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CALLING THE MARINE ADVISORY COMMISSION, UH, MEETING FOR MARCH 13TH OF TO ORDER.
UH, MR. DOON, COULD YOU PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL COMMISSION? CHAIR MURRAY HERE.
COMMISSIONER, VICE CHAIR MCRAY.
COMMISSIONER CARLIN PRESIDENT AND ACCOUNT COMMISSIONER CAGE? HERE.
YOU HAVE A FORM? OKAY, FOR THE RECORD.
COMMISSIONER ZABAR HAS BEEN EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING AND, UH, DID WE HEAR ANYTHING FROM UH, ATKINS MCAL? NO, NOT HERS.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE.
ANY OTHER OBJECTIONS FROM ANY OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS? NO, MA'AM.
AND AS WE START WITH OUR ITEMS, WE DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, BRENT DENNIS IS HERE, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF, UM, UH, THE AREA THAT ENCOMPASSES OUR MARINE DEPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE, UM, PARKS AND RECREATION AND MARINE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. DENNIS.
UH, WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO OUR, UH, REGULAR AGENDA, UH, WITH ITEM ONE.
I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES SECOND.
AND ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING? ALRIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL? AYE.
OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
UH, ITEM TWO, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM PARTNERS AND PARKS, UH, AND AN INTRODUCTION OF THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I DIDN'T SIGN A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT SO MUCH.
SECOND, MR.
UH, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ASHLEY JONES, I EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERS OF PARKS TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSION.
ALRIGHT, SO I'M SORT OF GONNA, I THINK, FIND MYSELF IN THIS CORNER SO I CAN SEE.
AND THEN YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE MOVE, BUT HI, I'M ASHLEY.
UM, I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ME AND PARTNER PARK AS WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION HERE.
MY VOICE IS PRETTY LOUD, RIGHT? LIKE THAT'S WAY I KIND OF PROJECT.
SO, UM, WE'RE A 5 0 1 C3, RIGHT? UM, WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH PARKS, REC, AND MARINE, UM, TO ASSIST IN DIFFERENT NEEDS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.
OUR OFFICES ARE LOCATED WITHIN, UH, THE EL DORADO PARK SPACE.
UM, WE ALSO DOUBLE AS A FISCAL AGENT TO SUPPORT DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
SOME ARE ATHLETIC GROUPS, SOME ARE, SOME ARE ONLY.
UM, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FISCAL PARTNERS, UM, INCLUDING PRA.
UM, WHAT WE DO, SO WE PROVIDE FUNDRAISING, INVESTMENT, AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AS A 5 0 1 C3 IN GOOD STANDING.
SO AGAIN, IF A GROUP IS MAYBE NOT A 5 0 1 3 AND THEY'RE WANTING TO PUT ON A COMMUNITY EVENT, WE MANAGE THOSE FUNDS FOR THEM.
UM, WE'RE A FISCAL PARTNER FOR THESE GROUPS WHO ARE NOT RIGHT.
UM, WE PROVIDE LIABILITY AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS.
WE ARE KIND OF THE HOST FOR JUNETEENTH, SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIG EVENTS THAT WE INSURE AND IT'S A REQUIREMENT TO CARRY THESE THINGS AND THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE.
UM, WE HAVE A YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR PARK STRIP AND MARINE CLASSES THAT RUNS ALL YEAR LONG.
WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY KEEP GOING.
UM, WE PROVIDE SENIOR ASSISTANCE.
WE HAVE A FOOD FUND THAT STARTED, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF COVID BY DONNA HENSLEY AND
UM, AND SO WE DO PROTEIN DISTRIBUTIONS, SENIOR GIFT CARDS, UM, TO KIND OF HELP MEET, MEET NEEDS OF THE SENIORS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
SOMETIMES LITTLE EVENTS AS WELL.
UM, WE DO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, UH, EVENTS SUCH AS BEACH CLEANUPS.
WE JUST DID LIKE A MINI 5K OR SOMETIMES OUR PARTNERS WILL DO AN EVENT, WE'LL PROMOTE THAT EVENT.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE CO OF COURSE, POST FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR LONG RANGE PEER AND PROJECTS.
SO, UM, WE HAVE TO DO OUR OWN FUNDRAISING TO SUPPORT OURSELF AS A 5 0 1 C3, BUT WE ALSO KIND OF ARE LOOKING TO PICK SOMETHING.
UM, NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE THROUGH 2027 AS WHAT THAT KIND OF CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE.
UM, I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS OF LIKE WHO I AM, JUST MAYBE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SUPER BEEN IN THE NON-PROFIT SPACE BEFORE OR, UM, SUPER PARKS ADJACENT MAYBE.
UM, BUT I HAVE PRIMARILY A, UM, AN ARTS ADMINISTRATION BACKGROUND.
UM, TO ME ARTS ARE A RECREATION.
UM, AND I GREW UP WITH OUR HOUSE BACKING INTO A PARK.
SO I'M CONSTANTLY OUTDOORS AND ON THE GO.
UM, SO I WENT TO USC FOR UNDERGRAD.
I DOUBLE MAJORED IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, POLITICAL SCIENCE, THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DO THE LOFTING, BUT I WAS A PROFESSIONAL DANCER THE ENTIRE TIME.
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UM, AND I PURSUED THAT PRETTY HEAVILY.UM, IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLLEGE.
UM, I WORKED AT NORTHROP IN SUPPLY CHAIN, UM, FOR REALLY LONG TIME.
I DID CONTRACTS, FINANCE, UH, PROCUREMENT STUFF.
UM, AND THEN I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
I GOT, UM, MY MASTER'S IN EDUCATION FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH.
AND THEN UNEXPECTEDLY AND CONCURRENTLY I GOT OFFERED A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO UCI TO FOCUS ON
SO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN SCHOOL.
UM, I LIKED SCHOOL, I LIKE LEARNING.
UM, I PRIMARILY WORKED AT SEGERSTRO CENTER FOR THE ARTS, LARGE ARTS FACILITY IN ORANGE COUNTY.
I STILL TEACH ONE CLASS A WEEK THERE WITH DANCE DISABILITY STUDENTS SO I CAN GET MY TICKET DISCOUNT.
UM, I AM A LEADERSHIP LONG BEACH DRIVING IN 2014.
UM, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ON THE MARINE COMMISSION ARE ALSO GRADUATES.
UM, AND I JUST WAS ACTUALLY APPOINTED TO BE A COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY.
SO I WILL TAKE THAT SEAT, UM, IN APRIL AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR PARTNERS AND PARKS AND JUST GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AS I WORKING WITH OTHER COMMISSIONS ABOUT HOW, HOW THEY RUN.
SO, UM, ALSO IF YOU WANNA SEE MY CLOSING EXHIBITION THAT THE VILLAGE BERRY, UM, THE LAST DAY WILL BE UP IS ON SATURDAY.
I ALMOST WANT TO CLAP FOR YOU.
UM, SO IT'S OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, WHICH IS FREAKING AWESOME TO BE HONEST.
SO, UM, WE'RE HAVING OUR BIG 40TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT AT THE NATURE CENTER, OCTOBER 4TH, 2025.
WE'RE HOPING IT'S GOING TO BE A SOMEWHAT ELEVATED VERSION OF OUR USUAL SOWING THE SEEDS.
UM, WE JUST ADOPTED OUR NEW STRATEGIC THREE YEAR PLAN, UM, AND THAT WILL BE UP ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS ALSO BEING COMPLETELY REDONE FOR THE START OF OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR.
UM, I HAVE ALL OF OUR UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION ON THE LAST SLIDE IF ANYONE WANTS TO TAKE IT.
UM, WE HAVE TO UPDATE ALL OF OUR MOUS, SO ALMOST ALL OF THEM WITH OUR PARTNERS ARE EXPIRED.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING REORIENTATIONS WITH THOSE PARTNERS, UM, AND HAVING AN ATTORNEY LOOK AT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AND SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF A FINANCIAL REVIEW, DO ONE EVERY OTHER YEAR.
IT'S LIKE A MINI VERSION OF AN AUDIT THAT'S BEEN SUPER FUN.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE RENEGOTIATING OUR CITY CONTRACT.
IT'S FROM 1989, IT'S ON A TYPEWRITER.
UM, THERE'S NO DIGITAL COPY OF IT.
AND SO I FEEL LIKE THAT'S BEEN GOING REALLY GREAT WITH, UM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR STEVE SCOTT AND SHERLY AND HIS PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, WE'RE HOPING TO ADOPT LIKE THE FINAL VERSION OF THAT, UM, BY JULY ONE, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THAT.
SO AGAIN, BUSY YEAR, BUSY MEET, BUSY YEAR.
UM, OUR YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
SO WE GIVE $150 A YEAR PER STUDENT, NOT PER FAMILY.
THAT TENDS TO BE A MISCONCEPTION, UM, FOR ANYONE TO USE ON ANYTHING THEY WANT.
SO IF IT'S IN THE PRM CATALOG, WE COVER IT.
WE ALWAYS HAVE MORE MONEY LEFT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING AND DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SO, LIKE PLEASE REFER THEM, UM, TO OUR WEBSITE.
THE APPLICATION IS SUPER DUPER, DUPER SIMPLE.
IT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSLATING ALL OF OUR, OUR MATERIALS TO
SO WE'LL HAVE NEW MATERIALS OUT BY SUMMER.
WHEN IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP FOR CLASSES.
UM, THE AGREEMENT, OKAY, KIND OF ALL THE THINGS I TOLD YOU ALREADY, RIGHT? DOESN'T EXIST IN A DIGITAL FORM THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
UM, WE'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS ABOUT IT.
WE THINK THERE'S GONNA BE ABOUT THREE MORE, UM, TO GET THE FINALIZED LANGUAGE AND THE SIGNATURES AND EVERYTHING ACCURATE.
OUR GOAL FOR COMPLETION, LIKE I SAID, IS SUMMER.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE PRODUCING AN ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FIRST TIME, UM, AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT STUDY TO JUSTIFY THE USE OF THE COMMUNITY SPACE.
I THINK IT'S A WIN FOR US, EVEN THOUGH IT'S WORK FOR ME.
UM, BENCHES, I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT SORT OF, UM, APPLIES TO THE MARINE COMMISSION BECAUSE OUR BIGGEST DEMAND FOR THE BENCH PROGRAM THAT WE RUN IS IN THE MARINE AREA.
UM, SO WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, LIKE, PEOPLE CALL ABOUT BENCHES AND THEY TELL US THEIR STORY ABOUT WHY THEY WANT A BENCH.
UM, AND OF COURSE THERE'S A PERSONAL ATTACHMENT TO WANTING A BENCH FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS PASSED AND A LOVED ONE.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FIRST.
WE WILL BE UPDATING THE APPLICATION, BUT VERY, VERY SMALL CHANGES.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN A BENCH, LIKE GET ME YOUR INITIAL APPLICATION FIRST SO THEN I CAN START REVIEWING, LOOKING AT WHERE AVAILABLE OPTIONS ARE.
UM, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS CREATED A GREAT MAP WHERE YOU CAN SEE, OR I CAN SEE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE
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BENCH PLACES, WHO'S AT EACH BENCH PLACE.UM, SO IT'S VERY EASY TO SAY WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND WHAT'S NOT.
UM, ONCE WE GET THE APPLICATION, WE SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE, WE PRESENT YOU THOSE OPTIONS.
THEN THE BENCH WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION.
IF IT'S IN THE MARINE AREA, WE'LL VOTE UPON IT, IT WILL APPROVE IT.
THEN FROM THERE WE'LL ISSUE A CONTRACT PAYMENT DELIVERY OF THE BENCH.
A NORMAL TIMEFRAME FOR A BENCH IS SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
ALL RIGHT? WE HAVE TO HAVE A CRANE TO PLACE THEM.
LOTS OF THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN.
SO BY THE TIME WE ISSUE THE CONTRACT, THEY USUALLY ARRIVE WITHIN THREE TO SIX MONTHS.
WE HAVE LIKE TWO OR THREE BENCHES PENDING RIGHT NOW.
FYI, UM, SOME ISSUES WITH THE BENCHES WE'VE HAD CHRONIC THEFT OF THE PLAQUES.
UM, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THOSE AT OUR COST.
BUT HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A THEFT FUND, SO, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO REPLACE THEM WITH PLAQUES THAT ARE NOT BRONZE.
UM, HOWEVER, LIKE WE'VE BEEN TOLD, THERE'S SOME WEATHERING HAPPENING, UM, BECAUSE OF THE LOWER QUALITY MATERIAL.
SO IF ANYONE HAS SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS, I'M, I'M INTERESTED.
UM, SOME OF OUR BENCHES, WE HAVE A NEW POLICY IF THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE HAVE KIND OF A RENEWAL PROCESS, WE'RE KIND OF REVISITING WHAT THAT'S GONNA BE AND THE COST OF IT.
BUT, UM, WHOEVER GETS A BENCH OWNS THE BENCH.
THEY DON'T OWN THE LAND THAT SURROUNDS THE BENCH.
AND SO WE'RE JUST, OUR BOARD AND MYSELF ARE KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT WE THINK IS FAIR AND REASONABLE AND AND DOABLE.
UM, SOME CHALLENGES LIKE BECAUSE THE BENCH PROGRAM'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION AGAIN, LIKE MAYBE NOT IN THE DIGITIZED SPACE YET, AND THERE'S KIND OF CONFLICTING PIECES OF INFORMATION.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO COMPILE ALL THAT.
UM, AND ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES THAT I'M FACING AS THE DIRECTOR WRITING THE MEMORIAL BENCH PROGRAM ARE THE SAME ACROSS COASTAL CITIES.
ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS, UM, ALL THE SAME CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THEM.
UM, THAT'S KIND OF THE BIG STUFF THAT I THINK APPLIES TO THAT COMMISSION.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT MYSELF OR PARTNERS OF PARKS.
AND THEN I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IF ANYBODY WANTS OUR CURRENT INFORMATION.
UM, IT'S BEEN SHIFTED SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN JULY.
IF YOU WANNA FOLLOW US, IF YOU NEED TO REACH ME DIRECTLY, OUR OFFICE PHONE NUMBER, OUR ACCURATE WEBSITE IS UP THERE.
YOU'RE OVER OFF IN EL DORADO PARK.
IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE OFFICE? YES.
THE UH, THE BENCH RIGHT BY EL DORADO GOLF COURSE.
UH, THEY HAVE A BENCH THERE NOW.
IT'S THE GOLF COURSE, PUT IT THERE, BUT IT'S ALL SANDBLASTED IN.
UM, AND YOU REALLY CAN'T DESTROY IT.
JUST A THOUGHT THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THE PLAQUES, IT CAN'T BE SANDBLASTED INTO THE CEMENT.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND WHAT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE CLASS HAVE, WHAT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE CLASS FOR A A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT GROUP IF THEY WANT TO BE? IT'S, IF THEY WANT YOU FOR THE PHYSICAL AGENT.
WHAT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE? SO, SO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PERCENTAGE HAS BEEN 12%.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? SORRY.
SHE'S ASKING WHAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST WOULD BE IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO BE A FISCAL PARTNER WITH US.
SO IT'S BEEN 12% FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT REEVALUATING WHAT THAT COST IS GOING TO BE AND THAT IT LIKELY NEEDS TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT.
UM, THE PRIMARY DRIVERS ARE INSURANCE.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD NO CLAIMS FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE OR WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE, THEY WENT UP 35% AND 32% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
UM, SO THOSE EXPENSES ARE MAKING IT WHERE IT'S LIKELY THAT R FEE IS GOING TO GO UP, BUT IT'S BEEN QUITE SOME TIME SINCE THE PERCENTAGE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, REGARDING THE BENCHES, WE SAID THEY OWN THE BENCH, BUT THEY DON'T OWN THE LAND.
IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING YOU, UM, PAY THE FEE TO HAVE FOR 10 YEARS AND THEN HAVE AN OPTION FOR, FOR RENEWAL.
YES, BUT THERE ARE BENEFITS THAT ARE, WE CAN'T HEAR.
I WAS ASKING REGARDING THE BENCHES.
UM, WHEN ASHLEY MADE THE STATEMENT THAT YOU OWN THE BENCH BUT NOT THE LAND IS ON, YOU ACTUALLY ARE KIND OF LEASING THAT BENCH 'CAUSE YOU GET IT FOR 10 YEARS AND THEN THERE IS A RENEWAL OPTION, BUT THERE'S A LIMITED TIME AND YOU DON'T OWN THE BENCH.
YOU, YOUR, YOUR NAME AND EVERYTHING IS ON THAT BENCH, BUT YOU DO OWN THE BENCH, SO SHOULD YOU, SO IT'S MORE SORT OF LIKE YOU'RE LEASING THE LAND.
IT CURRENTLY IS A 10 YEAR TIME PERIOD.
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ARE, YOU DO OWN THE BENCH.SO IF YOU DECIDED NOT TO RENEW YOUR BENCH AFTER THE 10 YEAR PERIOD, WE CAN TAKE THE BENCH TO YOUR HOME AND YOU CAN HAVE THAT BENCH IN YOUR BACKYARD IF YOU WANT IT.
BUT THAT'S USUALLY NOT WHAT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO DO, RIGHT? LIKE OR NOR DO THEY HAVE A HOME WHERE THAT COULD BE A SITUATION THAT'S PLAUSIBLE.
BUT YOU DO OWN THE PHYSICAL BENCH.
THIS IS A FIRST CLARIFICATION THAT WE WERE UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU DON'T OWN THE BENCH, THE PHYSICAL BENCH IS YOURS.
ACTUALLY, WHAT'S THE COST OF THIS? SO IT DEPENDS.
IF IT'S A WATERFRONT BENCH, IT IS 12,000.
IF IT IS NOT A WATERFRONT BENCH, IT'S 10,000.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS TOO THAT YOU CAN FIND ON OUR WEBSITE AND ARE IN THE INITIAL APPLICATION.
THINGS LIKE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS LIKE THAT WILL BE MORE IN LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO GET A BENCH, LIKE THE DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT.
SO PREVIOUSLY THE APPLICATION AND KIND OF THE AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN THE SAME AND FINDING LIKE THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
'CAUSE THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC CASES AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GO, A LOT GOES INTO BENCHES, RIGHT.
BEING PLACED IN DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, SO AN INITIAL APPLICATION IS NOT A BINDING KIND OF AGREEMENT RIGHT.
SO THEY'LL BE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO ASHLEY, WE'VE KIND OF BEEN THE, THE BRUNT OF SOME OF THE COMMUNITY'S OUTRAGE WHEN, UM, THERE'S BEEN CONFUSION ABOUT HOW LONG A CONTRACT TAKES, UM, WHEN THERE'S BEEN VANDALISM TO A BENCH AND IT'S CHRONICALLY BEEN, UH, WITH GRAFFITI ON IT OR SOMETHING.
UM, AND I THINK WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO APPROVE ANY MORE BENCHES DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT HAVING BETTER GUIDELINES TO SAVE US THE EMBARRASSMENT.
WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE HAVING THOSE INDIVIDUAL ISSUES REGARDING MAINTENANCE AND CONTRACTS? SO WHEN WE TOOK OVER THE BENCH PROGRAM, WHICH I'M UNDERSTANDING IS LIKE SOMEWHERE AROUND TCA'S TENURE, RIGHT THERE, THERE THERE IS LIKE AN ESTABLISHED VIOLENCE THAT SAYS THAT LIKE, WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF THE BENCH IS DAMAGED.
RIGHT? HOWEVER, BECAUSE SO MANY BENCHES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND WE GET PHONE CALLS TOO, ESPECIALLY AT THE HOLIDAYS, UM, AND DOWN HERE AND ALL THESE BENCHES LOOK TERRIBLE, RIGHT? UM, WE MADE AN AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL REPLACE OR FIX A BENCH ONE TIME.
SO THE BOARD DECIDED IF THE SAME BENCH CONTINUES TO BE VANDALIZED OVER AND OVER AND OVER, MY PERSONAL FEELING IS THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO STEP IN.
ALSO, THESE PLAQUES ARE BEING STOLEN FOR THEIR BRONZES NORMALLY WHAT IT IS.
AND THESE HAVE PEOPLE'S NAMES ON THEM.
SO SOMEONE'S RECEIVING IT AND KNOWING THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY.
AND LIKE, EVEN THOUGH THAT MAY BE A HARD PLACE TO HAVE THE CHECK AND BALANCE POINT, THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY CAN'T CONTROL THE THEFT PROBLEM, RIGHT? WE COULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE AND REPLACE AND REPLACE AND REPLACE PLAQUES, BUT LIKE WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET FOR THAT.
SO IT'S A COMP I THINK IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE.
AND I ALSO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MAYBE NOT WANTING TO APPROVE MORE OF THEM UNTIL WE HAVE A PLAN, BUT I THINK MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD STRATEGIZE ON TOGETHER.
'CAUSE IT'S MOSTLY THE, THE, THE WATERFRONT BENCHES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE THEFT OF THE DAMAGE AND THINGS.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD MAYBE TALK ABOUT THAT.
I THINK WITH THE, THE NEW LAWS.
THE NEW LAWS, UH, LET'S GRANT THEFT, IF THEY TAKE THE BRONZE OFF IT, WE CAN LOOK AT A COST OF THAT, THEN IT'S OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UH, AND THAT COULD BE UPWARDS OF A FELONY FOR THE PEOPLE DOING IT.
SO I'M JUST MAKING THE STATEMENT, HAVING THE POLICE MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE.
WE CAUGHT A SERIES OF, UH, THEFTS OUT OF SAN PEDRO.
THEY STOLE THE BRONZE OFF OUR CHURCHES.
HARBOR HARBOR FOUND THEM AND THEY WERE GOING IN CONTAINERS GOING BACK TO CHINA.
BUT THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE GOING.
IT WASN'T BEING SMELTED HERE, IT WAS BEING PUT IN CONTAINERS AND TAKEN, UH, TAKEN TO CHINA.
I THINK YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO, OR AT LEAST LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT'S THE COST? IF IT'S 10, $12,000, THE COST OF THE BENCH AND NOW THEY GET, GET THE BENCH AND SOMEBODY DESTROYS IT OR, OR VANDALIZES IT.
THAT COULD BE A BIGGER, A BIGGER STAY IN OUR, OUR OUR CITY JAIL.
I, THIS IS LIKE, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD, LIKE A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE.
LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE LIKE YOUR, YOUR INPUT AND YOUR, UM, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE TO LEARN ARE ALSO FROM OUR MEMORIALS, YOU KNOW, LIKE VETERANS HAVE SERVED LIKE, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THAT'S, TO ME IS KIND OF DISGRACEFUL THAT THOSE THINGS ARE BEING STOLEN.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AS WELL.
UM, BUT WE'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
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THAT I, I WOULD LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE IN HOW TO PROACTIVELY LIKE SOLVE IT, WHETHER THAT'S WITH YOU GUYS AND HERE.WELL I THINK YOU GIVE PLENTY PUBLIC INPUT AND THEN INPUT FROM COMMISSIONERS.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU CIRCLE BACK TO US IN A COUPLE MONTHS WITH SOME OF THOSE GUIDELINES AND THAT WE, THAT WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GONNA SAVE SOME OF THE EMBARRASSMENT WE GO THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
I ALSO WANNA PLACE FORWARD THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT SHOULD THE BENCH BE REDESIGNED SO THAT THERE'S NO MORE BRONZE PLAQUE AND THAT THE LETTERING IS ACTUALLY STAMPED INTO THE BENCH.
BECAUSE THESE REMOVALS ARE HAPPENING ACROSS NOT ONLY LONG BEACH BUT LA AND THERE'RE ARE THEFTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GO DOWN AND RECYCLE, UM, FOR OUR LESS FORTUNATE COMMUNITIES.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE, UH, CONVERSATION ABOUT BATTERY DESIGN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS OR FEEDBACK? THANK YOU ASHLEY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
UM, UH, I WAS DISMAYED AT THE CONDITION OF A NUMBER OF THE BENCHES ALONG BLUFF PARK FROM EARLY LAST YEAR.
AND I INVITE ALL OF YOU, UH, TO TAKE A WALK ALONG WHAT PARK? IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PHOENIX CITY.
IT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE LOCATION OF A NUMBER OF THESE MEMORIAL BENCHES.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN, UM, THE SUBJECT OF, UH, A LOT OF GRAFFITI AND THE, UH, BENCH PLAQUES HAVE BEEN REMOVED, UH, LEAVING THEM IN A CONDITION THAT WAS REALLY VERY DISMAYED.
AND SO I BROUGHT UP THIS SUBJECT OF WHAT IS, UH, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DOING WITH RESPECT TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BENCHES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR WHICH A FAMILY HAS INVESTED THEIR EMOTIONS AND THEIR $12,000 OR SO OVER TIME.
WHAT IS OUR OBLIGATION AS A CITY TO, UM, REFLECT THE, THE ARRANGEMENT WITH THESE FAMILIES TO INSTALL THESE BENCHES? SO I BROUGHT UP THE SUBJECT LATE LAST YEAR AND I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE PROJECT, HOW THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WITHIN PARTNERS OF PARKS CAN BE, UM, ADMINISTERED GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
CERTAINLY THE NOTION OF A REDESIGN.
WELL ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS THAT CERTAINLY, AND AS YOU HAVE STATED, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ENTITY IN CAL, YOU KNOW, COASTAL CALIFORNIA THAT'S HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. SO IF WE WERE TO DEAL WITH THE, UH, QUESTION OF AVOIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE PLAQUES TO BE REMOVED, CERTAINLY TOP OF THE LIST, RIGHT? UM, AND THE NOTION THAT THERE IS STILL AN OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN THOSE BENCHES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
AND, UM, I RESPECT THE DECISION ON THE PART OF YOUR BOARD TO CONSIDER A ONE TIME REPLACEMENT FOR THE PLAQUE THAT MIGHT BE MISSING AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
UH, AND SUSPECT THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE SUFFICIENT JUST GIVEN THE REPLACEMENT OF A BRONZE PLAQUE WOULD GET ANOTHER ONE BRONZE PLAQUE OR POTENTIALLY SOME OTHER MATERIAL THAT WOULD NOT BE AS DESIRABLE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN RECYCLING THE OUT.
UM, SO I COMMEND YOU FOR THE NOTION OF DEALING WITH WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE WITH RESPECT TO THESE MEMORIAL BENCHES.
I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND A VERY CLEAR DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING BENCHES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR AND FOR WHICH THE CITY HAS AN OBLIGATION.
RIGHT? UH, AND HOPE TO SPEAK WITH YOU AS A COMMISSION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UH, AND, UH, HOPE THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH FUTURE FAMILIES AS THEY COME TO THE BACK AND AS THEY SIT IN OUR AUDIENCE WITH THEIR PROPOSALS FOR A BENCH, FOR THEIR LOVED ONE AND THEIR MEMORY AND THE NOTION THAT THEY ARE INVESTING IN SOMETHING, UH, A TANGIBLE, YOU KNOW, UH, MEMORIAL TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBER.
WE LISTEN TO THEIR EMOTIONS WHEN THEY ARE NOMINATING A LOVED ONE FOR ONE OF THESE BENCHES.
AND IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THESE FAMILIES.
SO, UM, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH MY THOUGHTS ON THAT SUBJECT AND AGAIN, COMMEND YOU FOR THE NOTION
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THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE WITH RESPECT TO HOW THIS PROGRAM IS BEING MANAGED, UM, AND HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH PARTNERS OF PARKS AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT.AS A REMINDER, WE SOMETIMES GET A LITTLE BIT CASUAL AND WE START GETTING SOME INPUT FROM EVERYONE THAT'S NOT A COMMISSION MEMBER, BUT REALLY TO STAY WITHIN THE BROWN ACT AND WITHIN OUR GUIDANCE AS A MEETING, WE NEED TO KEEP THINGS WITHIN THE COMMISSION'S COMMENTS AND THEN WE GO TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
UM, JUST, IT'S MOSTLY A REMINDER TO ME 'CAUSE I FORGET
SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS AT THIS POINT? OKAY, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE SOME INPUT REGARDING THE BENCH ISSUE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC BENCH.
I WAS GONNA SAY, YEAH, YOU COULD PUT THE NAMES IN ENGRAVE IN THE BENCH OR EVEN ON THE GROUND IF THEY'RE SITTING ON THE BENCH, MAYBE JUST TO EVEN PUT IT ON THE GROUND.
BUT ARE YOU ALSO THE CONTACT FOR THE BRICK? I BUYING A BRICK FOR THE BRICK? YES.
YES, SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO DO THAT.
THOSE ARE PRETTY LITTLE TAKE THEM, WHICH IS GREAT.
BUT WE HAVE HAD OUR, OUR, UM, LIKE HISTORICAL CLASS TAKEN OFF OF, OFF OF THE LONE SAILOR AS WELL.
UH, PROBABLY EVERYBODY CAN HEAR ME, BUT, UM, ASHLEY, I, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND, AND, UH, I EMPATHIZE WITH YOU.
I MANAGE THE CEMETERY, SO, UH, WE KNOW WE GET A VERY, VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT THE MEMORIALS, UH, AND I'M JUST STANDING UP TO SAY THAT ANY CONSULTATION I'VE CEMETERY FOR 30 YEARS.
SO AS FAR AS PRODUCTS GO THAT WILL REPLACE BRONZE, I CAN HELP YOU.
THANK YOU, YOU SO MUCH, ASHLEY.
AND WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, AND WE DO, UM, AND AS A REMINDER, WE DO WANT YOU TO COME CYCLE BACK AGAIN AND WE WILL, WE'LL BE REACHING OUT ON SCHEDULE.
I THINK THAT WE'RE HESITANT TO APPROVE ANY MORE BENCHES UNTIL WE'RE COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASED THEM.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF RECEIVING THIS FILE AS THE MOTION ON THE COURT.
ONE, UH, QUICK ITEM, UH, ON ASHLEY'S PRESENTATION WAS THE SOWING THE SEEDS EVENT IN OCTOBER.
IT'S A GREAT GIVING OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT'S ALSO A GREAT NIGHT OUT IN, UH, THE NATURE CENTER.
NOT SURE IF IT'S GONNA BE IN THE NATURE CENTER THIS YEAR, BUT IF YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THE SOWING THE SEEDS EVENT IN OCTOBER, IT'S A GREAT GIVING OPPORTUNITY.
UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM THREE, A RECOMMENDATION TO ENDORSE, UM, SUBMISSION, UH, TO APPROVE P WAIVERS, UM, FOR THE PAUL ADAS.
UH, MR. LI, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE FOUR YACHT CLUB'S REQUEST FOR P WAIVER? YEAH, WE'LL HAVE, UH, SUPERINTENDENT BRIAN PLANT COME UP AND GIVE A QUICK, UH, STAFF PRESENTATION.
ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS REPUBLIC.
UM, SO THE FEE WAIVERS, WE ARE ASKING FOR FEW WAIVERS FOR THE LITTLE CHIPS YACHT FLEET, LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB, NAVY YACHT CLUB, AND SWIM BEACH YACHT CLUB, UH, AS OUR, THERE YOU GO,
UH, UH, SO AS OUR PARTNERS, UM, WE ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT THEM IN HELPING TO BUILD UP THE FLOW.
UM, WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO BRING IN, UH, INCREASED EXPOSURE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THESE, WHEN THESE DATA HAS COME IN OR THESE OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, FLOATERS ARE COMING IN, WE'RE, WE'RE DRIVING THE ECONOMIC, YOU KNOW, FORCE WITHIN OUR, OUR LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
UM, AND ALSO EXPLORING, UH, AND SHOWING PEOPLE WHAT LONG BEACH HAS TO OFFER.
SO POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, FARMING FOR NEW CLIENTS AS WELL.
UM, LET'S SEE, ADDITIONAL, UH, SO THIS YEAR, UM, WE ARE GONNA BE TRYING TO BETTER TRACK, UH, THE BOATS THAT ARE COMING IN TO STATE THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS.
UM, BUT REGATA OPENING DAY, UM, VETERAN SALE, UH, WE WANT TO HAVE THAT STATISTIC SO WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO EVERYBODY, UH, ABOUT WHO'S COMING AND HOW MANY VOTES ARE UTILIZING.
UM, ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY SPECIAL PART OF THIS TOO IS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF THESE REGATTAS, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE, OTHER BOATS ARE STAYING IN OTHER LOCATIONS.
SO WHETHER IT'S GRAND DEL RAY CAN POINT, SO WE'RE TRYING TO OFFER, YOU KNOW, THAT RECIPROCAL, UH, YOU KNOW, FEE WAIVER IN, IN KIND.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR, FOR THAT APPRO MY REPORT.
[00:30:03]
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, ALAMEDAS BAY USERS THAT HAVE REQUESTED SIMILAR FEE WAIVERS AND WE ARE LIMITED TO DOCKING.CAN YOU EXPLAIN SOME OF THE RATIONALE ON THAT? IF THIS STAYS ON, I WILL TALK IN THIS, OTHERWISE I'LL TALK LOUDER, I PROMISE.
UM, SO I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY REFERRING TO RING STADIUM, UH, AND THE REQUEST FOR, AND THAT WOULD BE, AND, AND I THINK WITH THE UPCOMING OLYMPICS THAT WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF QUERIES, UH, FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT FACILITY AND, AND GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEST IT OUT SOME.
AND, UM, SO THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR FEE WAIVERS COMING THROUGH, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE EQUITABLE TO NOT ONLY THOSE WITH THE YACHT CLUBS, BUT THOSE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN ROWING OR CANOEING OR, UH, DRAGON BOATS.
SO I THINK THAT THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE HAVE ONE MARINE STADIUM AND WE HAVE UPWARDS OF, YOU KNOW, OVER 3000 SLIPS.
SO WHEN WE'RE ASKING FOR FEE WAIVERS FOR, FOR DOCKAGE, UM, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF ACCESS AND EQUITY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TO USE, USE OUR FACILITIES.
UH, WHEN WE'RE GIVING FEE WAIVERS FOR MARINE STADIUM, WE'RE TAKING OUT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE USED FOR EVERYBODY, UH, AND GIVING ACCESS TO ONE PARTY, AND THEN THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE WAVE AND WE WE'RE GIVING THAT TO THEM.
IT'S LIKE, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND THE BIG, THE BIG DIFFERENCE, LIKE ONE VERSUS MANY YEAH.
THAT WE HAVE ONE RAIN STADIUM RESOURCE, SO WHAT WE'RE GIVING DOCK SPACE BE THEN AT A HUNDRED PERCENT OCCUPANCY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE EVER QUITE HITTING A HUNDRED PERCENT WITH OUR, WITH BOATS OUT.
SO IT'S A, IT'S AN AVAILABLE INVENTORY THAT WE'RE, IT'S NOT COSTING US.
THE, THE END TIES ARE, ARE WHAT WE'RE TYPICALLY GIVING LIKE FEE WAIVERS ON.
SO IF WE'RE GIVING UP OUR GUEST SLIP, POTENTIAL GUEST SLIP REVENUE, UM, BUT THERE ARE ALL ALWAYS OTHER SLIPS AVAILABLE OKAY.
TYPICALLY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE.
SO IT'S, IT, WE'RE REALLY NOT LOSING FEES BY WAIVING THOSE.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING MONEY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHER WAYS WHEN WE'RE WAIVING THOSE FEES BY BRINGING THESE.
AND SO IF WE ARE WAIVING FEES ON RAY STADIUM, THEN IT'S A THEN THAT, THAT IS A LOSS IN REVENUE.
WELL, I THINK IT IS A LOSS IN ACCESS.
LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING OUT MARINE STADIUM AS A, IT IS A ONE, IT'S ONE INDIVIDUAL SPACE.
SO IF WE'RE SAYING WE'RE WE'RE GONNA LET X GROUP USE THAT AND WAIVE THAT FEE, WE'RE GIVING THEM THAT PREFERENCE TO HAVE, HAVE THE STADIUM FOR FREE AND NOT LETTING ANYBODY ELSE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY UTILIZE THAT SPACE.
AND THEN ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE'VE DENIED, UM, WAIVING FEES IS THAT FOR, UM, LIFEGUARD TIME.
SO MARINE WHEN IT'S A HARD COST YEAH.
IS WHAT I'M LOOKING, I EXPLAINED.
SO TO JUST KIND OF ELABORATE ON WHAT BRIAN WAS SAYING, IS MARINE STADIUM IS, IS A UNIQUE PUBLIC RECREATIONAL FACILITY.
UM, AND ONE ELEMENT OF ITS USE THAT A LOT OF REGATTAS DO IS THEY'LL STAY, OR NOT JUST REGATTAS, BUT EVENTS, UH, THEY'LL STAY IN MARINE STADIUM WEST.
AND THAT IS THE AREA THAT YOU NORMALLY SEE USED FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, SKIING, WAKE FORESTRY, STUFF LIKE THAT.
YOU HAVE THE ON WATER RULE SIDE THAT DENOTES THE LIMITATION OF THAT WHEN YOU USE THAT SPACE.
THAT STAYS WITHIN PARKS, RECREATION, MARINE TO THE, FOR MOST EXTENT.
AND WE HAVE ABILITY TO, UH, REDUCE OUR FEES VIA NONPROFIT RATES.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE FEE WAIVER PROCESS IF THEY MEET A VERY HIGH STANDARD CRITERIA FOR THAT FACILITY.
NOW, A LOT OF EVENTS THAT ARE REQUESTED GO FOR BOTH MARINE STADIUM WEST AND EAST.
THAT'S THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF MARINE STADIUM ALL THE WAY PAST DAVIES, UH, DAVIES BRIDGE.
IT CAN EVEN GO DOWN TO THE LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB.
THAT'S THE FULL EXTENT OF IT, OF MARINE STADIUM.
SO ONCE YOU GET OUTSIDE OF THE, THE SPACE PROPER FOR RECREATIONAL USE, IT BECOMES A NAVIGATIONAL ISSUE.
AND THE CITY'S ABOUT, UM, UH, UH, STAFF COST RECOVERY.
EVERY, ALL OF OUR FEES ARE BASED ON COST RECOVERY.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A RESCUE MODE OUT THERE, WHEN WE HAVE TWO MARINE SAFETY PERSONNEL OUT THERE, WE'D EVEN ON OCCASION HAVE OUR MARINE PATROL STAFF OUT THERE WHEN WE HAVE ALL THOSE ELEMENTS TO SUPPORT AN EVENT, THEY HAVE TO MEET OUR COST RECOVERY REQUIREMENTS.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THE LIFEGUARD FEES.
SO ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE APPLYING OUR FEE WAIVER POLICY CONSISTENTLY AMONGST ALL THE USERS WITHIN THE BAY? A HUNDRED PERCENT.
[00:35:01]
KNOW, I, I HAVE TO THROW THIS OUT BECAUSE IN A YEAR THAT MARINA IS GONNA BE USED PROBABLY DAILY WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT OLYMPIC TEAMS THAT WON'T BE HERE A YEAR BEFORE THEY PLAY, UM, TO PRACTICE.AND THEY'RE GONNA BE PRACTICING EVERY DAY, MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT.
UH, PROBABLY HAVE WE LOOKED AT THAT BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST A CLOSURE, UM, OF THE WHOLE MARINA OR THAT AREA FOR JUST THE ROWERS THAT COME IN.
YOU WOULD THINK IT'S, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A WHOLE LOT OF PUBLIC ACCESS, UH, TO THAT MARINE OR THE MARINA.
SO I'LL ANSWER THIS QUESTION, BUT I HAVE TO HAVE TO REMIND THE COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE TO STAY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE OH, YEAH, YEAH.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT P WAVE.
UH, THESE SPECIFIC, UH, UH, CLUBS, BUT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO USE MOVING FORWARD AS WE GET THROUGH SOME SORT OF EVENT THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE IN 2028, UM, WE HAVE A STRATEGIC ROAD ROADMAP IN PLACE.
UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF THE RELEVANT BODIES TO BUILD UP TO THAT, THAT POINT TO GET TO THE GAMES AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF EQUITABLE USE.
SO IT'LL COME DOWN TO, YES, THE OLYMPIC TRAINING WILL BE A PRIORITY, BUT IT'LL BE A PRIORITY WITHIN THEIR AGREED UPON VENUE USE GUARANTEES AND THE ABILITY FOR OUR CURRENT PARTNERS AND GROUPS TO ALSO CONTINUE THERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, FACILITY ITSELF, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING THE AGENDA ITEM ON THET WAIVER? YEAH.
CAN YOU STATE AGAIN WHY ABU YC WAS EXCLUDED? THESE ARE BASED UPON REQUESTS THAT CAME FROM THE YACHT CLUBS.
UM, JUST A LITTLE CLARIFICATION.
THIS ITEM HAS TO DO WITH, UH, REGAT ASS YET NO REGAS EN LISTED.
IS THIS FOR EXCLUSIVE USE OF CERTAIN NUMBER OF ACRES OF WATER DURING A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME? OR IS THIS FOR SLIPS OR, AND TIES? WHAT ARE WHAT THESE IT, IT, IT VARIES BY CLUBS.
UM, LIKE LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB IS REALLY INCLUDING A BYC IN THEIR REQUEST.
AND THAT THAT'S LONG BEACH RACE WEEK.
SOMETIME DURING CONGRESSIONAL CUP, SOMETIME DURING FIGURE CUP, UM, VIE YACHT CLUB HAS THE OUTLAW REGATTA THAT THEY'RE WITH CAG GAP CLUB AND THE SLIPS COME AT ONE SIDE AND THE OTHER BACK AND FORTH.
MAYBE THEY USE THE, UM, DOCK OUT FRONT FOR SOME OF THEIR OPENING DAY.
AND, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH A SMALL GROUP THAT WE ALLOW THAT FOR THEIR OPENING DAY FESTIVITIES AS WITH, UM, LITTLE SHIP'S FLEET.
SO THIS IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR TRADITIONALLY IF WE'RE ENTERTAINING PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN.
AND THAT WAS ALSO WHY BIDS RECIPROCAL IN SOME WAYS THAT IT'S A REGATTA THAT THEIR VOTES ARE COMING IN BEFORE THE START AND THEN OUR VOTES ARE NOT PAYING ANY FEES WHEN THEY'RE STAYING THERE.
SO THESE ARE FEES WE WOULD CHARGE FOR DOCUMENT, RIGHT.
JUST DO, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING, LIKE THE TIES WOULD BE USED, BUT WE STILL HAVE INVENTORY EVEN WHEN WE'RE GIVING THEM FEE WAIVER ON THOSE END TESTS.
UM, I'M PART OF THE ROWING ASSOCIATION, ALSO INTEREST IN THE WATER AND I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE'S DOING.
UM, AS FAR AS THE FEES FOR USING THE STADIUM, UH, WE'VE ASKED IN THE PAST AND, UH, IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSIDERATION.
WE'RE ON PIPE BUDGET WHEN WE, WE DO OUR
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE UPCOMING EVENTS, UH, IN 2028, TODD, YOU SAID YOU SAID IT TOO, IT'S GONNA BE MORE AND MORE USE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN, UH, THE EQUITABLE USE THAT EVERYBODY THAT HOUSE IS ASKING FOR.
SO NO ASK RIGHT NOW, BUT IN THE FUTURE WHERE WE ASK FOR, UH, THE FEES, UH, ASSISTANCE IN THE FEES, WE REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
AS I RECALL, EVEN THE, UH, CAL STATE LAW BEACH HAS HAD TO CANCEL THEIR
[00:40:01]
MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR? OKAY, SO COUNCIL WITH A QUESTION.THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO, UH, DISCUSS AND FILE, UM, POSSIBLY A PRESENTATION FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, I'M MARINA BOND.
MR. LELAND, COULD YOU, UH, PLEASE TAKE SPEAKER
ON UH, BEHALF OF OUR DIRECTOR, BRENT DENNIS, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DIRECTOR KEVIN RAM FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TO GIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE MARINA BOND.
UM, AS TODD SAID, KEVIN REER, CFO FOR THE CITY.
AND I'M JOINED THIS AFTERNOON BY JESSE ORTEGA, WHO IS ASSISTANT CITY TREASURER FOR THE CITY, AND WHO MANAGES THE CITY'S ENTIRE DEBT PORTFOLIO, UM, OF WHICH WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE $100 MILLION PIECE TODAY.
I ONLY HAVE HALF A DOZEN SLIDES, SO IT'LL BE PLENTY OF TIME FOR, UM, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND DISCUSSION.
BACK IN 2015, THE CITY SOLD, UH, $114 MILLION OF MARINA REVENUE BONDS TO FINANCE THE ALAMEDOS BAY MARINA PROJECT AND TO PREPAY A BUNCH OF STATE LOANS FROM THE STATE, UH, DIVISION OF VOTING AND WATER BASE LOANS THAT HAD BEEN MADE TO THE MARINA FUND IN THE 1990S.
UM, JUST KIND OF JUST LIKE YOUR HOME MORTGAGE.
THOSE BONDS WERE SOLD WITH A 30 YEAR MATURITY.
AND, UH, WHAT, WHAT WE, IN THIS PLANS, WHAT WE CALL LEVEL ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE.
DEBT SERVICE IS $8 MILLION A YEAR EVERY YEAR FOR 30 YEARS.
AND DEBT SERVICE, ITS A PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST, UM, JUST LIKE IN YOUR HOME MORTGAGE.
UM, THOSE BONDS WERE SOLD IN 2015 WITH WHAT IS CALLED A 10 YEAR CALL.
THAT MEANS THEY CANNOT BE REFUNDED.
THEY COULDN'T BE REFUNDED UNTIL 10 YEARS HAD ELAPSED.
UM, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO PROMISE INVESTORS WHEN THEY LEND YOU A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA TURN AROUND THE IN IN SIX MONTHS AND, UH, REFINANCE AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE AND THEY'RE OUTTA LUCK.
SO THOSE BONDS WERE SOLD WITH A 10 YEAR CALL AND WE'RE NOW IN THE SPRING OF 2025.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, UH, INTEREST RATES ARE LOWER TODAY THAN THE REMAINING INTEREST RATES ARE ON THE 2015 BONDS.
SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEBT SERVICE SAVINGS TO REDUCE THE PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST AMOUNT THAT THE CITY PAYS, THAT THE MARINA FUND PAYS, UM, EACH YEAR.
'CAUSE THESE BONDS ARE BACKED SOLELY BY MARINA FUND REVENUE.
THEY'RE NOT BACKED BY THE TIDES, UH, FUND.
THEY'RE NOT BACKED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
THEY'RE ONLY BACKED BY MARINA FUND REVENUE.
AND, UM, THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE AROUND BACK THEN MIGHT REMEMBER WHAT A, HOW A CHALLENGE IT WAS TO CONVINCE THE RATING AGENCIES AND CAPITAL MARKETS THAT THE, UH, MARINA FUND WOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE IN A WAY SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPAY BOND HOLDERS THEIR PRINCIPAL INTEREST ON TIME.
AND OF COURSE, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S PLAYED OUT.
SO THE SPECIFICS OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY ARE THAT WE WILL KEEP, WE WILL RETAIN THE FEDERAL AND STATE TAX EXEMPTION FOR THESE BONDS.
THAT'S PART OF WHY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ABLE TO BORROW AT A LOWER RATE EVEN THAN THE HIGHEST RATE OF CORPORATIONS.
'CAUSE THE INTEREST ON MUNICIPAL BONDS IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAX.
WE WILL RETAIN THE TAX EXEMPTION ON THESE REFUNDING BONDS ON THESE NEW BONDS THAT WE'RE WE'RE, UH, GOING TO CITY COUNCIL IN EARLY APRIL TO ASK THEM FOR PERMISSION TO, UH, REISSUE AND REFUND AT LOWER INTEREST RATES.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SAME PAYMENT STRUCTURE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
THAT WAS CONTEMPLATED WAY BACK IN 2015.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE BONDS ARE STILL GOING TO MATURE, UH, IN 2045.
THERE'S STILL 30 YEAR BONDS WITH 20 YEARS TO GO.
WE'RE NOT STRETCHING OUT THE, THE INTEREST IN PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS.
WE'RE STICKING TO WHAT THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS BACK IN 2015.
UM, AND THEN THERE WILL BE A NEW 10 YEAR CALL OPTION IN 2035, MEANING MY SUCCESSOR 10 YEARS FROM NOW, UM, MIGHT BE BACK HERE.
THE SUGGESTION TO REFUND THE BONDS WE'RE ABOUT TO SELL, UM, IN 2035 IF INTEREST RATES ARE LOWER THAN THEY ARE NOW, UM, THE USE OF THE BOND PROCEEDS THAT WE'LL SELL IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
[00:45:01]
REDEEM THE EXISTING BONDS.WE HAVE TO PUT ABOUT SEVEN AND A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS INTO A DEBT SERVICE RESERVE FUND.
THAT'S A, THAT'S ONE YEAR WORTH OF PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST THAT REASSURES INVESTORS BOND HOLDERS, THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE MARINA FUND AND, UH, THE MARINA FUND DOESN'T GENERATE ENOUGH NET REVENUE TO PAY PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST, WELL AT LEAST THERE'S ONE YEAR WORTH OF PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST SITTING IN THE DEBT SURFACE RESERVE FUND.
SO SEVEN AND A QUARTER MILLION OF THE, UH, LITTLE MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILLION WE ANTICIPATE SELLING, UM, IS GONNA GO INTO THE DEBT SERVICE RESERVE FUND.
AND THEN FINALLY, YOU HAVE TO PAY COST ISSUANCE.
THAT'S MOSTLY UNDERWRITING FEES TO THE INVESTMENT BANKS THAT SELL THE BONDS.
AND SO HOW MUCH, UM, IF WE USE LAST WEEK'S INTEREST RATES, THE NET SAVINGS TO THE MARINA FUND IN PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST COSTS FOR EACH OF THE NEXT 20 YEARS WOULD BE ABOUT $660,000.
UM, ON A PRESENT VALUE BASIS, YES, ON A PRESENT VALUE BASIS.
THAT'S, IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DISCOUNT ALL THOSE SAVINGS BACK TO, UM, TODAY'S DOLLARS, THAT'S, UH, ABOUT $8 MILLION ON AN NPV OR NET PRESENT VALUE BASIS.
AND THAT'S 8% OF THE REFUNDED 2015 BONDS.
THE ONES WITH A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION OUTSTANDING.
I'LL GET TO WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IN A MOMENT.
'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE TWO CITY COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS THAT COME INTO PLAY WITH THIS PROPOSED REFUNDING SCHEDULE.
BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY, OBVIOUSLY, AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO GO TO FITCH RATINGS COMPANY.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF MOODY'S OR S AND P GLOBAL, FORMERLY STANDARD AND PORS UH, FITCH RATINGS.
HE'S THE THIRD MAJOR, UH, MUNICIPAL BOND RATING COMPANY.
AND IF IN THE, IN A MOMENT THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL BOND RATING, MR. ORTEGA WAS A RATING ANALYST FOR FITCH FOR FIVE YEARS.
IT'S FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS IN USEFUL FINANCE.
I'VE EVER HAD AN INSIDER ON MY SIDE OF THE TABLE.
IS IT AN ADVANTAGE? THAT'S GOOD.
UM, AFTER WE, UH, IT TAKES ABOUT TWO WEEKS FOR FITCH TO COME UP WITH A RATED.
THE CURRENT BONDS, UH, THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE BACK THEN WERE RATED TRIPLE B BY FITCH, UM, WHICH WAS PRETTY GOOD FOR AN UNPROVEN, UM, MARINA FUND AT THAT TIME.
AND THOSE BONDS ARE STILL RATED TRIPLE B.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS TIME AROUND.
AFTER 10 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND MOST IMPORTANT TO BOND INVESTORS, 10 YEARS OF ON TIME PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.
UM, ON, ON TUESDAY AT THIS REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH, CITY COUNCIL WILL BE ASKED TO AUTHORIZE THE FUNDING.
NONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.
UM, CITY COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE ALL DEBT, ALL REFUNDINGS.
UM, A WEEK LATER WE WILL EXPECT THE UNDERWRITERS TO SELL THE BONDS AND LOCK IN INTEREST RATES, ASSUMING THERE'S STILL LOAN ENOUGH TO GENERATE THE SAVINGS, UM, TO MEET THE SAVINGS THRESHOLD THAT'S SET IN CITY COUNCIL POLICY.
AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE BONDS ON MAY 6TH.
AND IN THE SUMMER, AFTER 90 DAYS OF EARNING SOME ARBITRAGE INTEREST WILL, UM, REDEEM THE 2015 BONDS AND THE TRANSACTIONAL ESSENTIALLY BE OVER.
NOW THE BIG ISSUES ARE, WELL, WHAT, WHY DO THIS, WHAT'S THE POLICY FROM CITY COUNCIL THAT DRIVES US TO RECOMMEND A REFUNDING AT THIS TIME? AND THERE ARE TWO POLICY CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN THIS PROPOSED REFUND.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE ONE I'VE HIGHLIGHTED SO FAR.
OBVIOUSLY A CHANCE TO REDUCE, UH, PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS AND SAVE MONEY $660,000 FOR EACH OF THE NEXT 20 YEARS FOR THE MARINA FUND.
UM, THE CITY COUNCIL, LIKE MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, HAS A, UH, A THRESHOLD OF HOW LOW INTEREST RATES HAVE TO BE BEFORE IT'S WORTHWHILE TO REFUND BONDS.
AND THAT THRESHOLD IS A, A NET PRESENT VALUE OF SAVINGS EQUAL TO AT LEAST 3% OF THE BONDS THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE REFUNDED.
WELL, INTEREST RATES, AS I, AS I MENTIONED IN THE EARLIER SLIDE, INTEREST RATES ARE LOW ENOUGH NOW THAT THE NET PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS IS A LITTLE OVER 8%.
SO INTEREST RATES LAST WEEK, UM, AND AND THIS WEEK, I BELIEVE ARE STILL LOW ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TRANSACTION, UM, MEET, EXCEED THAT 3% NET PRESENT VALUE PER.
NOW IF SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS TO INTEREST RATES AND THEY GO UP BY A PERCENTAGE AND A HALF IN THE NEXT, UM, FIVE, SIX WEEKS, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO PULL THE REFINANCING 'CAUSE THE SAVINGS WON'T BE LARGE ENOUGH.
SO CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR LOW INTEREST RATES FOR THIS PURPOSE, AT LEAST UNTIL WE, UH, SELL THE BONDS ON APRIL 22ND.
THE SECOND POLICY ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY OF HAVING MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY WITH THE CITY'S DEBT PORTFOLIO.
AND THERE'S A HIGHLY TECHNICAL BUT IMPORTANT FLEXIBILITY ISSUE SURROUNDING THE 2015 MARINA
[00:50:01]
REVENUE BONDS AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD.UM, I MENTIONED THAT THE 20 FIFTEENS PROCEEDS WERE USED TO PAY OFF A, A BUNCH OF, UM, STATE LOANS THAT HAD BEEN MADE TO THE, TO THE MARINA FUND TO THE CITY.
AND, UM, THOSE LOANS THAT GOT PAID OFF AND ONE THAT DIDN'T REQUIRED THAT ALL MARINA FUND MONEY AFTER PAYING FOR OPERATIONS, UH, EXPENDITURES FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE DEBT SERVICE AND A REPLENISHMENT OF RESERVES THAT WAS NEEDED, NEEDED TO BE RESTRICTED TO ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE OF THE MARINA FUND ITSELF.
ALL THAT MONEY WAS RESTRICTED UNDER THE STATE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY FOR THAT 1 19 98 STATE DEPARTMENT OF VOTING AND WATERWAYS LOAN RESTRICTED TO INSIDE THE MARINA FUND.
SO THOSE FUNDS UNDER THAT STATE CONTRACT COULDN'T BE USED FOR ANY, ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE OTHER THAN THE MARINA FUND.
LIKE THE TITLES, OUR, OUR ENTIRE DEBT PORTFOLIO IS 1,000,000,007.
AND THIS IS THE ONLY BOND ISSUE THAT HAS THAT RESTRICTION.
AND IT'S ONLY THERE 'CAUSE THE STATE REQUIRED.
THIS IS NOT A POLICY DECISION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MADE IN, UM, IN, IN 2015.
UM, THE, THE CITY'S 2015 BONDS REQUIRED THE SAME RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF MARINA FUND EXCESS REVENUE OR SURPLUS REVENUE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BECAUSE THIS OUTSTANDING STATE LOAN FROM 1998 REQUIRED IT.
WELL THAT LOAN, WHICH WAS ONLY $700,000 IN THE FIRST PLACE, UH, IS NOW DOWN TO A, A BALANCE WITH THE STATE OF $220,000 IF THE TIDELANDS FUND, NOT THE MARINA FUND, BUT IF THE TIDELANDS FUND, WHICH HAS BEEN PAYING THAT LOAN OFF, UM, FOR 26 YEARS, UM, IF THE TIDELANDS FUND REPAYS PREPAYS, REPAYS WITH A P REPAYS, THE STATE IS THAT, WHAT'S THE NUMBER OF THAT ONE? THE TF OF THE 700,000, UH, THE $700,000 LOAN IS THE 1998 LIGHTHOUSE LOAN.
WHICH REALLY ISN'T PART OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S KIND OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE THING.
YES, IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE THING.
SO FOR HOUSEKEEPING, WE CAN TAKE THAT OUT OF THERE.
WELL, FOR FLEXIBILITY, I MEAN, IT'S MORE THAN HOUSEKEEPING.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S FOR FLEXIBILITY FOR THE CITY.
'CAUSE JESSE'S IN MY CHARGE IS TO HAVE THE CITY'S DEBT PORTFOLIO BE AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S FIRST PRIORITY IN ITS DEBT POLICY IS ACCESS TO THE CAPITAL MARKETS.
THAT MEANS A DECENT RATING AND INVESTORS WILLING TO BUY YOUR BONDS.
BUT ITS SECOND PRIORITY IS FLEXIBILITY.
WELL, THIS, THIS PROVISION AND ARTIFACT OF THAT 1998 STATE LOAN CONSTRICTS FLEXIBILITY, IT, IT RESTRICTS ALL MARINA FUND REVENUE TO JUST INSIDE THE MARINA.
NOT A LAWFUL PURPOSE ANYWHERE ELSE.
SO WHEN WE REPAY THAT LOAN IN EARLY APRIL, THAT WILL REMOVE THE STATE CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENT OF MARINA MONIES, MARINA EXCESS REVENUE, IF YOU WILL, REMAINING SOLELY IN THE MARINA FUND AND EXPAND IT.
ALLOW THE COUNCIL THE FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE, UH, MARINA FUNDS USED FOR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE.
NOW, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE MEANS THE TIDE.
'CAUSE THE MARINAS ARE IN THE TIDES.
IS IT, WOULD IT, I GOTTA ASK, WOULD IT STAY IN THE TIDELAND OR WOULD IT GO TO GENERAL FUNDS? IT CAN'T GO TO GENERAL FUND.
NO, IT CANNOT GO TO GENERAL FUND.
BUT THE CITY'S, UH, TRUST AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE RESTRICTS ALL TITLES RELATED REVENUE, WHETHER IT'S QUEEN MARY OR ANYTHING ELSE TO THE TITLES.
SO, UM, NO MARINA FUND MONEY, NO TITLES FUND MONEY CAN EVER GO TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO, SO THAT'S THE SECOND HIGHLY TECHNICAL BUT IMPORTANT POLICY CHANGE.
FINALLY, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THIS BOND ISSUE THAT I'M DESCRIBING IS ONLY TO REFUND, REFINANCE THE EXISTING LOAN OUTSTANDING.
UNLIKE IN 2015 WHEN IT WAS, WHAT WAS IT, LIKE $50 MILLION OF NEW MONEY TO THE ALAMITOS BAY, THE ALAMEDOS BAY MARINA PROJECT.
THERE'S NO NEW MONEY IN THIS BOND ISSUE.
YOU MIGHT BE SAYING, WELL, IF INTEREST RATES WAS SO LOW, WHY DOESN'T THE, WHY DOESN'T THE MARINA FUND BORROW SOME NEW MONEY INSTEAD, A 10 YEAR RECORD OF, UM, SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE? AND IT'S PROBABLY GONNA GET A DECENT BOND RATING.
WHY NOT BORROW NEW MONEY? THIS SLIDE EXPLAINS WHY NOT BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE IS, UH, IT'S NOT A HIGHLY TECHNICAL TERM, BUT WHAT IT MEANS IS THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHICH HAS BEEN INCREASING STEADILY INSIDE THE MARINA FUND THE LAST FIVE YEARS POST PANDEMIC THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL
[00:55:01]
FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS OR WHATEVER INSIDE THE MARINA FUND.AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG NUMBER FOR A FUND THE SIZE OF, OF THE MARINA.
I JUST, FOR FUN, I LOOKED UP THE AMOUNT OF CASH, NOT BUDGETARY FUNDS AVAILABLE, BUT THE AMOUNT OF CASH, WHICH IS A HIGHER NUMBER THAT'S IN THE MARINA FUND AS OF THE CLOSE OF OUR LAST MONTH, FEBRUARY OF, OF 2025.
AND UH, IF YOU DON'T COUNT THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, THERE'S $45 MILLION OF CASH IN THE MARINA FUND.
THAT'S MORE THAN TWO YEARS WORTH OF MARINA FUND OPERATING EXPENSES.
THEREFORE, THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT DOESN'T THINK THE MARINA FUND NEEDS NEW MONEY UNTIL THAT GETS SPENT.
THOSE, THAT'S MY PRESENTATION, THOSE THAT HAVE DOZEN SLIDES.
AND, UM, JESSE AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND KUDOS TO YOU FOR FINDING THAT THE $600,000 AND WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE ANYBODY THAT WOULD'VE OBJECT TO THE RE UH, REISSUING OF THOSE BONDS AND TO GO THROUGH.
BUT I THINK THAT ALL OF OUR CONCERNS HERE IS THE CAVEAT OF PROTECTING THAT MONEY.
AND TO ME, THOSE ARE REALLY TWO SEPARATE ACTIONS BECAUSE YOU COULD REDO THE BONDS AND KEEP THE CAVEAT ON THERE.
SO THOSE ARE INDEPENDENT ACTIONS.
SO WE CAN SET ASIDE THAT IT'S THE BONDS AND LET'S JUST FOCUS ON THAT CAVEAT, UM, BACK TO OUR PAPERWORK FROM THERE AND THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE MADE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'LL HEAR.
UH, TODAY WE HAD SOME CERTAIN CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS, UM, THAT WERE OUTLINED AT THAT POINT THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING AS A COMMISSION AND THAT SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ALSO BEEN TRACKING AND CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ACTIVE ON AS QUICKLY.
UH, ANY GENERAL COMMENTS FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS? I FORGOT.
UM, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH CASH ON HAND IN THE MARINA FUND? I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT THE MARINA USERS, AND IN THIS CASE THE BOAT OWNERS ASSOCIATION HAS EXPECTED OVER TIME.
PRESUMABLY THERE'S BEEN FUNDS AVAILABLE TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
JUST BASIC QUESTION, WHY HAVEN'T THE PROJECTS MOVED AHEAD GIVEN THE SOURCE OF FUNDING BEING AVAILABLE? I'LL, I'LL TAKE THAT QUESTION.
UH, WE STARTED LOOKING AT USING AVAILABLE FUNDS BACK IN 20 19, 20 18, 20 19, UH, CONSULTING WITH, UH, DESIGNERS, UH, UH, UH, WHAT'S IT CALLED? THE, LIKE MOFFITT AND NICKEL ANCHOR, QEA, UH, ONBOARDING ENGINEERS AND STARTING TO LOOK AT, UH, DESIGN FOR RESTROOMS, UM, AND, AND OTHER PROJECTS IN OUR FOOTPRINT.
AND THEN AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THAT, SO 2019 THROUGH 2020, LATE 21, 22, COVID-19 PLAYED A ROLE IN STOPPING ALL OF OUR CAPITAL OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT AFTER THAT, WE HAVE BEEN STEADILY WORKING AND THROUGH DESIGN PLANS AND WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING TO CONSTRUCTION BASE.
UH, YOU SAW IN THE EARLIER SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, UH, WE SPENT $2.3 MILLION ON THE SHORELINE, UH, VOTERS PARKING LOT.
WE HAVE $1.1 MILLION GOING TO THE BRAIN MAINTENANCE DOCK.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, BIRTH ONE, BIRTH TWO.
WE'RE AT 90% DESIGN, UH, FOR THOSE DOCKS.
WE ARE AT 60% DESIGN ON OUR A BM BATHROOMS. SO, UH, WE ARE STARTING TO PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF, UH, WHEN WE WERE DELAYED BY UN UNEXPECTED, UH, ECONOMIC ISSUES.
YET ALL THREE OF THOSE PROJECTS BY THE STATUS WE HAD EARLIER TODAY, UM, EXPENDED MORE THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED BACK IN 2015.
SO OUR, OUR ESTIMATES ARE STILL GOING UP WHEN WE WERE AT 34 MILLION THERE.
UM, AND BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS, THE THREE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ONGOING, UM, HAVE FAR EXCEEDED WHAT THE ESTIMATED COST WAS BACK THERE.
SO WE'RE GONNA NEED IN, IN ADDITION ON OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT
[01:00:01]
HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU VIA THE, UH, 2021, UH, FIVE YEAR MARINA CAPITAL PLAN, UH, THOSE PROJECTS, ALL OF THEM CAN BE FUNDED VIA THE AVAILABLE FUNDS IN THE VEHICLE.NOW, UH, IT COMES DOWN TO PRIORITIZATION, UH, AND THAT IS A DISCUSSION WITH CITY MANAGEMENT.
UM, DO YOU ANTICIPATE A, UM, A LARGE INCREASE IN MATERIALS? 'CAUSE MATERIALS AND SUPPLY COSTS BECAUSE OF THE FIRE AND ALL OF THE MATERIALS NEEDED FOR REBUILDING? UH, COMMUNITIES? WE'RE EXPECTING LARGE INCREASES IN COSTS NO MATTER WHAT.
IT'S JUST THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT WE'RE IN.
UH, THOSE, THOSE HAVE BEEN FACTORED IN.
I'M BUILDING PROPERTY AND MY PROPERTY VALUE WAS, THE MATERIAL'S GONE UP FOUR TIMES.
SO IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHY EVEN LOOK AT IT.
UH, MY CONCERN AND MY CONCERN SINCE I JOINED THE BOARD WAS TWO THINGS.
UH, ONE WAS THE BUOYS, WE GOT THE LIGHTS, GOD BLESS YOU.
AND THE LIGHTS ON THE BUOYS, WERE GETTING THAT DONE.
BUT IT'S RESTROOMS. AND WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT COME TO LONG BEACH, UH, AND COME INTO THAT MARINA AREA AND RESTROOM ACCESS.
BOAT OWNERS WANT CLEAN RESTROOMS FOR THEIR BOATS WHEN THEY GO IN AND FOR THEIR, THEIR VISITORS.
BUT WE HAVE 80% MORE VISITORS COMING IN THAT DON'T HAVE RESTROOMS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT STANDS ON OUR LIST MATTER CHAIR, BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY LOW ON THE LIST TO HAVE MORE RESTROOMS. I'M LOOKING MORE IN THE, UH, THE MARINA AREA, UH, IN 2015.
AND NOW WE'RE, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S JUST, THAT'S ONE OF MY, MY, MY BIGGEST THINGS.
'CAUSE I SEE PEOPLE THAT WILL GET OFF THE BUS AND HAVE TO WALK DOWN TO ONE RESTROOM AND THAT'S DOWN BY, UH, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT WHEN I SEE SOMEBODY AT 80 YEARS OLD TRYING TO GET DOWN THERE.
AND I KNOW IT FRUSTRATES MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT ACCESS.
IT IS ABOUT WHAT'S OUR OUR BOAT CALLED, THAT GOES BACK AND FORTH.
I'M GONNA GET THAT DOWN ONE TIME.
THE AQUALINK THAT COMES AND PEOPLE PARK THERE, MY BELIEF IS THEY SHOULD PAY FOR PARKING.
BUT THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER STEER.
BUT WHERE DO THEY USE THE RESTROOMS? WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN YOU HAVE 50, 60 PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING TO GO ON IT? THEY GO TO THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE THERE AND THEY DON'T PAY FOR ANYTHING.
AND HMM, I'VE GONE INTO THE RESTROOMS AFTER THEY'VE GONE, SOME PEOPLE HAVE GONE IN THERE AFTER HAVING A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH TO DRINK AND THINGS.
IT'S NOT PRETTY AND IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR THE, FOR THE RESTAURANTS.
SO I JUST PUT THAT OUT TO YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY INPUT.
GENERAL COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS.
I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GO TO SOME PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK IN WITH THE MISSION ON THINGS.
AND DO YOU WANNA SAY SOME GENERAL COMMISSIONER CADRE? I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON YOUR INITIAL QUESTION.
IS, UH, ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S SITTING IN THAT FUND.
UH, WHILE COVID WAS A, A CONDITION THAT DELAYED, IT'S ALSO, UH, STAFF, UH, DID NOT MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD HAVE.
AND, AND WE'RE NOW FIXING THAT.
WE'RE MOVING FASTER, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE WANT TO GET THESE PROJECTS DONE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
I'M GOING TO REPORT TO, UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT DOCUMENTS THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO COMMISSIONERS BEFORE TODAY'S MEETING.
MANY OF YOU SENT MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SENT IN EMAILS TO MANAGEMENT TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.
TODAY I HAVE A PARTICULAR QUESTION WHICH REFERS TO THE USE OF THE WORD COVENANT WITHIN MANY OF THOSE MESSAGES.
AND I FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT REFERS TO AND, UH, WHAT, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REFERRING TO WHEN THEY USE THAT WORD.
A BOND COVENANT IS A PLEDGE, A PROMISE MADE BY THE ISSUER OF MUNICIPAL BOND WELL, OR CORPORATE BONDS FOR THAT MATTER, TO BOND HOLDERS.
AND IN 2015, UM, THE MARINA REVENUE BONDS IN THE CITY THAT ISSUED THEM MADE A PLEDGE TO BOND HOLDERS THAT ALL MARINA FUND REVENUE WOULD STAY INSIDE THE MARINA FUND FOREVER, UNTIL THE STATE LOANS WERE PAID OFF.
BUT THAT COVENANT WAS MADE ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS STILL OUTSTANDING, THE, THE, THE ONE LOAN THAT DID NOT GET PREPAID TO THE STATE, THE 1998 LIGHTHOUSE LOAN THAT HAD THE, UM, REQUIREMENT IMPOSED BY THE STATE.
SO THE COVENANT WAS MANDATORY FOR THE CITY BECAUSE THE STATE ALREADY REQUIRED.
[01:05:01]
YOU.THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
JUST SOME CLAR POINT OF CLARIFICATION, UM, WHEN THE 45 MILLION IS USED UP WILL SURPLUS FROM PAYING OFF THE BONDS AND SURPLUS LEFTOVER, UM, FROM THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR GO BACK INTO A FUND OR, 'CAUSE IT'S GOING INTO THAILANDS NOW.
UM, YEAH, NOTHING'S GOING IN THE TITLES.
ALL, ALL THIS, UH, ELIMINATION OF THE STATE REQUIREMENT, MY PREPAY LOAN DOES, IS IT PROVIDES MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SO, AND, AND ALSO WHEN YOU SAY WHEN THE 45 MILLION IS USED UP, BUT THE, THE 45 MILLION GETS REPLENISHED EACH YEAR BECAUSE THE MARINA FUND OPERATES, UH, IN A WAY THAT, UM, IT'S PROBABLE THANK YOU.
SO I'D BE VERY SURPRISED IF THE CASH ALL GETS USED UP.
IT'LL GET REPLENISHED AS TIME GOES ON.
WE USUALLY HAVE A SURPLUS AFTER WE PAY THE LINE ABOUT THREE OR 4 MILLION.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT STILL WILL CONTINUE TO GO INTO THE FUND? THAT STILL CONTINUES TO GO INTO THE MARINA FUND, BUT THE REMOVAL OF THE STATE REQUIREMENT, LEGAL REQUIREMENT, CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION THAT IT STATE MARINA FUND DROPS OFF.
SO, SO THE CITY CITY COUNCIL COULD CONCEIVABLY TAKE EXCESS REVENUE AS DEFINED AND PUT IT INTO TITLE THE SEA WALL CONCEIVABLY, BUT NOBODY'S MADE THAT DECISION CO THAT'S NOT THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT'S JOB.
OUR JOB IS TO FOLLOW THE DEBT POLICY AND PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY.
AND THIS IS, THAT'S WHY THIS PROPOSAL, THEN YOU CAN UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT OF THE FEAR FACTOR THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE IN THE SENSE OF, TRUST ME, I SAY TRUST ME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS, YOU KNOW, YOUR BEST INTEREST IN, IN HAND WHEN IT'S LOCKED IN, WHICH YOU COULD KEEP INTO THE ARENA OF FUND.
SO I KNOW WE HAVE TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THAT I'M SURE HANDLE THIS.
IT'S THREE 40 AND WE'LL, WE WON'T HAVE, UM, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS STILL HAVE IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, SO STILL HAVE SOME FORUM, STILL HAVE, STILL HAVE A FORUM.
BUT I I, I'D LIKE AS MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION PRESENT FOR SURE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND SOME FOLKS HAVE SIGNED UP IN ADVANCE, UM, AND THAT THE, UM, A CONTINGENT FROM THE BO NURSE ASSOCIATION HAVE ASKED TO BE, UM, CONSECUTIVELY PRESENTED.
AND IF THERE'S NO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION HAVE OBJECTIONS TO THAT, I'D LIKE TO START WITH THOSE.
AND, UH, BASED UPON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING? FOUR.
UM, OH YEAH, THE FOUR OF THEM.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION, TODD, ON HOW LONG TO MAKE THE TIME LIMIT? PLEASE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
EVERYONE, EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO BE A PUBLIC? OH, UH, TWO MINUTES.
AND I BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT UP ON THE SCREEN.
CAN YOU SEE WHERE, UM, WHERE TODD HAS THAT? UM, AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE COURTESY, UM, SHOULD YOU GO A LITTLE OVER.
BUT JUST A REMINDER, DON'T REPEAT WHAT YOU'VE SAID OVER AGAIN OR I'LL CUT YOU OFF.
WE APPRECIATE THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
WE JUST ALL HAVE RECEIVED THIS, UH, INFORMATION, WHAT, TWO DAYS AGO.
UM, SO WE'RE STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND.
UM, AND, UM, SO I APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE, THE CLARIFICATION YOU'VE MADE.
UM, BUT WITH THAT, WE'VE, WE'VE DIVIDED, UM, KIND OF OUR ISSUES BETWEEN FOUR DIFFERENT, UM, UH, BOA REPRESENTATIVES, FOUR BOARD MEMBERS.
SO BILL IS NUMBER IS FIRST BILL, GOOD AFTERNOON, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I'M HERE TODAY, EXCUSE ME, A CALL, I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THIS BODY TO SLOW DOWN ON THE PROPOSAL TO REFUND AND RATE A BOND AND TAKE, WE NEED MORE FACTS, MORE TRANSPARENCY AND PROPER STAKEHOLDER AND INVOLVEMENT BEFORE MAKING SUCH A SIGNIFICANT DECISION.
THE FINANCE TEAM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS BOND REFUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR A YEAR.
MR. POTTER MARGA COMMUNITY WAS GIVEN ONLY TWO DAYS NOTICE BURIED IN AN 11 PAGE MARINA READER.
[01:10:01]
HOLDER OR MARINA MERCHANT IS GOING TO TAKE THROUGH A 400 PAGE BOND WITH DOCUMENT THE FINANCE.THAT SHOULD HAVE TO BE A BETTER EFFORT IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER TO INFORM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY FUND THE MARINE OPERATIONS.
FURTHERMORE, THIS MEETING IS NOT BEING RECORDED.
AND ACCESS IS RESTRICTED TO IN PERSON ATTENDANCE ONLY DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS WHEN MOST STAKEHOLDERS CANNOT BE HERE.
ACCORDING TO THE, IT ADDED TO THE LACK OF UM, ACCESSIBILITY.
THIS MEETING WAS RECENTLY MOVED FROM LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB TO THIS LOCATION WITH NO NOTICE MAKING IT EVEN HARDER FOR THOSE IMPACTED TO ATTEND.
BEYOND TRANSPARENCY, THIS DECISION IS BEING RUSHED WITHOUT A CRITICAL PIECE OF FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT.
THE ONGOING AUDIT OF THE TIDELAND FUND, SHOULDN'T WE WAIT FOR THAT AUDIT TO BE COMPLETE AND STUDY? IF YOU STUDY BEFORE CONSIDERING THE DIVERSION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE BOND IS CALLABLE EACH TIME AFTER MAY 15TH, 2025.
AND SO FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS, THERE'S NO REASON TO FAST TRACK THIS DECISION TODAY.
WE HAVE TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT.
I URGE YOU TO SLOW DOWN TO ENSURE THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE PROPERLY INFORMED AND CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW BEFORE MOVING FORWARD AS SMART, TRANSPARENT DECISION MAKING THAT SERVES THE BEST IN THE COMMUNITY.
COUPLE POINTS OF CLARIFICATION.
THE MEETINGS ARE RECORDED AND THEY'RE UPLOADED ON, UM, THE CITY WEBSITE.
AND YOU'LL SEE THOSE WITH THE AGENDA AND THE MINUTES.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER BUTTON ON THE RECORDING THAT YOU CAN PLAY THAT THROUGH AT ANY TIME.
AND THOSE ARE UPLOADED SOON AFTER THE MEETING.
AND THEN THE ADVANCE NOTICING, UH, BETWEEN THE UM, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE ETHICS OFFICE, UM, THEY GAVE GUIDANCE TO COMMISSIONS THAT WE WANNA BE IN PUBLIC PLACES THAT ARE BOTH MANAGED AND OWNED BY THE CITY.
SO WE WERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT TO BE CONSISTENT AND THE EVENTS NOTICING TOOK PLACE AS TO THE VENUE.
THANK YOU FOR YOU CLARIFYING THAT.
I'M DAVE BOOKER, UH, MAY I OATH BOAT ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE AND I GET TO SCHOOL UP STUFF.
SO LAST TIME THAT I WAS HERE, THEY WERE HERE.
I GAVE THEM A WHOLE BUNCH OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS GOING BACK TO THE LAND CHARTER, WHAT, 1911 AND THEN STARTING WITH THE COMMISSION ON THE 2011 APPROVAL BY PROPOSAL COMMISSION AND THEN ACTUAL BOND DOCUMENT, WHICH SHE HAS, BY THE WAY, THE 2015 DOCUMENT.
SO THIS WAS ALL ABOUT EDUCATION AND I WANT TO CONTINUE THE EDUCATION, BUT FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE REFINANCING THE BONDS, IT'S ABOUT TRUST ME.
NOW I'VE SPENT MY HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS WHEN CITIES PHYSICALLY 25 BUDGET.
AND THERE'S SOME REAL REVELATIONS IN THERE THAT HAVE TO DO WITH WHY WE HAVE TO DO THESE NOW.
SO, SO IN 25 BUDGET, A NEW FUNDING GROUP APPEARS, WASN'T THERE LAST YEAR THAT IT'S CALLED THE TIDELANDS AREA FUND.
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A LONGSTANDING TIDES OPERATING FUND, A NEW FUND HAVING A PROFITABLE GREEN FUND IN THE BIG BOAT CALLED THE QUEEN MARY.
SO WE WE'RE GONNA CLEAR THIS UP.
SO THE BUDGET SUMMARY THAT'S IN THERE, THE PROES THAT'S IN THE BUDGET SAYS THAT THE MARINA IS EXPECTED TO EARN 3 MILLION THIS YEAR.
I DON'T, YOU PROBABLY WROTE THAT, BUT ANYWAY, LAST YEAR WE HAD $4 MILLION.
SO WHERE DID THE MILLION DOLLARS GO? WELL, THERE'S A NEW ORGANIZATION BEING STOOD UP CALLED THE, UM, REVENUE INNOVATION STRATEGY AND ENHANCED IT DIVISION.
AND IT'S TAKEN A MILLION DOLLARS OUT, ESSENTIALLY OUT OF MARINE REVENUE COMPONENT TO, TO BASICALLY DRIVE INNOVATION AND REVENUE GENERATION WITHIN THE, BUT BASICALLY IT'S WITHIN THE
UH, AND I EXPECT THAT THE FOCUS OF THAT GROUP WOULD BE PROFITABILITY AND GENERATING REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A FINANCE GUY, YOU NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE CITY.
AND, AND MORE THING YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THE MARINA HAS MADE MONEY YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND WE HAVEN'T SPENT IT BECAUSE TODD SAID ONE, ONE ORGANIZATION HAS, HAS STOPPED.
[01:15:01]
THEY COULD, I EXPECT SOME FUTURE PIG POINTS FOR THE MAC AND THE BOAT OWNERS, BUT TODAY WE WOULD ASK THEM THAT TO REFER APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSAL UNTIL AFTER THE TIME HAS ALREADY AND AFTER THE LONG PROMISE MARINA CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE FUNDED.'CAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG ISSUE.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU.
AND NOW YOU KNOW THAT WHAT WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING IS THE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET HAS SUBMITTED AND APPROVED REQUIRES A TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE MARINA FUND TO OTHER SOURCES OUTSIDE THE MARINA.
SO WE'RE IN FACT OUTSIDE THE COVENANT IN THE BOX ALREADY.
ANY QUESTIONS? THAT'S, THANK YOU.
UM, GOOD, A GOOD A MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU.
WE HEAR YOU'RE HEARING US AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES THAT SURROUND THE CITY'S PROPOSAL TO REPURCHASE THE BRONZE.
AND WE KNOW YOU SHARE OUR DESIRE TO ENSURE THE SYSTEM'S LONG TERM SUCCESS.
OUR PRIMARY CONCERN STANDS FOR THE POTENTIAL SHIFT IN HOW MEINA REVENUE IS MANAGED, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE PHRASE USED IN THE PRESENTATION FOR THE USING OF FUNDS FOR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE.
WE BELIEVE A MORE THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE INTENTIONS IS CRUCIAL BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE.
AND THAT CAN IMPACT THE MARINE SYSTEM'S FUTURE.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA GO OVER THE $33 MILLION AND THE WAY AS GOTTEN 'CAUSE WE'VE ALREADY REITERATE, UM, BUT I'M GOING TO MENTION THIS AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT STUFF, THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT.
UH, THE MARINA OPERATES SEPARATELY FROM MOST CITY ENTERPRISES IN THAT IT HAS VERY SPECIFIC REVENUE.
IT DOESN'T RUN ON TAX MONEY, IT DOESN RUN ON ANYTHING.
MATTER OF FACT, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 95% OF THE PEOPLE THAT PAY INTO THAT SYSTEM DON'T LIVE HERE.
THEY'RE LIKE IN AN HOA OF A CITY BUILDING.
IMAGINE THAT HOA DOESN'T GET FUNDED.
IMAGINE THAT HOA DOESN'T HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO GO IN AND REPAIR THINGS LIKE CONCRETE PILLARS THAT HAVE STEEL STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF 'EM.
THAT THE OCEAN IS TRYING TO ROT AWAY ALL OUR BOATS, OUR HOMES FOR SOME OF US.
AND OUR FUN IS HELD TOGETHER BY THOSE PILLARS.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO MAINTAIN THEM, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR THEM.
IT COULD BE ALL LOST LIKE SOME OTHER MARINAS DIRECTLY AROUND US THAT WE KNOW ABOUT.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCATING FOR US, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE.
THEY'RE A LOT BETTER TALKING ON THEIR
THE FACT, I GUESS THERE WAS A LITTLE, UM, BE HERE TO HOW MANY TIMES I EDITED THIS, UM, WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE DURING THIS MEETING.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH MARINA BON OWNERS ASSOCIATION.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY, OUR BUDGET FOR OUR HONORS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE 3,600 SLIP HOLDERS IN THE LONG BEACH MAR OF SYSTEMS. UM, I COME TODAY BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A REALLY HEAVY HEART.
UM, I JUST SAT TO DO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS MEETING WHERE $101 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED.
AND THEN IN THIS MEETING I HEAR THAT THERE'S, UM, A CHANCE OF DIVERTING OUR 33 MILLION OR 45 MILLION OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS, WHICH ACTUALLY WE HAVE TRIED TO FIND OUT MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOT DI HOLD.
AND SO IT REPRESENTS A SMALL PORTION OF THE CITY BOND OBLIGATION, UM, OF PROBABLY UNDER 2%.
UM, IT'S LIKE, BECAUSE THE CITY BOND OBLIGATION IS $1.8 MILLION, WHICH HAS BEEN OUT, BUT FOR MARINA, IT'S EVERYTHING.
IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR FUTURE.
WE'RE GLAD THAT WE'RE INDEPENDENT THAT WE, I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL TODAY THAT THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE STATE.
UM, I GONNA REITERATE THAT IT'S 33 MILLION.
UM, THE BIGGEST, YOU KNOW, LOT'S BEEN REPORTED IS GREAT THAT YOU CAN SAVE US SOME MONEY.
BUT THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THE MONEY CAN GO TO ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE, ANYTHING THAT'S IS AND WHAT SEEM TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE HISTORICAL MANDATE FROM THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION, THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC TRUST.
AND AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, NO TAXPAYER MONEY, NO CITY FUNDS HAVE SUPPORT THE MARINA ONLY WE SLIP HOLDERS FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN PAYING THIS BILL THAT ACCUMULATED THIS 33 MILLION OR 45 MILLION, HOWEVER MUCH MONEY YOU
[01:20:01]
WANNA DO IT.THAT'S COME FROM US UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
SO IT'S BEEN MENTIONED A FEW TIMES ABOUT YOU'RE HERE AT TIME, SO I'LL OKAY.
LET YOU WRAP IT UP AND THEN, AND WITH THE HANDOUT.
SO NEITHER WOULD YOU GO INTO THIS BATHROOM WHERE, YOU KNOW, 1600 OF YOUR SLIP ROOM FOLDERS.
I HAVE A KEY TO THIS BATHROOM.
WELL, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE IN HERE TAKING A SHOWER.
I THINK NOT THIS IS, THIS IS LIKE THE LIGHTNING ROD.
ARE THESE BATHROOMS, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE OLYMPICS COMING, CAN YOU IMAGINE, CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE HOW WE'RE GONNA LOOK? AND PLUS THERE'S NO 88 IF THAT'S ALL I CAN GET HIM.
AND WHETHER ADDITIONAL MEMBERS YOU COULD PUBLIC THAT WANTED TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION.
UM, I THINK MY VOICE, UH, I'M BILL HARD.
UH, I'M, UH, OWNER BAY SLIP 1649.
I ALSO HAVE A PLACE OVER BKI VILLAGE.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS ARENA FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW.
I'VE STARTED OUT IN SHORELINE, SO I'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES.
THE TIME, TIME, UM, BASICALLY, UH, WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BOND ISSUE.
I THINK IT IS KIND OF JUST TRYING TO REFINANCE.
AND SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT ELSEWHERE.
BACK IN 2015, INTEREST RATES, 10 YEAR TREASURIES, WERE ABOUT 2%.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY SLIM MARGIN ON WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO DO AS FAR AS REFINANCING IT, I THINK IT REALLY IS MORE OF A MONEY GRAB.
I TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BATHROOMS DONE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, UH, THE, UH, AS I CALL IT, THE SLUSH FUND, THE 33,000,036, WHATEVER'S IN THE FUND RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE GEARED TOWARDS THE BATHROOM, SHOULD BE GEARED TOWARDS THE PARKING LOT.
UH, AS FAR AS GS B ACCOUNTING IS CONCERNED, I THINK THERE'S A RESERVE REQUIREMENT THAT YOU GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO RESERVE FUNDS FOR THE REBUILD OF THE MARINA 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS FROM NOW.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DISCUSSION OF THAT.
I SAW THE, UH, THE BUDGET FOR 2025.
THERE'S A MILLION DOLLARS ALLOCATED FOR HEAD COUNTS TO, UH, TRY AND INCREASE THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, EXACTLY.
SO WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS, YOU GUYS SLOW DOWN, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE LIKE A ONE YEAR, THREE YEAR, WE'VE GOT THE, UH, OLYMPICS COMING UP, MAYBE A FIVE YEAR, 10 YEAR, JUST KIND OF A VISION, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE SOMEBODY TAKE A, A FIVE, 10 MINUTE, UH, POWERPOINT, FIVE, 10 POINTS OR WHATEVER, WHAT'S THE VISION THAT YOU GUYS SEE? WHY DO YOU WANT THIS MONEY? WHY DO YOU REALLY WANT THIS MONEY? BECAUSE IN ESSENCE RIGHT NOW, AS YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS THREE TO $4 MILLION A YEAR SLUSH FUND, UH, BASICALLY WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE, UH, SHORELINE ARENA IN 20 YEARS.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD THE BATHROOMS. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE PARKING LOTS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, WHATEVER THE RESERVE REQUIREMENT IS OF THAT.
GABY, I HASN'T, I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT OUTLINE ANYWHERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON THE CITY SIDE OR IN THE SUBPOENA SIDE, BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THERE.
SO ANYWAYS, I KNOW I'M RIGHT THERE ON TOP.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO, I'M LOUDER, LOUDER, LOUDER, LOUDER.
CLOSER TO YOUR MOUTH, RIGHT THERE.
AND, UH, IT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE MARINA BOAT OWNERS WILL STILL BE PAID OFFICE LOAN, THIS BOND, EVEN THOUGH THE MONEY WILL BE USED BY THE CITY FOR OTHER, ANY OTHER PURPOSES FOR OTHER FINAL PURPOSES.
AND IMPORTANTLY, COUNCILWOMAN CHRISTINA HAD BEEN ASKED FOR A COMPLETE AUDIT OF GOOD FUNDS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THE COUNCIL DID NOT APPROVE THAT IT WAS ONLY GONNA COST $200,000.
AND THE COUNCIL SAID, OH, $200,000 IS TOO MUCH MONEY TO, TO THE CITY AUDITOR.
BUT THE CITY DEPUTY AUDITOR SPOKE THAT HOW MANY FRONT I DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS HAPPY TO THE TITLE BUS AND WE KNOW THAT THE FEES THROUGH THE
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TITLE.SO I REALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE A TOTAL TITLE AUDIT SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW MONEY BEING SPENT NOW AND WHAT THE DEMANDS ARE GOING BE.
AND THEN LOOK AT SOMETHING MY FACE.
I'M JAMIE, I'M A LEGAL BOARD AND MIKE, AND MY CONCERN TODAY IS THAT YOU DOING THIS BOND MAY PUT, UH, A LOT OF OUR, UH, RIVER BOARDS AT RISK AND UH, UH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY TURN IT INTO A DANA POINT THAT OUR, OUR RENTS AND, UH, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF VETERANS, UM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE, UH, VERY MUCH AFFECTED BY THIS.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO SLOW DOWN.
SO LET'S GET A BIGGER PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
HAVE A COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK INSIDE THE ROPES AT THIS POINT.
AND I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING WITH THE GENERAL FIVE IN HERE, THAT WE WANNA CAPTURE EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AND MAKE SURE WE MOVE THAT FORWARD, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE A KNEEJERK REACTION OF, OF GOING ON.
UM, AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO DOING A LETTER FROM US TO CITY COUNCIL THAT CAPTURES ALL THOSE COMMENTS WITH A GENERAL RECOMMENDATION AND THEN BRING THAT LETTER BACK TO OUR MEETING IN APRIL TO, UH, TO DISCUSS FURTHER AND THEN, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT.
UM, SO I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE AT THIS POINT CONSOLIDATE ALL OF OUR INPUTS FOR FURTHER REVIEW IN THE ABLE AGENDA.
YEAH, I, I MOVE THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD TO ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM, UH, THE LETTERS THAT WE RECEIVED, UH, FROM THE PUBLIC WILL NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT GOING TO CITY COUNCIL.
AND THEN, UH, I THINK OUR CONCERNS OF, OF, AND MADAM CHAIR, MY CONCERN IS KEEPING IT IN THE MARINA FUND.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD, AND SO CAN I SECOND AND THEN SAY A FEW THINGS? YEAH.
SO, SO UH, IN SOME WAYS I FELT LIKE THE LEAD WAS BURIED IN THIS MEETING AND THAT IS THE, UH, THE FACT THAT THESE FUNDS COULD BE MOVED AROUND INTO OTHER POTS OF MONEY.
SO I, PERHAPS IT'S OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE AT THE CITY LEVEL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN FOR MONEY, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE MOVED INTO TIDE OR SOME OTHER, YOU KNOW, DOES IT GO BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL IS THERE, WHAT THE PROCESS IS? UM, SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
AND THEN I WOULD, I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE SOMEONE HERE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN'S OFFICE, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT INPUT AND THAT DIALOGUE AS WELL.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY.
UM, I CAN ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER.
UM, BUT FIRST I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE AUDIENCE FOR AN APPARENTLY INEFFECTIVE PRESENTATION BECAUSE WHAT'S WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE WITH THE BOND ISSUE IS A FLEXIBILITY REQUEST.
NO MONEY HAS BEEN MOVED FROM MARINA FUND TO ANY OTHER FUND, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION AS HE'S POINTED OUT.
THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE, OF THE STATE'S LEGAL CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENT AND OF THE BOND COVENANTS.
AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DISCUSSION AND NO PROPOSAL TO ACTUALLY MOVE MONEY.
HOW WOULD THAT HAPPEN? ONLY THE CITY COUNCIL.
ONLY THE CITY COUNCIL CAN MOVE MONEY BETWEEN FUNDS AND IT WOULD BE EITHER THROUGH THE NORMAL, IT WOULD BE THROUGH THE NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH IS COMING UP THIS YEAR.
WHICH IS COMING UP THIS SUMMER, WHICH I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW.
AND THEN I'M, THEN I'LL BE QUIET ABOUT THIS.
I MEAN, THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THESE DAYS IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE TIDELANDS AND HOW TIDELANDS FUNDS MANY WORTHY AND MAYBE NOT WORTHY PROJECTS, DEPENDING ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW.
SO IT'S LIKE THE SLOW MOVING TRAIN OF THE CITY HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.
AND, AND, AND I THINK PEOPLE KNOW THAT.
SO EVEN IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN THE PAST, THESE ARE UNCHARTED TIMES.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE CONCERN MIGHT COME FROM.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ECHO COMMISSIONER LAND'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TIDE LANDS WITHIN LONG BEACH AND THE SECURITY OF THE REVENUE THAT WE AS RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR DECADES, WHICH IS SOON
[01:30:01]
TO BE GOING AWAY.WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE TIDE LANDS FUND REVENUES WILL CHANGE IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE OUTSIDE OF LONG BEACH.
OTHER CAUSES, OTHER POLITICS, OTHER ECONOMICS, NOT THE SUBJECT OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION, BUT AS A BIG PICTURE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY HAS RELIED ON TIDELAND FUNDS FOR PROJECTS WITHIN THE COASTAL ZONE AND UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE MARINE BUREAU, THOUGH THAT SORTS OF FUNDING WILL SOON BE DIMINISHED AND SIGNIFICANTLY SO I ASK JUST TO KEEP THAT PERSPECTIVE IN THE COURSE OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THE, THE FUTURE OF THE THAILAND LANDS FUND WITH RESPECT TO THE KINDS OF AMENITIES AND PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE FULLY EXPECTED AS RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH, THAT WE MAY HAVE TO READJUST OUR, UM, UH, UNDERSTANDING AND, UH, HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO I HAVE TO, CAN WE CALL THE QUESTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WELL, WE DO HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD WITH THAT FIRST MOTION THAT'S TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
AND THEN WE'LL VOTE THAT ONE DOWN AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE SECOND MOTION.
SO REGARDING THE FIRST MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THEY, THEY, YEAH.
THE MOTION, THE INITIAL MOTION ON THE FLOOR DID NOT PASS.
AND WE HAVE A SECOND MOTION NOW THAT'S ON THE FLOOR THAT IS, UM, IS SAYING THAT LET'S REVISIT, LET'S CAPTURE WHAT WAS IN THE LETTERS.
AND I'M GONNA ADD A COUPLE THINGS IN THERE BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT GETS IN THE LETTER.
UM, ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WERE A COMMITMENT AND A PROMISE, AND I DISAGREE WITH STAFF, I THINK IT'S GONNA COST SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN IT DID IN 2015.
AND, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CAPTURED IN IT.
AND EVEN BACK THEN, OUR MARINE OFFICE HAD OFFERED THAT, GEE, WE CAN HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S A PROJECT MANAGER ALMOST FROM PUBLIC WORKS PAID OUT OF THOSE MONIES TO PARTICULARLY FOCUS ON JUST MARINA PROJECTS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DONE ON SCHEDULE.
UH, NOW THAT THAT'S IN THE RECORD, I'M GONNA GO BEFORE THAT SECOND QUESTION.
AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF A LETTER AND REVISITING NEXT MONTH.
DID YOU HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION THERE? OKAY, I'M GOOD.
UH, MAYBE I ADVISE THE MOTION IS TO CARRY OVER THIS AGENDA ITEM INTO NEXT MONTH.
I THINK WITH, WITH JUST SAY USING THE PHRASE CARRY OVER.
I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE CARRY OVER, UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE DRAFT OF THE LETTER TO GO OUT IN THE PACKET SO THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS ACCESS AND SO THAT ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS DO AND GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH.
YOU GET TO SEE US NEXT MONTH AGAIN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED OBJECTIONS AND ABSTENTIONS.
THANK YOU GENTLEMEN FOR BEING HERE.
CAN I JUST ASK THREE VOICE OF CLARIFICATION COMMISSION THREE.
NO, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T PROUD CAN PUBLIC COMMENTS? LEMME ASK, ASK THE QUESTION.
I'M SITTING NEXT ME WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON ON OUR, UM, AGENDA THEN.
UH, SO NO, WE HAVE OUR, OUR OUR GOODS THINGS, OUR MANAGER'S, ORAL REPORTS.
I GOTTA RUN YOU GUYS AND IF YOU CAN MAKE THOSE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE, MR. LELAND, WE'D APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, WE HAVE A MARINE SAFETY.
OKAY, WE'LL START OUR REPORT WITH KELLY ARMSTRONG FROM BEACH.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.
UH, A COUPLE UPDATES FROM BEACH MAINTENANCE, UH, FOR RECAPPING FEBRUARY, MOVING INTO MARCH.
UH, OUR BEACH MAINTENANCE TEAM HAS EXTENSIVELY BEEN WORKING TO CLEAN, UH, THE BEACH SINCE THE FEBRUARY STORMS. UM, UH, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON WEST BEACH PRIMARILY, ALTHOUGH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DEBRIS WAS
[01:35:01]
SPREAD, UH, THROUGHOUT THE BEACHES, UH, AND THE WATER LINES.UH, BEACH MAINTENANCE TEAM HAS REMOVED ALL OF THE STORM DEBRIS FROM, UH, THE FEBRUARY STORMS WITHIN A PROBABLY BE A, ABOUT A TWO WEEK PERIOD FROM THE BEACH.
UM, WE'RE UTILIZING NEW METHODS TO SIFT DEBRIS PILES AND TRANSPORT DEBRIS FROM ONE LOCATION AT OUR MAINTENANCE YARD, UH, IN FEBRUARY.
OUR ACTUAL NUMBERS WERE AROUND 350 TONS, UM, UH, OF DEBRIS.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THAT WAS SINCE FEBRUARY, UH, MID-FEBRUARY THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY.
UM, CURRENTLY JUST IN MARCH WE'RE AT ABOUT 85 TIMES, UH, AND WE'RE EXPECTING, UH, THAT NUMBER TO RISE.
UH, ALSO WITH THE, THE STORM, UH, THAT WE'VE JUST RECENTLY HAD.
WE HAD SOME MORE DEBRIS FLOW FROM THE LA RIVER.
SO WE'RE EXPECTING, UH, SOME ENHANCED CLEANUP, UH, TO, TO CONTINUE.
SPORTS COURTS, AS YOU HEARD, UH, WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
OUR CREW WORKED TO, UH, KIND OF PREP THE SITE, UH, BEFORE THE PUBLIC, UM, UH, USE OF IT.
AND WERE, UH, STILL WORKING ON SOME, UH, OTHER LITTLE ITEMS THERE FOR THE MAIN GRAND, UH, KIND OF OPENING THIS SATURDAY.
OUR QUEENSWAY BAY DIVISION, UH, IS WORKING TO, UH, WORKING SOME EXTENDED SHIFTS RIGHT NOW, UH, FOR THAT DEBRIS FLOW.
UH, THEY'RE WORKING THE RAINBOW, UH, HARBOR DEBRIS BOOM.
UH, WE'RE WORKING WITH LIFEGUARD FOR THE 24 HOUR COVERAGE, UM, UH, FOR THAT WORK.
UH, OUR QUEENSWAY BAY CREW QUICKLY REPAIRED THE STORM DEBRIS BOOM AFTER FEBRUARY STORM.
UH, AND IT'S WORKING CURRENTLY, UH, FOR THE MARCH UH, RAIN THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
UH, AND OUR QUEENSWAY BAY CREW IS ALSO WORKING, UH, TO REPAIR SOME FOUNTAIN UH, PUMPS AT THE WAVE FOUNTAIN AND THE DOLPHIN FOUNTAIN AHEAD OF THE GRAND PRIX.
AND OUR LANDSCAPE DIVISION IS WORKING ON ANOTHER SITE FOR OUR LAWN TWO OCEAN FRIENDLY GARDEN, UH, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR, UM, MARCH 22ND.
THAT'S OUR SECOND SITE IN BASIN THREE.
UM, SO THAT'S, WE'RE WE'RE DOING A LOT OF PREP WORK THERE CURRENTLY.
UM, AND IT'S SCHEDULED FOR VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, UM, WITH SURF RIDER AND OUR, OUR PARTNERS WITH LONG BEACH UTILITIES.
WE'RE WORKING WITH GRAND FREE, UH, PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT IN APRIL.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
OH, MR. MARINO, DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? OH, NO, NO, I, OKAY.
TO BRIAN PLANT AND, UH, MAR OPERATIONS.
ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.
UM, FIRST OFF, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THE TEAM THAT I WORK ON A DAILY BASIS, OUR OPERATIONS TEAM, UH, I CHALLENGE THEM TO BE, BE PROACTIVE WITH COMMUNICATIONS INSTEAD OF REACTIVE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE I THINK THROUGH SOME DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT EMAILINGS AND NOTIFICATION PROCESSES, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF ALERTING OUR, OUR BOAT IN PUBLIC TO WEATHER INCIDENTS, WHETHER IT'S HIGH WIND OR RAIN, UM, GETTING BOAT READY IN TIME.
UH, DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE GONNA, YOU KNOW, IMPACT OUR FOOTPRINT.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE VERY PROACTIVE ON, YOU KNOW, ADVANCE NOTICE FOR, FOR BIG IMPACTFUL EVENTS.
UH, BUT ALSO PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS, PROJECTS ARE ALWAYS A HEADACHE.
UM, BUT I THINK THE TEAM DID A REALLY AMAZING JOB, UH, ESPECIALLY DOWN IN THE LONG BEACH, UH, SHORELINE GREEN PARKING LOT, COMMUNICATING THAT THAT WORK AND MAKING IT AS, AS SMOOTH AS THE PROJECT LIKE THAT CAN BE.
UM, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING SOME MORE PART-TIME HELP, UH, THE PART-TIME HELP KIND OF COME, COMES AND GOES AND THE PEOPLE MOVE ON.
BUT WE ARE FULL, FULL STEAM AHEAD.
HAD A FULL RACK OF INTERVIEWS YESTERDAY, UH, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE ON AHEAD OF THE SUMMER.
AND AN EVENT THAT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT.
SO I THINK I MENTIONED THIS, YOU KNOW, IN PASSING LAST, LAST MEETING, BUT WE ARE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE EQUIPMENT OF PACIFIC, UH, WORKING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS.
SO THAT WAS A GROUP THAT WAS FUNDED BY THE NO SC GRANT, UH, PROGRAM, UH, IN THE LAST, LAST YEARS.
UM, THE
UM, IT'S GONNA BE DOWN IN THE RAINBOW HARBOR AREA.
UH, THESE TEAMS ARE GONNA PUT UP A COMMUNITY OUTREACH TABLE AND THEN BE CATALOGING CAUGHT MARINE DEBRIS UTILIZING THE, UH, THE JELLYFISH BOT THAT WE HAD AS PART OF OUR, OUR NEW ARSENAL TOOLS TO PICK UP MARINE DEBRIS.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED THIS PROCESS WITH 'EM.
UH, THEY ARE VERY EXCITED AND MOTIVATED.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT TIME TO OUTREACH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL TO SEE WHAT IS IN OUR WATERWAYS, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THESE RAINS.
ANY QUESTIONS? JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR DOING THAT.
'CAUSE THEY SHOW UP TO THE, UH, SWIM, YEARLY SWIM WE HAVE AROUND, UH, NAPLES ISLAND AND THEY HAVE, IT'S AMAZING WHAT'S
[01:40:01]
IN OUR WATER.IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY FIND IN THE WATER.
YEAH, IT'S, IT'S DISCUSSING WHAT THEY PLAN.
AND THEN I'M GONNA WAIVE MY COMMENTS.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ENOUGH FROM ME TODAY, SO I'M GONNA SWITCH IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND THANK YOU FOR MANAGER'S REPORT.
ALL IN FAVOR RECEIVING THE OVERALL REPORTS AS PRESENTED.
AND YEAH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? ALRIGHT, THAT REMOVES US ON TO OUR COMMITTEE STATUS REPORTS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WE TALKED MOSTLY ABOUT, UH, EVERYTHING WE HEARD TODAY, EVERYTHING WE HEARD TODAY.
AND THE ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING WAS THE TITLE CAPITAL PROJECT.
UH, AND THEN ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON ANY OTHER ISSUES? I, UH, WE CAN GET THE NOTES IN THERE NOW.
UM, FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND, UH, MY FELLOW MARINE, UH, MARINE ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS, I'D ASK YOU TO SAVE THE DATE FOR, UH, SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH, WHICH WILL BE A, UH, FILM BEING SPONSORED BY THE LOS WETLANDS LAND TRUST AT THE ART THEATER ON BOARD STREET.
THE SUBJECT IS, UH, PROPOSITION 20 AND THE CREATION OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT AND CREATION OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION.
IT'S A FILM CALLED SAVE OUR COAST.
AND, UH, WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HOSTING THE FILMMAKERS THAT DAY.
UH, AND WE WILL HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FROM THE 1970S, BY THE WAY, WHICH WAS WHEN PROP 20 WAS INITIATED.
WE WILL HAVE MEMBERS OF THAT PARTICULAR CAMPAIGN AS PART OF OUR SPECIAL GUESTS THAT DAY.
SO, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HERE IN LONG BEACH, MAY I JUST SAY, WHO WERE ACTIVE IN THE CREATION OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION, WHICH IS, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, IS SERIOUSLY UNDER, UH, DEBATE, I SHOULD SAY.
AND UNDER, UH, UH, THE CHANGES IN OUR, OUR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENT.
SO AGAIN, APRIL 13TH, SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE ART THEATER, A GREAT FILM AND A GREAT FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR THE LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS LAND TRUST COMMISSIONER.
WHAT TIME? IT'LL BE TWO O'CLOCK, FOUR O'CLOCK DURING, THAT'S THE GRAND FREE TIME I KNOW.
UH, AND ALSO UNDER ANNOUNCEMENTS, OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS APRIL 3RD, AND THAT'S IN THE MARINE OFFICE.
AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS HERE ON APRIL 10TH AT 1 45.
AND OUR NEXT PERMISSION MEETING IS APRIL 10TH, UH, HERE AT TWO 30.
UM, ANOTHER PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT, THE WESTERN FLYER, WHICH WAS THE VESSEL THAT, UH, JOHN STEINBECK CHARTERED, UH, TO WRITE THE SEA OF CORTEZ WITH ED RICKETTS AND WILL BE ARRIVING IN RAINBOW HARBOR ON FRIDAY, MARCH 21ST.
AND SHE'LL BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC TOURS FROM NINE 30 TILL 1130.
AND THEN SHE'LL BE HEADING OVER TO ALAMEDA BAY AND, UH, NOON TIME AND BO ARE ENCOURAGED TO ESCORT HER ON THE WAY.
UM, THERE'LL BE QUITE A FEW, THERE'LL BE EVEN, UM, PUBLIC TOUR BOATS THAT'LL BE ESCORTING HER BACK OVER TO ALAMEDA BAY TO THE LONG DOCK WHERE THE AFTERNOON SHE'LL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR FREE TOURS AS WELL.
AND THEN SUNDAY MORNING, SHE'S LEAVING THE HEAD TO THE WOODEN BOAT SHOW IN, UH, NEWPORT.
UM, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE ANY GENERAL COMMENTS FROM GENERAL PUBLIC ON NON AGENDA ITEMS, UM, AND THAT WE CAN HEAR, BUT WE CAN'T RESPOND TO.
AND I SEE THERE'S ONE IN THE BACK AND WE'LL GO WITH OUR SAME TWO MINUTE TIMER THAT WE DID, UM, DURING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE, UH, ISSUE AT, UH, I'M BILL HARDER, UH, AL UM, BASICALLY I THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, MENTION ON THE, UH, BEING ABLE TO HEAR THE AUDIO FROM THE PRIOR MEETING MEETING MINUTES.
I ACTUALLY DID FIND THAT, AND I DID ACTUALLY GO BACK AND LISTEN TO A BUNCH OF THE MEETINGS GOING BACK TO SEPTEMBER.
AND ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE SEPTEMBER MEETING WAS, UH, RAISING SLIP FEES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE RUNNING AT 2% NEXT YEAR.
I THINK IT'S 1% OR 1% THIS YEAR AND 2%.
AND GOING BACK ANYWAYS, UM, I THINK THAT IF YOU DID RAISE SLIP FEES
[01:45:01]
TOO MUCH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WOULD GO BACK TO SOME MARINA LOCAL TO THEM SUCH AS MARINA DELREY OR DANA POINT OR WHATEVER.SO, BUT, UH, PART OF THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, I ALSO SAW THE MILLION DOLLARS FOREHEAD COUNT FOR, YOU KNOW, ANALYZING HOW TO RAISE REVENUE.
AND I'M NOT SURE SOMETIMES THAT THE MARINA ALWAYS THINKS, YOU KNOW, INSIDE THE BOX VERSUS OUTSIDE THE BOX.
AND YOU KNOW, WHERE I, MY SLIP IS, UM, RIGHT ACROSS THE WALL FROM, UH, AMI, I MEAN FROM THE SHORELINE, UH, YACHT CLUB.
AND YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I'M NOT USING MY BOAT A WHOLE LOT AND I KNOW THE OLYMPICS IS COMING UP AND SOMEBODY WOULD LOVE TO RENT THAT SLIP AND THEY'D PROBABLY PAY $10,000 FOR A COUPLE WEEKS OR A MONTH OR WHATEVER.
IF THE CITY ALLOWED THEM TO HANG A BANNER, YOU KNOW, ADVERTISING SOMETHING, YOU MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO GET $50,000, UH, FOR THAT SAME SLIP.
AND I CAN MOVE MY BOAT TO ANOTHER PLACE.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR NEW IDEAS, JUST THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
I MEAN, IF YOU SEND OUT A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, YOU SEND OUT A BILL EVERY MONTH TO ALL OF US FOR OUR SLIP PAYMENT, YOU COULD PUT A LITTLE NOTICE IN THERE AND ASK PEOPLE, HEY, WOULD YOU EVER BE WILLING TO MOVE YOUR BOAT TO, OR WE RUN OUT YOUR SLIP OR SOMETHING.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY, HEY, YOU COULD LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS AND, YOU KNOW, GENERATE A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS THAT WAY THAT WOULD, UH, POTENTIALLY HELP.
WE, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO THANK YOU.
WITH THERE BEING NO, OH, I ASK YOU BIG QUESTION.
OUR LAST TWO MEETINGS HAVE BEEN AT THIS LOCATION.
MOVING FORWARD, ARE WE ALWAYS GONNA BE HERE UNTIL WE, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SCHEDULED.
NO FURTHER VISIT US OR ADJOURNED.