, UM, AND WE CAN BRING BACK ANY, UM, UH, AN AMENDED ORDINANCE VERY SHORTLY. 
          GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU. 
          I JUST QUICKLY SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN KERR FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS MATTER. 
          I AGREE, AND I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF QUIET AND CLEAN SKIES, UM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PARTICULAR, UH, POLICY, GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE RIGHT LEVEL OF FEES THAT ARE COMMENSURATE WITH, UM, THE VALUE OF HAVING THOSE QUIET AND CLEAN SKIES. 
          UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE REPORT BACK FROM THE CITY ACCORDINGLY. 
          ACCORDINGLY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ANY POINT, COMMENT, NO FURTHER COMMENT. 
          BEST NO PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          I AN AYE MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          ITEM, UH, 31 REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH THE ALPHA AND OMEGA GROUP SECURITY SERVICES FOR PROVIDING SECURITY GUARD SERVICES FOR A REVISED TOTAL ANNUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 3,860,000 CITYWIDE. 
          CAN I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? OKAY. 
          IF WE CAN GET A, A MOVER AND A SECONDER. 
          A VERBAL VERBAL EIGHT AND NINE ON MY EIGHT AND NINE. 
          YEAH. 
          EIGHT AND NINE. 
          OKAY. 
          IT SHOWS UP ON, IT SHOWS UP ON OUR SCREENS. 
          IT DOES NINE TOO. 
          OKAY. 
          IT'S, IT'S NOT RECORDING, BUT WE'LL RECORD EIGHT AND NINE AS A MOVER AND A SECONDER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THE REPORT FROM OUR, ACTUALLY, WE DON'T HAVE A REPORT, DO WE? NO REPORT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM BEFORE US. 
          I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT THIS IS A CONTRACT WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS, UM, THAT HAPPENS TO BE WOMAN OWNED FOR A REALLY IMPORTANT SERVICE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AND LOOKS LIKE WILL BE EXPANDED. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RICK. 
          WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH TOOK SAID  . 
          WE GOT SHORT AND SWEET BLANKET, UH, WANT COMMENT? THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. 
          YE MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          ITEM NUMBER 34, REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EXCEPTION TO THE 180 DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR PUBLIC AGENCIES TO HIRE MR. WILLIAM KIFT FOR A LIMITED DURATION TO WORK IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          OKAY, GET ON MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE. 
          ANY COMMENT? 
          [34. 
	
		
			25-54430
			Recommendation to adopt resolution approving an exception to the 180-day waiting period for Public Agencies pursuant to Government Code 7522.56 and 21224, to hire Mr. William Kift for a limited duration to work in the Police Department.
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Human Resources
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
NO VOTE. 
          I'M GONNA, I OOPS FOR THE COMMENT. 
          COMMENT. 
          THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          [04:10:04]
I'M GONNA, AYE, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. 
          MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ITEM 35. 
          REPORT FROM LONG BEACH AIRPORT. 
          RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS AND AMEND CONTRACT WITH L CARP ASSOCIATES FOR AIRPORT PARKING OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES 
          [35. 
	
		
			25-54431
			Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to increase appropriations and amend Contract No. 36569 with LAZ Karp Associates, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company, for airport parking operations and management services, to increase the contract amount by $1,432,671 for the current two-year term ending April 30, 2025; authorize an annual contract amount of $2,466,908 for each renewal option plus an annual 5 percent contingency in the amount of $123,345, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $13,248,522; and increase appropriations in the Airport Fund Group in the Airport Department by $1,472,250, offset by Airport operating revenue. (District 5)
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Long Beach Airport
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 13,248,522. 
          DISTRICT FIVE. 
          KEEP GOING. 
          YEP. 
          OKAY. 
          WE HAVE A, A MOTION A SECOND. 
          NO COMMENT. 
          ANY COMMENT? ? NO. 
          THERE NO VOTE. 
          THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          AND CONTINENTAL AN AYE MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ITEM 36, PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT IN ANY NECESSARY 
          [36. 
	
		
			25-54432
			Recommendation to accept Categorical Exemption Number 24-056 prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act; and
Adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Industrial Design Research, Inc., of Newport Beach, CA, for providing beach lifeguard towers, in a total amount of $1,627,618, authorize an 8 percent contingency in the amount of $130,209, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,757,827 for a period of three years, with the option to renew for  two additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Districts 2, 3)
Levine Act: Yes
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Public Works; Fire Department
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITH INDUSTRIAL DESIGN RESEARCH FOR PROVIDING BEACH LIFEGUARD TOWERS FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,750,827 DISTRICTS TWO AND THREE. 
          OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND YES. 
          REQUEST TO SPEAK. 
          I COUNCILMAN THE MOVER INTO THIS SECONDER B TWO AND THREE. 
          OKAY, GO AHEAD. 
          I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HERE. 
          MOVER IS DISTRICT THREE. 
          SECONDER IS DISTRICT 6 86. 
          DISTRICT SIX. 
          WHEN YOU REACH TO SPEAK , YOU SPEAK, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK? YEAH, GO AHEAD. 
          I JUST WANT TO, UM, SHARE THAT I'M IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF THIS. 
          THIS IS AN IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT TO THE TOWERS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND I THINK IT, IT UNIF MAKES THE TOWERS UNIFORM FOR LIFEGUARDS TO COME IN KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE. 
          IT'S, UM, THIS IS A GOOD MOVE FOR OUR LIFEGUARD AND OUR LIFEGUARD TEAM, SO IN SUPPORT OF THIS. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANY FURTHER COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. 
          ANYTHING TO VOTE? AYE. 
          MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          ITEM 38 ARE, ARE WE SKIPPING 37? GOING STRAIGHT TO 38. 
          ARE WE COMING BACK? I HAVE 38 NEXT ON MY 38. 
          OKAY. 
          REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS. 
          RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION GROUP FOR THE QUEEN MARY VILLAGE 
          [38. 
	
		
			25-54563
			Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7265 and award a contract to Environmental Construction Group, Inc. of Signal Hill, CA, for the Queen Mary Village Demolition Project, in the amount of $1,172,231, authorize a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $234,446, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,406,677; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (District 1)
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Economic Development; Public Works
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
DEMOLITION PROJECT FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,406,677 DISTRICT ONE. 
          OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. 
          ANY COMMENTS? YES. 
          THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. 
          UM, THIS ITEM BRINGS LONG BEACH, A LOT OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 
          I WANNA THANK OUR CITY TEAM FOR PUTTING IN THE NECESSARY WORK TO ASSESS THE CURRENT QUEEN MARY VILLAGE, UM, DEMOLITION PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH RISKS THAT OUR RESIDENTS, UM, MAY POSE. 
          I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
          UM, IT HAS, IT HAS BEEN A SITE THAT HAS BEEN IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, SO, UM, I'M VERY, VERY THANKFUL THAT, UM, CITY STAFF IS, UM, REALLY ON THIS. 
          I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION JUST FOR CLARIFICATION AND FOR MY RESIDENTS TOO. 
          UM, BE MORE AT PEACE. 
          UH, WHAT MITIGATION STEPS ARE WE TAKING TO ADDRESS LEAD EXPOSURE CONCERNS DURING THIS DEMOLITION? YES. 
          UH, SO, UM, THERE IS KNOWN, UH, EXPOSURE RISK AT THE, UM, UH, AT THE PROJECT SITE AND THOSE, UM, THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE REQUIRED TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE IN A, A SAFE AND LEGAL MANNER. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THIS ITEM. 
          GOVERNOR SORO, I SUPPORT THE ITEM TOO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I DID A COMMENT THAT I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A GREAT PROJECT ONCE IT'S GONE, THAT IT WON'T GO FROM THERE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, TAKE IT TO VOTE PLEASE. 
          PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON, THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM. 
          OKAY. 
          DATE OF VOTE. 
          I'M AN AYE. 
          [04:15:01]
COUNCILMAN DUGGAN MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          OKAY, THEN YOU NEVER GO TO ORDINANCES. 
          NUMBER 37. 
          REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE PROPOSITION L ORDINANCE, WHICH PURSUANT TO SECTION 1806 OF THE CITY CHARTER MAKES FINDINGS AND DETERMINES REGARDING 
          [37. 
	
		
			25-54295
			Recommendation to declare Proposition “L” ordinance which pursuant to Section 1806 of the City Charter, makes findings and determines regarding contracting of pet licensing services, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)
		
		
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Office or Department:
			Parks, Recreation and Marine
		
		
			 
			 
			 
		
		
			 
			Suggested Action:
			Approve recommendation.
		
	]
CONTRACTING OF PET LICENSING SERVICES, READ AND ADOPTED AS READ CITYWIDE. 
          OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION. 
          AND SECOND, ANY COMMENTS FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS? BILL COMMENT. 
          ANY FURTHER COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SECOND VOTE NUMBER. 
          AYE. 
          MOTION IS CARRIED. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          NOW WE'RE IN A GENERAL POLL. 
          COMMENT NUMBER TWO, THERE ARE SIX SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THE 
          [
	
		
			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.
		
	]
NAMES? VICE MAYOR SEAN HEARNS, DAVE SHUKLA RE, DIXON DES CHAR, AND RONNIE BARNES. 
          IF YOU COULD LINE UP. 
          FIRST SPEAKER IS SEAN AND THEN DAVE SHUKLA. 
          GO AHEAD, VICE MAYOR. 
          UM, MY NAME IS SEAN HEARNS. 
          I'VE BEEN, UH, IN LONG BEACH FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. 
          I'M ORIGINALLY FROM DETROIT. 
          DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME. 
          UM, OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS I'VE BEEN HOMELESS AND, UH, THANKS TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          IN UM, NOVEMBER, I RECEIVED MY SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. 
          UM, AND APRIL OF 2024, I, ALONG WITH 40 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WERE ON FOUNTAIN STREET. 
          UM, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT WAS A CLOSED, UH, BAYMONT HOSPITAL AND, UH, WE WERE SQUATTING THERE. 
          UM, WHEN THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER CAME AND RESCUED US, PRETTY MUCH THEY PLACED US IN TWO SEPARATE HOTELS. 
          ONE BEING THE STALLION NORTH LONG BEACH AND THE OTHER BEING THE COAST AND PCH FOR 11 MONTHS. 
          FOR THE LAST 11 MONTHS, I WAS ABLE TO SLEEP IN A BED. 
          AND ON THE 28TH OF, UH, FEBRUARY, WE WERE FOR SOME REASON MOVED FROM THE STALLION TO THE COAST. 
          AND LAST NIGHT WAS MY FIRST NIGHT BACK OUTSIDE. 
          APPARENTLY MY GIRLFRIEND WASN'T ON THE LIST AND THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER WORKERS HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO HER, INTERVIEWED HER, AND I WAS TOLD I WAS GOOD. 
          BUT YESTERDAY THEY TURNED THEIR BACKS ON ME. 
          THE PREDATOR SLUM MOTEL MANAGER AT THE COAST WAITED FOR ME TO GO TO THE STORE. 
          THEN HE RE-RENTED OUR ROOM, GAVE THE KEY CARD TO A MAN, AND HE ATTEMPTED TO GET INTO THE ROOM WHILE MY GIRLFRIEND WAS THERE. 
          SHE WAS TERRIFIED. 
          I RETURNED TO THE POLICE AND TWO MULTI-SERVICE CENTER WORKERS. 
          THEY SPOKE TO THE OFFICERS, VERIFIED WHO I WAS, AND MADE A PHONE CALL. 
          THEN THEY LEFT AND THE POLICE TOLD US TO LEAVE OR WE'D BE TRESPASSED. 
          MY GIRLFRIEND IS IN COLLEGE. 
          SHE STARTS HER SECOND SEMESTER TODAY AT SNHU. 
          ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO I HAD PNEUMONIA. 
          I WAS IN A HOT COLLEGE MEDICAL CENTER, GREAT FIREFIGHTERS CAME AND SAVED ME FROM THE BEACH WHERE I COULDN'T BREATHE. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF I CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, AND WE HAVE STAFF, WE IN THE SAYING THAT YOU CAN WAIT TO SEND SOMEONE. 
          I TALK TO YOU, MAYOR. 
          YES. 
          WE HAVE A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER OVER HERE WHO CAN HELP YOU AND GET SOME INFORMATION. 
          THANK YOU. 
          TESTIMONY DISCONNECTED, . 
          THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY CLERK. 
          THE TOPIC OF, UH, THESE REMARKS IS NO TAX CUTS. 
          UH, WE'VE HEARD QUITE A BIT TONIGHT ON HOW TO FUND OUR PRIORITIES, UH, FUNDED NOT 
          [04:20:01]
ONLY FOR THEIR QUALITY AND VALUE OF PUBLIC SERVICES, BUT WE'VE ALSO HEARD A LOT ABOUT, FRANKLY, THE WELLBEING AND, UH, THE LIMITS, UH, OF THE PEOPLE WHO DELIVER THAT VALUE AND THOSE SERVICES. 
          AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, UH, I TRIED TO CREATE A NEW REVENUE STREAM FOR THE CITY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, UH, BASED ON THE CONCERNING SPEED OF FEDERAL DEVELOPMENTS, I'D JUST LIKE TO STATE A COUPLE OF DATA POINTS FOR THE RECORD. 
          FIRST, DONALD JOHN TRUMP HAS NEVER HAD A MANDATE. 
          HE HAS NEVER CARRIED 51% OR GREATER OF THE POPULAR VOTE, LET ALONE 49% OR GREATER OF THE VOTING AGE POPULATION IN ANY ELECTION. 
          NOT ONCE, NOT EVER SECOND DATA POINT. 
          IT IS AN EMPIRICAL FACT THAT THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT OF 2017 OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFITED PEOPLE MAKING OVER $450,000 A YEAR. 
          THIS, WE KNOW, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXAMINE THE PENN WHARTON BUDGET MODEL THAT FOUND EXTENDING THESE TAX CUTS INTO 2026 WOULD GIVE THE BOTTOM 80% OF INCOME, ONLY 29% OF THE BENEFITS, WHILE THE TOP 10% BY INCOME WOULD ACCRUE 56% OF THE VALUE OF THESE TAX CUTS. 
          PLEASE NOTE THAT TAX CUTS FOR EVERYONE MEANS LESS SERVICES FOR EVERYONE. 
          AND EMPIRICALLY, THIS HAS LED TO THE DREADED DEBT SPIRAL, WHICH, UH, MEANS YOUR INTEREST RATES RISE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO BORROW MORE, WHICH MAKES YOUR INTEREST SURPRISE, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO BORROW MORE, AND THEN YOU ARE LEFT WITHOUT MANY SERVICES. 
          THIRD DATA POINT, AND THIS IS A, A SUNNY ONE. 
          UH, THE COST OF SOLAR AND WIND POWER GENERATION FOR ELECTRICITY IS NOW STRUCTURALLY CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER FORM OF ELECTRICITY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE US IS PRODUCING RECORD LEVELS OF OIL AND GAS IN 2023 AND 2024 WORLDWIDE, WITH THE INCREDIBLE SUBSIDIES THAT CONTINUE TO GO INTO FOSSIL FUELS, NONETHELESS, SOLAR AND WIND ARE SIMPLY CHEAPER. 
          AND THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY. 
          NOT EVER NOW. 
          UH, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO CONNECT THESE DATA POINTS, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK, UH, EVERY AMERICAN NOT ONLY HAS A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT A FISCAL DUTY TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO PREVENT ANOTHER ROUND OF BUDGET CUTS IN ANY FEDERAL BUDGET. 
          BILL. 
          CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE, WHAT IT WOULD DO TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HERE IF PEOPLE LOST THEIR MEDICAID, THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY, ALL OF THE SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY USE TO HELP PEOPLE IF ALL THE FEDERAL SUPPORT WENT AWAY, YOU WANNA WIN. 
          YOU WANT TO CREATE EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION, NO TAX CUTS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          NEXT, UM, YES, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, UH, RICHARDSON. 
          I AM THE PERSON THAT, UH, OWNER OF THE JUMPING, UM, TRAMPOLINES, TRAMPOLINES, UH, OVER AT SHORELINE AREA. 
          HAVE THOSE LETTING YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE ISSUES WITH THE STREET VENDORS OF MANY DIFFERENT ITEMS. THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE, UH, AREA OF, UH, 30, 30 MINUTE AREA LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONE IN, AND THEY'RE ALSO IN THE RED AREA, RED ZONE AREA WHERE, UH, THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE CONNECTED AND THERE'S MORE, UH, STREET VENDORS, UH, COMING THROUGH THE, THE SEW AREA. 
          THEY CLAIM THAT THEY DO HAVE, UH, PERMITS, UH, CITY PERMITS. 
          AND AGAIN, I I'M WONDERING WHO GAVE THEM THOSE PERMITS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT AN AREA WHERE, UH, THEY SHOULD BE PLACED. 
          UM, AND I'M AWARE OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE GIVING PERMITS, UH, SUCH AS RO BEACH. 
          YES. 
          AND THEY HAVE TO BE IN A, IN ACCORDANCE TO 
          [04:25:01]
DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS AND REGULATIONS OF PLACEMENT, UH, ALLOWED, UH, PLACEMENT AND PERMITS, ET CETERA. 
          THAT AREA HAS NEVER BEEN AN AREA FOR, UH, STREET VENDING. 
          AND ALL OF THIS IS AFFECTING OUR BUSINESS. 
          UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING FOOD IN THE SHORELINE AREA. 
          WE'RE AT A LOSS, A DEFICIT LOSS OF 50%. 
          AND AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S VERY DETRIMENTAL AND IT'S AFFECTING OUR, OUR ECONOMY. 
          UM, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR, UH, TO PROGRAM, UH, AN SOME TYPE OF AN APPOINTMENT WITH SOMEBODY THAT CAN AID ME OR ASSIST ME WITH THIS SITUATION. 
          AND MY NUMBER, AGAIN, MY NAME LAURA DIXON, 5 6 2 2 0 8 9 7 0 4. 
          AND I SEE A LOT OF THESE STREET VENDORS THAT ARE, UH, BREAKING A LOT OF HEALTH REGULATION, UH, PROTOCOLS. 
          AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING, UH, BEVERAGES, THEY'RE NOT COVERED PROPERLY. 
          NO. 
          OR THEY'RE NOT SANITARY. 
          AND IT IS DIRE FOR SOMEBODY TO HELP ME. 
          IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS OF ALL OF THE SITUATION HAPPENING, SHORELINE, AND WOULDN'T ONLY, UH, HELP ME, BUT ALL THE OTHER STREET VENDORS THAT ARE IN THAT AREA OF SHORELINE BECAUSE IT HAS, THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN AFFECTING US. 
          UH, I THINK, UH, MS. WARD, WARD WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME AND, UH, HAVE A MEETING WITH ME AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HER. 
          AND IF SOMEBODY CAN PLEASE ASSIST ME AFTER THIS, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM MORE INFORMATION. 
          AND ALSO, THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH SOME OF THE RESTROOMS THAT ARE CLOSED. 
          MM-HMM . 
          AND HOMELESS, UH, CAMPING IN INSIDE. 
          AND ALSO A LADY THAT'S BEEN LIVING THERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR IS SICK AND HAS A, A, AN INFECTION, UH, WHICH IS VERY, UM, PUNGENT UHHUH. 
          UH, ONE OF THEM IS, UH, FAN MARTINEZ AND ONE OF MY, UH, COLLEAGUES THAT SELLS FANNIE MARTINEZ CIA. 
          SHE CALLED FOR PARAMEDICS. 
          BUT THE LADY, UH, REFUSED, UH, TO BE HELPED THREE TIMES CONCLUDED. 
          MA'AM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          GOD BLESS YOU. 
          AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL GET HELP. 
          UH, PLEASE. 
          OKAY, THANK YOU. 
          OUR LAST SPEAKER. 
          SO I BRING UP THE REAL . 
          UH, GOOD AF WELL, GOOD EVENING VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          MY NAME IS RONNIE BARNES. 
          I'VE BEEN A CITIZEN OF LONG BEACH SINCE AUGUST 20TH, 1969, SO ABOUT 51 YEARS. 
          AND I ATTEND A POOL OF HOPE, WHICH LOCATED AT 60, UH, 68 0 1, UH, LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. 
          AND ON SAT, I'VE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE 
          [04:30:01]
1995. 
          AND SO ON SATURDAY, WHEN I CAME IN, WHEN I WENT THERE FOR MY AQUATIC THERAPY, IT WAS A COMMOTION GOING ON. 
          AND SO AS I STARTED UP THE SIDEWALK, I MET A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS COMING DOWN TOWARD ME AND HE SAID, AND HE WAS MUMBLING AND HE SAID, I'LL BE BACK. 
          AND SO AS I GOT THERE, I ASKED HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE YOUNG MAN, HE, I, I LOOKED AT HIM BECAUSE I SAID HE SEEMED TROUBLED, AND THEY SAID THAT THE YOUNG MAN WAS THERE, STARTED TRYING TO START SOMETHING. 
          AND SO I ASKED, SAID, WELL, YOU GUYS BETTER CALL THE POLICE. 
          AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE CALLED THE POLICE ALREADY. 
          SO, UH, THEY SAID, WE ARE ON THE PHONE WITH THE POLICE. 
          I GOT THERE, UM, I WOULD SAY IT WAS ABOUT 7 45, SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA. 
          BUT ANYWAY, THE LIFEGUARD SAID THAT HE HAD CALLED THEM AT SEVEN 30 BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN ALL THE RUCKUS WAS GOING ON. 
          WHEN I GOT THERE, I SAW THE COMMOTION. 
          SO ANYWAY, I GO IN, DO MY ROUTINES, I I LEAVE ABOUT, UH, 10 40 AND AS I'M LEAVING, I SEE THE POLICE COME UP AND THAT'S THREE HOURS AND 10 MINUTES AFTER THE CALL. 
          AND THAT KIND OF DISTURBED ME WHEN I SAID THEY HADN'T, WHEN I GOT OUTTA THE POOL, ASKED THEM, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN THERE. 
          HE, THEY SAID, NO. 
          I SAID, THEY HAVEN'T COME. 
          THEY SAID, NO. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE YOU GOT SENIORS THAT, THAT GO THERE FOR THOSE POOL FOR THE EXERCISING. 
          YOU GOT CHILDREN THAT GO THERE FOR THE EXERCISE AND YOU HAVE DISABLED PEOPLE THAT GO THERE FOR THE EXERCISING. 
          AND WHEN THE GUY SAID HE WAS COMING BACK, OKAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN, IT TOOK THREE HOURS AND 10 MINUTES FOR, FOR A POLICE OFFICER TO ARRIVE THERE. 
          'CAUSE WHEN I WAS LEAVING, I LEFT AT 10 30 AND THE POLICE OFFICER WAS JUST GETTING THERE. 
          AND I SAID, NOW THAT GUY COULD HAVE COME BACK AND HE COULD HAVE JUST HE WITH A UZI, ANYTHING, HE COULD HAVE BEEN A BLOOD BATH. 
          SO IT, IT, I, I SAID, I'M GONNA COME TO THE CITY. 
          I TOLD THE THE MANAGER THERE THAT I WAS GONNA COME DOWN TO THE CITY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN COMING THERE SINCE 95. 
          NOTHING'S EVER HAPPENED. 
          BUT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPEN AND YOU DIAL 9 1 1, THE PROTECT AND SERVE IS SUPPOSED TO SHOW UP. 
          AND NO ONE SHOWED UP UNTIL THREE HOURS AND 10 MINUTES AFTERWARD. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S GOT, I MEAN, NOTHING CAN BE THAT IMPORTANT, WHEREAS YOU CAN'T. 
          AND THEY WERE TELLING THEM THAT THE GUY WHO WAS THERE, HE WAS REAL, UH, COMBATIVE AND HE WAS TRYING TO HURT SOMEBODY. 
          BUT, 'CAUSE IT'S JUST LIKE, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, SIR, NO ONE GOT HURT. 
          AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD, HE DIDN'T COME BACK WITH UZI. 
          THAT'S THE SECOND TIME HE HAD BEEN THERE. 
          SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OUR STAFF, UH, MR. MO? YEAH, WE HAVE DEPUTY CHIEF MIKE STO RIGHT HERE. 
          WHO CAN, UH, LOOK INTO THAT CALL FOR YOU, SIR. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK COMPLETES BLOOD COMMENT NUMBER TWO. 
          WE ARE NOW AT, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, TONIGHT AND WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE MEMORY OF YOU SEE THE 
          [ANNOUNCEMENTS]
HERNANDEZ IN THE OPENING TEAM MEMBER OF THE MAYOR'S FUND FROM LONG BEACH AND ERNIE LEARNING HUB WHO PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY LAST MONTH AS A COORDINATOR FOR THE MAYOR'S FUND EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM. 
          YESENIA HAD MEDICAID HER HER LIFE AND CAREER TO BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE ALL CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS COULD THRIVE. 
          WE WILL HONOR OUR MEMORY AND LEGACY BY CONTINUING TO CHAMPION ACCESS CHILDREN LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LO CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES. 
          THAT WAY SHE WAS SO COMMITTED TO SERVING. 
          THANK YOU UP. 
          I ANYBODY HERE? THANK YOU VICE HERE. 
          UH, FIRST I WANNA EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE PROMOTED TODAY. 
          I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WATCHING, UM, TODAY'S CEREMONY AND VERY, VERY PLEASED, UH, WITH THAT, UH, FOR, UH, THIS EVENING. 
          I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, UH, STANDING WITH ME ON LEVERAGING OUR LA COUNTY MEASURE A DOLLARS TO REALLY LOOK AT FUNDING THE EXPANSION OF OUR HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAM AND OUR SENIOR, UH, SHALLOW HOUSING SUBSIDY. 
          I BELIEVE THAT THE FOUNDATION OF PASSING THIS ITEM, UM, IS JUST ONE STRATEGY THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON TO ENSURE HOUSING STABILITY, UM, HERE IN LONG BEACH. 
          AGAIN TO ENSURE OUR SENIORS CAN AGE IN PLACE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AND FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS TO HELP THEM PLANT ROOTS HERE IN OUR CITY. 
          [04:35:01]
AS I CONTINUE TO DO WORK IN THE DISTRICT, I LOOK FORWARD TO GAUGING ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITH RESIDENTS TO HEAR THEIR CONCERNS AND PRIORITIES. 
          UH, JOIN ME THIS SATURDAY AS I'LL BE OUT IN THE LONGWOOD COMMUNITY LOOKING TO CONNECT WITH NEIGHBORS BETTER, UNDERSTAND CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEING FACED, AND SHARE MY VISION FOR A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM ISSUES. 
          I INVITE ALL THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO, TO PLEASE JOIN US AS WE REFLECT ON AND CREATE SOLUTIONS, UM, FOR LONG BEACH THAT WE CALL HOME. 
          UM, AND I ALSO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STAY CONNECTED. 
          WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS, UM, AND MAKE SURE YOU GET UPDATES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT. 
          UM, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE PART OF SHAPING POLICY, UM, HERE IN CITY HALL. 
          SO THANK YOU AGAIN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MANY OF YOU ON SATURDAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER KER. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU, MR. VICE MAYOR. 
          UH, THIS WEEKEND I INVITE YOU TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN BIXBY KNOWLES DURING FIRST FRIDAY. 
          THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 7TH, STROLL UP AND DOWN ATLANTIC FROM SIX 30 TO NINE 30 TO ENJOY ART, LIVE MUSIC DEALS AT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY. 
          THEN ON SATURDAY, MARCH 8TH, YOU CAN HEAD OVER TO PARKVIEW VILLAGE FROM NOON TO THREE. 
          YOU CAN CELEBRATE ST. 
          PATRICK'S DAY A LITTLE EARLY WITH THEIR MONTHLY SECOND SATURDAY'S BLOCK PARTY, ALL WHILE ENJOYING LOCAL SHOPPING AND FAMILY FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES THAT SAME AFTERNOON. 
          YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SPEND TIME AT LONG BEACH EXCHANGE FOR THIS WEEK'S SPRINGTIME BLOOM POP-UP MARKET. 
          I ALSO INVITE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN ME AT MY OFFICE AT RANCHO LOS CERRITOS THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 9TH, UH, AT 11:30 AM JOIN US FOR OUR FIFTH DISTRICT DAY AT THE RANCHO. 
          YOU CAN TOUR AND EXPLORE THE HISTORIC GROUNDS WITH NEIGHBORS FOR NEIGHBORS, UH, BEFORE RANCHO EL CERRITOS OPENS FOR ITS REGULAR HOURS. 
          UH, SO WE START AT 1130, REGULAR HOURS START AT ONE. 
          UH, YOU CAN VISIT LONG BEACH.GOV/DISTRICT FIVE TO RSVP. 
          LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO SAVE THE DATE SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH FOR MONARCH DAY OF ACTION AT WILLOW SPRINGS PARK. 
          FROM NINE TO 12, YOU CAN JOIN INTO PLANT NATIVE POLLINATOR PLANTS AND LEARN ABOUT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES IN ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOS NATURAL SPACES. 
          SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBERS DANCE. 
          THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. 
          I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO THE FOLLOWING EVENTS IF YOU'D LIKE TO DANCE. 
          THE DANCE DOWNTOWN REVOLUTION IS TAKING PLACE AT MOSAIC ON PROMENADE EVERY TUESDAY, UH, OF MARCH AT 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM HOPEFULLY I'LL MAKE IT OUT THERE. 
          ONE OF THESE TUESDAYS. 
          UM, THE FIRST STREET PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT COMMUNITY MEETING WILL BE HAPPENING ON ZOOM ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2025 AT 6:30 PM MY NEXT QUARTERLY COMMUNITY CLEANUP WILL BE HAPPENING AT LINCOLN PARK ON SATURDAY, MARCH 8TH AT 10:00 AM 10 TO 1130. 
          HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD. 
          UH, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. 
          UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ATTEND, UH, THE STAR KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM THE THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE HOLY TRINITY CHURCH AT 200 EAST 68TH STREET. 
          UM, ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING OUR HOUGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING. 
          THEY WILL MEETING ON THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM AT THE DORIS TOPSY ELVER, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE. 
          UH, AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO OUR INAUGURAL UPTOWN HOUSING EXPO. 
          UH, THAT WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH, 2025 FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:30 PM AGAIN, THIS WILL BE AT HOWTON PARK AT THE DORIS TOP SEAVER COMMUNITY CENTER AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE. 
          UM, WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS ON MANY OF OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS, GRANTS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. 
          WE'LL BE DOING, UM, INFORMATION, UM, AND WORKSHOPS ON ESTATE PLANNING. 
          SO IT'S GONNA BE, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS HOLISTIC AND SOMETHING FOR, FOR EVERYONE. 
          SO IF YOU'D LIKE ANY MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THESE EVENTS, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV. 
          UH, THANK YOU. 
          SEE YOU THE COMMENTS. 
          THIS MEETING'S ADJOURNED. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HAVE A GOOD DAY EVERYBODY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          [ADJOURNMENT]
GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.