Apr 01, 2025 City Council - Revised

SHE'S MET, SHE, UH, MOST RECENTLY PASSED AWAY, BUT SHE LEFT AN INCREDIBLE MARK ON THE LONG BEACH, UH, COMMUNITY THROUGH DECADES OF LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY AND SERVICE.

PLEASE LET UP ENJOY ME WHEN FLEX MOON, IF YOU ARE ABLE, I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.

READY TO BEGIN? I HAVE PLEASURE, ALLEGIANCE.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

SO THIS EVENING WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATE, ONE PRESENTATION, ACTUALLY TWO PRESENTATIONS, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, WE'LL GO THROUGH CONSENT CALENDAR.

WE'LL REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION.

UH, THEN WE'LL GET INTO, UH, THE AMPHITHEATER ITEM, THEN GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND ONTO THE AGENDA THROUGH THAT, THAT, UH, AFTER THAT.

SO, UH, LET'S START WITH, UH, THE PRESENTATION.

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CARMEN, UH, PEREZ.

JUST A FEW COMMENTS.

UH, WE ALL KNOW, UH, MANY OF US KNOW, UH, THE LEGACY, THE IMPACT, UM, AND THE FRIENDSHIP OF CARMEN PEREZ.

[ HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CARMEN O. PEREZ]

UH, SHE BEGAN HER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, UH, IN THE PTA, UH, WITH LONG BEACH, UH, UNIFIED AND AS A TEACHER'S AIDE.

SHE LATER AS, UH, SERVED AS A PATIENT SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTOR AT RANCHO LOS AMI LOS AMIGOS, CHIEF DEPUTY, UH, FOR LA COUNTY SUPERVISOR HAN, UH, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH CHICANO POLITICAL CAUCUS AND A MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA WORLD TRADE COMMISSION.

SHE BROKE BARRIERS HERE IN LONG BEACH WHEN SHE BECAME THE FIRST LATINA APPOINTED TO OUR LONG BEACH BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS IN THE 1990S, UH, WHERE, WHERE SHE, WHERE SHE, UH, WAS CERTAINLY A TRAILBLAZER AND SERVED FOR 12 YEARS ON THAT COMMISSION, SHE LED THE CHARGE OF OPENING THE PORT TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH FEW FREE HARBOR CRUISES, A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TODAY, UH, AND TRUE TO HER COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY.

SHE ALSO WAS A VERY RESPECTED, UH, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST.

SHE HELPED ADVANCE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF LONG BEACH'S LATINO COMMUNITY AS A KEY MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH CHICANO SIX, WHICH INCLUDED, INCLUDED RON AND PHYLLIS ARIAS, THERESA MARINO, MARGIE RODRIGUEZ, THE LATE ARMANDO ARMANDO VASQUEZ RAMOS, UH, AND HER LEGACY WILL LIVE ON THROUGH MANY, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT SHE'S MENTORED AND SUPPORTED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE DECADES.

I WANNA INVITE VICE MAYOR YANGA TO TEE UP THE PRESENTATION, UH, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON FROM THERE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, GARVIN AND I HAD A VERY LONG RELATIONSHIP STARTING IN THE MID SEVENTIES, BUT WE HAVE SOME FRIENDS HERE WHO KNOW HER MUCH BETTER THAN I KNEW, AND THEY'RE GONNA SPEAK.

UH, FIRST I WANNA INTRODUCE TOYA, HONOR, TOYA , WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF UNITED AMERICAN CITIZENS, AND YOU'LL INTRODUCE OUR OTHER SPEAKERS.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND FOR YOU THAT YOU HAVE A TOTAL OF 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK.

LOS AMIGOS, UM, REHAB HOSPITAL, AND SHE PLAYED A ROLE WITH SUPERVISOR IAN, SAVING THE HOSPITAL.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT.

UM, HI, MY NAME IS TONY REYES SGA, AND I'M REPRESENT OF THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS LONG BEACH COUNCIL 3 3 0 9.

AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR, UH, UM, CARMEN, THEY ASK THAT I, I BE HERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER BURANGA, THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR PROVIDING US WITH THE TIME TO HONOR OUR FRIEND AND THE FORCE OF NATURE, OUR VERY OWN CARMEN OP PEREZ.

CARMEN WAS KNOWN FOR HER MANY ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT THE ROLES SHE VALUED MOST WERE THOSE OF MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER.

CARMEN EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF HER HUSBAND AND SON YEARS AGO AND FACED VARIOUS CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT HER LIFE.

YET CARMEN REALLY HELPED ME SURVIVE WHEN MY SON WAS ILL AND DYING OF CANCER.

AS SOMEONE WHO ALSO LOST A SON, SHE CALLED ME OFTEN TO REMIND ME I WAS NOT ALONE AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SUPPORT GROUP TO GET ME THROUGH, LIKE SHE DID HER RE THE LONG BEACH.

AND THANKS TO

[00:30:01]

IMA AND OTHERS I DID.

SHE CONTINUED TO CALL AND TEXT MONTHS AFTER WHEN I WAS STILL VISITING THE HOSPITAL, NOT KNOWING IF I WOULD LOSE MY HUSBAND TOO.

SHE WOULD TEXT JUST TO REMIND ME.

I WAS NOT ALONE.

CARMEN WAS MY ANGEL, AND I'M SO SAD TO SEE HER, UH, NOT AROUND ANYMORE.

SHE OFTEN SAID THAT IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, YOU NEED TO HA TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND WHEN WE ROCK RECONSTITUTED THE LULAC COUNCIL, SHE WAS THE FIRST TO JOIN LEADING THE WAY.

AND WITHIN ONE DAY, WE HAD ENOUGH MEMBERS TO CHARTER OUR COUNCIL, AND THIS YEAR RECHARGE HER FOR 2025 IN A TIME IN TIME FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, WHICH WILL BE HELD HERE IN LONG BEACH IN AUGUST, WHICH SHE WAS PROUD OF.

HOWEVER, I'M HERE TODAY TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST OF TWO PRESENTERS WHO WILL BE PART, WHO ARE PART OF HER BELOVED LAS MU LONG BEACH, CARMEN'S TRUSTED CIRCLE, THERESA MARINO AND SHARON WEISSMAN.

THERESA IS ALSO A MEMBER OF OUR LULA COUNCIL AND WILL SPEAK ABOUT HER FRIEND CARMEN OR PEREZ.

THANK YOU, TONYA.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR RICHARDSON, VICE MAYOR ROBERTO ORANGA AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON AN AMAZING LATINA AND ESTEEM LEADER WHO WAS A FRIEND AND MENTOR TO ALL CARMEN ORES BETIS, WHO PASSED ON MARCH 21ST, 2020 AT THE AGE OF 85.

IT IS APRIL 1ST TODAY, AND I WISH I COULD SAY IT'S JUST A BIG APRIL FOOLS PRANK ON US.

CARMEN'S STILL WITH US RIGHT HERE IN THE CHAMBERS, BUT SADLY NOT.

SO, I'M HUMBLED AND HONORED TODAY TO SHARE SOME LIFE HISTORY AND FACTS ABOUT CARMEN.

SHE TOUCHED AND TAUGHT AND MENTORED SO MANY LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, STATEWIDE, AND NATIONALLY.

SHE WAS BORN IN 1939 IN EAST LOS ANGELES, THE NINTH OF 10 CHILDREN TO MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS.

SHE WENT TO GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS A PROUD GARO ALL HER LIFE, ALONG WITH THE ALTOS AND THE POLANCO'S, WHO WERE LIFETIME FRIENDS AND POLITICAL PO POWER BROKERS AND INFLUENCERS TILL SHE PASSED.

CARMEN WAS A BOARD MEMBER AND A CONSULTANT THROUGH KU, THE EAST LA COMMUNITY UNION AND THE CORDOVA CORPORATION.

CARMEN MOVED TO LONG BEACH IN 1964 WITH HER HUSBAND, MANNY, AND FOUR CHILDREN, CINDY ELIZABETH.

LAURA, AND BUDDY CARMEN AND HUSBAND.

MANNY GOT INVOLVED IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT CAMPAIGN FOR JIM WILSON AND WALKED THE NEIGHBORHOOD PASSING OUT FLYERS.

THIS WAS HER INTRODUCTION TO LONG BEACH POLITICS.

SHE WAS HOOKED ON ORGANIZING AND VOLUNTEERING.

CARMEN GOT INVOLVED IN PTA AND GIRL SCOUTS.

SHE WORKED AT ROBERT E. LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND WAS ENCOURAGED BY PRINCIPAL MR. RAMOS TO APPLY FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH OUTREACH WORKER AND A PART-TIME JUVENILE DELINQUENCY POS PREVENTION POSITION.

IT WAS AROUND THIS TIME THAT SHE AND MANNY DIVORCED LEAVING HER A SINGLE MOM OF FOUR.

BY 19 72, 73, SHE WAS VISITING THE EAST LONG BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.

RO DE AS PART OF HER JOB, HERE IS WHERE SHE MET CHICANO LEADERS FROM THE CAL STATE LONG BEACH METRO PROGRAM, ARMANDO VASQUEZ RAMOS, RON, AND PHYLLIS MARIA BERA, TOM BLACKBURN, MARIO CORDERO, AND OTHER STUDENT INTERNS, ADVOCATES, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY WORKERS.

LIKE MYSELF, ANTONIA, SO MUCH WAS GOING ON.

QUIS SOCIAL WORK, SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ART AND CULTURE PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS AND MORE.

THE CENTRO WAS DESIGNATED THE OFFICIAL WAR ON POVERTY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER FOR THE EAST SIDE, LOW INCOME PERSONS IN THE SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY OF LONG BEACH.

CARMEN ATTENDED CENTRO COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEETINGS AND TRAINED US TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE AND BECOME LEADERS TO REPRESENT AN UNREPRESENTED PART OF LONG BEACH.

CARMEN SAID, WE RADICALIZED HER, BUT IT WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

SHE TAUGHT US THAT POWER WASN'T GIVEN.

IT'S TAKEN BE AT THE TABLE, DON'T FOLD.

YOU WANT CHANGE, THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

NO ONE WILL DO IT FOR YOU.

BE READY.

DON'T BE AFRAID.

THESE WORDS STILL RING TODAY.

SHE ALSO EMBRACED FAMILY FIRST.

NEVER FORGET YOUR ROOTS.

SHE LOVED HER DAUGHTERS AND GRAND AND GRANDCHILDREN.

CARMEN WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER AND LEADER OF THE LONG BEACH CHICANO POLITICAL CAUCUS, WHICH IS STILL ACTIVE TODAY.

SHE AND THE CAUCUS HELPED TO ELECT JENNY ORESA AS THE FIRST LATINA ELECTED TO LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD IN 1988.

CARMEN WAS WORKING FOR LA COUNTY, USC MEDICAL CENTER IN THE EIGHTIES, AND THEN BECAME SUPERVISOR KENNY HAHN'S, ASSISTANT DEPUTY.

SHE WENT ON TO WORK AT RANCHO

[00:35:01]

IN THE LATE EIGHTIES AND EARLY NINETIES.

CARMEN BECAME A LEADER IN THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SHE WAS ALSO APPOINTED LONG BEACH HARBOR COMMISSIONER IN 94 AND WAS THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE IN THE MID EIGHTIES.

CARMEN FOUNDED LAS MUTA, STILL LONG BEACH, EIGHT WOMEN, FRIENDS, COWORKERS, POLITICIANS, AND AS A, AND THEY WERE A SUPPORT GROUP FOR LIFE.

SHE ALWAYS CALLED US USE GUYS.

CARMEN WAS AN INCREDIBLE FUNDRAISER.

NO ONE SAID NO TO CARMEN.

SHE WAS THE FIRST IN SO MANY ROLES, AND SHE BROKE THE GLASS CEILING SO MANY TIMES, ALWAYS BRINGING OTHERS ALONG.

SHE RECEIVED MANY AWARDS AND ACCOLADES DURING HER CAREER IN LIFETIME.

IN 2023, SHE WAS HONORED BY LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION, LIFETIME LEARNING CENTER AS THE OUTSTANDING SENIOR OF THE YEAR.

SHE HAD SO MUCH FUN AT THAT LUNCHEON BEING ROASTED BY DON KNABE.

SHE KEPT EVERYONE IN STITCHES WITH HER ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.

RECENTLY, CARMEN SERVED WITH US AT THE, HIS HISTORIC, THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LONG BEACH, RO DE CHI CHICANO PLANNING COMMITTEE.

SHE HELPED PLAN AND RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CENTRO EXHIBIT.

IT HIGHLIGHTED THE CHICANO ROOTS IN LONG BEACH AND THE ROLE SHE PLAYED IN THE CHICANO POLITICAL CAUCUS.

IT BROUGHT CARMEN FULL CIRCLE TO ALL THE PERSON SHE HAD MENTORED ALL THESE 50 YEARS, AND ALL THE DOORS SHE OPENED AND ALL OF US SHE BROUGHT ALONG.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE HER IMPACTFUL LEGACY FOR CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.

WE ALL HAVE TO HOLD CARMEN IN OUR HEARTS AND NEVER FORGET HER WORDS FOR CHANGE IN BETTERMENT.

YOU WANT CHANGE, YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN.

REST IN PEACE.

MY BELOVED DEPARTMENT MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT MY FRIEND CARMEN O PEREZ TODAY.

THOSE OF YOU WHO KNEW HER, KNEW FOR YOURSELF, CARMEN WAS DYNAMIC AND A FORMIDABLE PERSON IN NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS.

AND SHE WAS ALSO A VERY KIND AND THOUGHTFUL PERSON.

I FIRST MET CARMEN THROUGH MY FRIENDSHIP WITH JENNY OROPEZA.

IF CARMEN SUPPORTED YOU WHEN YOU RAN FOR OFFICE, SHE WAS ALL IN AND SHE BROUGHT HER FRIENDS IN AS WELL.

IF CARMEN WAS INVOLVED, THE MU HARRIS WAS ALSO INVOLVED.

SHE CAMPAIGNED IN MORE ELECTIONS THAN I CAN EVEN COUNT.

CARMEN HELD MANY DISTINGUISHED POSITIONS IN POLITICS.

SHE WAS VICE CHAIR FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, AND AS SUCH A DNC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER, SHE WAS A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S EXECUTIVE BOARD, CO-CHAIRING ITS RULES COMMITTEE.

SHE ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE LA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE, AND SHE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

CARMEN WAS ON A FIRST NAME BASIS WITH LEADERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AND WHEN SHE REFERRED TO NANCY, YOU KNEW SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT NANCY PELOSI.

SHE ALSO KNEW SEVERAL US PRESIDENTS IF YOU WERE GONNA RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE GREATER LONG BEACH AREA, THE ADVICE YOU WERE GIVEN WAS YOU HAVE TO TALK TO CARMEN PEREZ.

PEOPLE STILL SOUGHT OUT HER POLITICAL ADVICE.

EVEN RECENTLY, ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD CALL HER TO GET HER OPINION ON POLICY.

YOU'VE HEARD THAT SHE WAS APPOINTED TO THE HARBOR COMMISSION, ONLY THE SECOND WOMAN AND THE FIRST LATINO OR LATINA, AND THAT IT WAS CARMEN'S IDEA TO DO THE HARBOR TOURS FOR THE PUBLIC.

TO THIS DAY, MORE THAN 2000 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BOARD OUR HARBOR TOURS, UM, SHE REPRESENTED THE PORT AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PACIFIC COAST OF PORT AUTHORITIES.

BUT CARMEN'S ACTIVISM WAS NOT CONFINED TO POLITICAL WORK.

SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF NONPROFITS, INCLUDING RANCHO LOS AMIGOS FOUNDATION, THE LONG BEACH PORT PUBLIC CORPORATION FOR THE ARTS, NOW KNOWN AS THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH, THE UNITED WAY, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CHICANO EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, AND THE GIRL SCOUTS COUNCIL AMONG MANY.

SHE RECEIVED THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR COMMUNITY JUSTICE HUMANITARIAN AWARD IN 1997.

AND IN 1998, THE NEW ESRA IHIN AWARD PRESENTED BY CENTRAL CHA.

SHE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION AND LAS JERE.

MOST RECENTLY, SHE JOINED THE BOARD OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION.

AS SHE LOVED LIBRARIES, YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER FRIEND, AS MENTIONED IN TOUGH TIMES.

SHE WOULD CALL, SHE WOULD TEXT, SHE WOULD BRING MEALS OVER, BUT NOT JUST IN TOUGH TIMES, SHE WAS CONTACTING THOSE SHE

[00:40:01]

LOVED FREQUENTLY.

CARMEN WAS A MENTOR TO MANY, AND I WOULD NOT BE A MEMBER OF THE HARBOR COMMISSION TODAY IF SHE HAD NOT SHOWN ME THE WAY CARMEN OFTEN SAID, IF YOU DON'T ASK, THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS NO.

SO I PROMISE IN CARMEN'S HONOR THAT MAYOR HARRIS WILL KEEP WORKING AND KEEP ASKING, AND WE INVITE YOU TO DO THE SAME.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESIDENT, UH, VICE, VICE MAYOR.

YEAH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I HAD MENTIONED THAT IN 2018, THEN MAYOR ROBERT GARCIA HANDON, OR GABE RECOGNIZED COLONEL LOPEZ WITH THE KEY TO THE CITY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'LL TAKE IT BEHIND THE RAIL, A FEW COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PHOTO BY THIS OF FRIEND, UH, WITH SOME OF HER LOVED ONES WITH SOME RECOMMENDATION, UH, SOME, EXCUSE ME, RECOGNITION OF CARMEN.

UH, I, I WILL SAY THAT, UH, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WHOEVER SAID THAT IT'S HARD TO SAY NO TO CARMEN.

I CAN REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE WORKING ON FUNDRAISING FOR THE CENTRAL DERASA, UH, CHICANO SIX, UH, UH, PRESENTATION AT THE, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

AND SURE ENOUGH, SHE CAME TO THE CITY AND SHE SAID, THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SHE GOT THAT DONE WHEN SHE DID, UH, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE ALL OF THE STORIES ALL IN ONE PLACE ABOUT THAT LEGACY OF, OF, OF THAT MOVEMENT.

SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER KERR? YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND VICE MEMBER WANKA.

CARMEN O PEREZ WAS A BELOVED AND LONGTIME FIFTH DISTRICT RESIDENT.

SO MUCH HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID, UM, AND I WON'T REPEAT ALL OF IT.

UM, SHE WAS AN INFLUENTIAL FIGURE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS FIGHTING FOR DIVERSE REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SHE WAS A TRAILBLAZER AND INSPIRING MENTOR WHO SOUGHT AVENUES TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS, TO FIGHT INEQUITIES, AND TO BE A VOICE FOR THE UNDERREPRESENTED AND DISADVANTAGED IN EVERY ROLE SHE HAD.

CARMEN STOOD AS AN EXAMPLE OF FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT OF WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, NOT ONLY TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, OFTEN AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE.

AND SHE NEVER FAILED TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO HELP UPLIFT THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND FOR ALL OF THE BIG THINGS, CARMEN IS KNOWN FOR THAT WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT.

SHE CARED DEEPLY FOR HER COMMUNITY AND HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND AS MUCH AS WE HEARD ABOUT THE BIG ISSUES THAT SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT, WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE VERY LOCAL ISSUES FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.

AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OUR CITY MANAGER COULD EXPECT A CALL FROM CARMEN IF SOMETHING WAS NOT TO HER LIKING.

UH, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE KNOWN HER AND TO HAVE LEARNED FROM HER.

I EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES THAT SHE LEFT BEHIND.

AND I HOPE WE ALL FIND COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT SHE WAS A POSITIVE LIGHT AND INSPIRATION TO ALL THOSE LIVES SHE TOUCHED.

MAY HER PASSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS.

AND FOR THROUGH THE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SHE HELPED CREATE, I HAD A SPECIAL APPRECIATION FOR CARMEN AND COMMEND HER FOR HER FIGHT TO SAVE RANCHO LOS AMIGOS HOSPITAL WHEN IT NEEDED IT THE MOST.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO CARMEN'S FAMILY, UM, AND FRIENDS.

AND JUST TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, LONG BEACH HAS LOST A BOLD LEADER, A FIERCE ADVOCATE, AND A TRUE CHAMPION FOR JUSTICE.

WITH THE PASSING OF OUR BELOVED CARMEN PEREZ, HER LIFELONG DEDICATION TO UPLIFTING THE UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES HAS LEFT AN UNDENIABLE IMPACT ON OUR CITY.

FROM HER WORK AS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND A MEMBER OF THE HISTORIC CHICANO SIX TO BREAKING BARRIERS.

AS THE FIRST LATINA ON THE LONG BEACH BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS, CARMEN WAS A TRAILBLAZER IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.

SHE NEVER HESITATED TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT, UH, ALWAYS ENSURING THAT THOSE WITHOUT A VOICE WERE HEARD.

I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR ALL THAT SHE ACCOMPLISHED AND THE COUNTLESS LIVES THAT SHE TOUCHED THROUGH.

THROUGH HER ACTIVISM, LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, HER IMPACT IS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF HER BELOVED CITY OF LONG BEACH AND BEYOND.

WHETHER IN THE POLICIES SHE HELPED SHAPE THE LEADER SHE MENTORED, OR THE OPPORTUNITIES SHE FOUGHT,

[00:45:02]

RANCHO LOS AMIGOS HOSPITAL TODAY CONTINUES TO BE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, A PLACE THAT GIVES HOPE AND THAT SHAPES LIVES.

AND FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, WE THANK HER FOR THAT FIGHT AND MANY MORE.

HER LEGACY WILL LIVE ON FOR YEARS TO COME, INSPIRING US TO CONTINUE THE WORK SHE SO PASSIONATELY DEDICATED HER LIFE TO REST IN POWER.

CARMEN, YOUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND INCLUSION WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

YOUR LEGACY WILL LIVE ON BOLDLY AND PROUDLY JUST AS YOU WERE.

UH, WE NOW WANNA INVITE THE, THE SPEAKERS AND THE GUESTS AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE WANT TO TAKE, UH, UH, TAKE A PHOTO, UH, RECOGNIZING, UH, THE LEGACY OF, UH, THE TRAILBLAZER, UH, CARMEN PEREZ.

WE'LL DO THAT NOW.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, THANKS EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING.

UH, WE WILL NOW QUEUE UP FOR OUR SECOND PRESENTATION ON WORLD TUBERCULOSIS, TUBERCULOSIS DAY, AND WE'LL, UH, HAND IT TO CITY MANAGER MOCA.

[ WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY]

UM, SO AS YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF, UH, GOOD WORK OUT THERE IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND, UH, PART OF THAT IS, UH, KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE FROM TUBERCULOSIS.

UH, IT IS AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW THAT OUR TEAM IS WORKING VERY, VERY HARD ON.

UH, SO, UH, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WORLD TB DAY ESPECIALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVEN, UM, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE OUTBREAKS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK OF OUR TEAM.

SO, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. DAVIS, UH, AND, UH, TO GIVE A, A QUICK PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING, AND I HAVE CONTROL OF THE SLIDES.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON, VICE MAYOR URANGA AND HONORABLE COUNCIL PEOPLE.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE WORLD TB DAY MARCH 24TH, WORLD TB DAY COMMEMORATES THE DAY DR. ROBERT KOCH

[00:50:02]

ANNOUNCED THE DISCOVERY OF THE TB BACTERIA IN 1882.

TB INFECTS ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR PEOPLE ON THE PLANET, AND IS THE NUMBER ONE INFECTIOUS DISEASE KILLER IN THE WORLD.

MORE THAN 2 MILLION CALIFORNIANS HAVE TUBERCULOSIS, GERMS IN THEIR BODIES, BUT ARE NOT SICK YET.

THIS IS CALLED LATENT TB INFECTION.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT PEOPLE WITH LATENT INFECTION CAN TAKE MEDICATION TO PREVENT THEM FROM BECOMING SICK WITH ACTIVE TB.

LATER ON, TB CASES IN LONG BEACH HAVE RISEN BY 84% FROM 2022 TO 2024, AND THE SEVERAL MONTHS OF TREATMENT REQUIRED HAS A LARGE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND ABILITY TO EARN A LIVING AND DO THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES.

IN ADDITION, FOR EACH PERSON WITH ACTIVE TB, THERE'S MANY HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS, WORK CONTACTS, FRIENDS AND PEOPLE AT PLACES OF WORSHIP THAT ALSO NEED TO BE EVALUATED.

ONE CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS INCREASE WAS A TB OUTBREAK THAT OCCURRED IN LONG BEACH.

16 CASES OF ACTIVE TB WAS IDENTIFIED IN THIS OUTBREAK BESIDES DIRECTLY OBSERVED THERAPY DONE DAILY FOR THE SEVERAL MONTHS OF A PERSON'S TREATMENT.

PATIENTS WERE ALSO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO COMPLETING TREATMENT, INCLUDING HOUSING AND RENT ASSISTANCE, AND FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION TO APPOINTMENTS.

WE DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN ORDER FOR US TO STREAMLINE STAFFING AND OTHER RESOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THIS RESPONSE TOOK AN ALL OF DEPARTMENT EFFORT.

352 CONTACTS WERE IDENTIFIED, AND OUTREACH WAS ATTEMPTED FOR ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS, TEXTS, LETTERS, AND FIELD VISITS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE OUR DOGGED EFFORT, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE EVERYONE.

AND THEN NOT EVERYONE, UM, WHO WE DID LOCATE AGREED TO BE SCREENED.

WE WERE ABLE TO FULLY EVALUATE ABOUT 77% OF THOSE AT THE HIGHEST RISK OF EXPOSURE FROM THIS OUTBREAK.

A FULL EVALUATION REQUIRES MULTIPLE VISITS AND TESTS.

SO A 77% COMPLETION IS A REAL TESTAMENT TO OUR TEAM'S COMMITMENT.

AS A RESULT OF THESE ACTIVITIES, NOT ONLY DID WE FIND SOME OF THOSE 16 ACTIVE CASES VERY EARLY ON IN THEIR DISEASE, SO WE COULD GET THEM TREATED AND CURED, BUT WE ALSO DIAGNOSED SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH LATENT TB, TB INFECTION, AND 20 INDIVIDUALS COMPLETED THEIR TREATMENT FOR LATENT TB.

SO THAT'S UP TO 20 MORE POTENTIAL ACTIVE CASES THAT WERE PREVENTED.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP ACTIVE TB STARTED WITH LATENT TB, WHERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE SYMPTOMS AND THEY COULD NOT SPREAD IT TO OTHERS.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE LATENT TB INFECTION FOR YEARS OR DECADES BEFORE DEVELOPING ACTIVE TB.

TAKING MEDICINES FOR A FEW MONTHS CAN PREVENT LATENT TB FROM TURNING INTO ACTIVE TB B.

SO HOW DO WE FIND THESE PEOPLE WHO, UM, WITH LATENT SLEEPING TB INFECTIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BE TREATED SO THAT THEY DON'T GET SICK? A NEW LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2025, REQUIRES PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS TO OFFER A TB TEST TO THEIR PATIENTS IF RISK FACTORS ARE IDENTIFIED, RISK FACTORS INCLUDE IF A PERSON WAS BORN, TRAVELED, OR HAD RESIDENTS FOR AT LEAST A MONTH IN A COUNTRY WITH AN ELEVATED TB RATE.

UM, AND MOST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD HAVE AN ELEVATED TB RATE.

UM, IF THEY'RE IMMUNOSUPPRESSED OR IF THEY'VE EVER BEEN A CLOSE CONTACT TO SOMEONE WITH INFECTIOUS TB DURING THEIR LIFETIME, THIS IS THE GROUP THAT SHOULD BE GETTING SCREENED FOR LATENT TB INFECTION WITH A BLOOD TEST SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE MEDICINE SO THAT THEY DON'T GO ON TO DEVELOP ACTIVE TB.

I'D LIKE TO END WITH THANKING EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO TB CONTROL IN LONG BEACH THIS PAST YEAR.

UM, RAISE YOUR HANDS IN THE BACK THERE.

I KNOW SOME FOLKS ARE HERE.

UM, WE HAD MANY PEOPLE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO SHIFTED THEIR ACTIVITIES TO ASSIST WITH THE OUTBREAK, AND SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY ALSO PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HELPING OUR RESIDENTS GET WHAT THEY NEEDED TO STAY HEALTHY.

WE ALSO WANT TO APPRECIATE THE LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE CDC FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION OF STAFF AND EXPERTISE.

UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

HAPPY ORAL TVB DAY.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT'S A REMINDER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT WE ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTION, AND THIS IS OUR OFFICIAL CITY'S, UH, HEALTH OFFICER.

NOT EVERY CITY HAS ITS OWN MEDICAL DOCTOR ON STAFF, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, AND WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A, A PLAQUE THAT WE'LL DELIVER TO YOU, UH, RECOGNIZING THIS.

LET'S HEAR IT ONE, ONE MORE TIME FOR OUR CITY'S HEALTH OFFICER AND ALL THE HARDCORE HARD HARDWORKING MEMBERS OF OUR LONG BEACH HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

ALRIGHT, LET'S GET INTO IT.

UH, LET'S PULL UP THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 20.

[00:55:08]

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT?

[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 20.)]

NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 300,000 AND APPROVE A ONE TIME PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO 1,500,000 TO FUND FACILITY PRE-OPENING SERVICES, INCLUDING OPERATIONS, SALES GENERAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, AND MONTHLY MANAGEMENT FEES, AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT.

WE'LL NOW GO TO OUR REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS TO REPORT FROM.

CLOSED SESSION, UH, THE MATTER HERIN VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH WAS SETTLED IN THE AMOUNT OF $400,000.

THE MATTER, JOHNSON VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH WAS SETTLED IN THE AMOUNT OF $640,000.

THE MATTER OF L FRANCO VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH BEACH WAS SETTLED IN THE AMOUNT OF $186,000.

AND THE MATTER OF VASQUEZ VERSUS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH WAS SETTLED FOR $310,000.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UH, THAT UPDATE.

WE'RE NOW GO INTO OUR FIRST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM ITEM 24, PLEASE REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO A SM GLOBAL FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AN AMPHITHEATER LOCATED NEAR THE QUEEN MARY IN A TOTAL ANNUAL

[24. 25-54763 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP ED-24-477 and award a contract to ASM Global Convention Center Management, LLC., of Los Angeles, CA, for the operation and management of an amphitheater located near the Queen Mary, in a total annual amount not to exceed $300,000, subject to an annual Consumer Price Index adjustment of 3 percent, for a period of five years, with the option to renew for one additional five-year period, and approve a one-time payment in the amount up to $1,500,000, to fund facility pre-opening services provided by ASM Global Convention Center Management, LLC, including operations, sales, general, and administrative expenses, and monthly management fees; at the discretion of the City Manager, and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments; and Increase appropriations in the Tidelands Area Fund Group in the Economic Development Department by $1,500,000, to fund facility pre-opening services, offset by the venues future net operating profit. (District 1) Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

DISTRICT ONE.

IN THE OPERATION OF THE FACILITY.

WELL, IT IS NOT EVERY DAY THAT WE GET TO TAKE ACTION TO BRING ON A NEW REV REVENUE GENERATING ASSET IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

SO TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.

UH, THAT'S RIGHT.

SO, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT RIGHT NOW.

THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS GOING THROUGH A BIT OF A TRANSITION.

I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHERE THE WAY THAT WE FUND OUR CITY SERVICES IS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING, UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE TIGHTS AREA AND OUR DEPENDENCES FINANCIALLY ON OIL PRODUCTION AS A REVENUE SOURCE.

AND SO, WITH A SHIFTING LANDSCAPE AT THE STATE LEVEL, OUR COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION, WE CAN NO LONGER RELY ON SOME OF THESE SOURCES TO FUND THE SERVICES THAT ALL OF US DEPEND ON.

UH, SERVICES LIKE FIREFIGHTERS, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, POLICE OFFICERS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, ALL OF THOSE DEPEND ON HAVING STRONG AND DIVERSE REVENUE SOURCES.

SO IN ORDER TO SECURE A STRONG FINANCIAL FUTURE, WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF IT AND INVEST IN MORE SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOURCES AND GROW OUR ECONOMY IN NEW AND MORE EXCITING AND SUSTAINABLE DIRECTIONS.

SO, UH, TWO YEARS AGO WE BEGAN TO EXPLORE THIS THROUGH AN INITIATIVE CALLED GROW LONG BEACH, WHICH LOOKS AT FIVE KEY SECTORS TO GROW OUR ECONOMY INTO THE FUTURE.

UH, AEROSPACE AND AVIATION.

LOTS OF PROGRESS THERE.

UH, UH, HEALTHCARE IS A BIG SECTOR IN OUR CITY.

UH, PORTS AND LOGISTICS AND DECARBONIZATION CREATES NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US.

EDUCATION IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY, AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING IS INVESTING IN ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS, CULTURE, AND TOURISM.

SO TODAY WE'RE TAKING A BIG STEP IN ONE OF THESE KEY FOCUS AREAS BY INVESTING IN OUR LOCAL ARTS, OUR LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, OUR LOCAL TOURISM, UH, SECTOR.

UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WE HAVE, WE, WE ALREADY HAVE A GREAT CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS.

WE'VE GOT, UH, AN ARENA, WE'VE GOT REVENUE GENERATING ASSETS, WE'VE GOT GRAND PRIX COMING UP, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAP INTO, UH, ONE OF THE LARGEST ENTERTAINMENT MARKETS IN AMERICA HERE IN THE LOS ANGELES REGION? AND SO, UH, WE ARE PREPARING TO, UH, WELCOME THE WORLD IN 2026 FOR, FOR, UH, THE WORLD CUP AND, UH, 2028 FOR THE OLYMPIC PARALYMPIC GAMES.

BUT HOW CAN WE FURTHER LEVERAGE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE AND FURTHER CEMENT OUR IDENTITY AS A WORLD CLASS, UH, DESTINATION FOR LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT? SO DURING MY FIRST GROW LONG BEACH PRESENTATION, SEPTEMBER OF 2023, IT WAS ONLY 18 MONTHS AGO, UH, I ANNOUNCED A VISION OF OPENING A SIGNATURE PUBLIC AMPHITHEATER NEXT TO THE QUEEN MARY TO HELP EXPAND OUR CITY'S CAPACITY FOR MULTI, FOR MAJOR CULTURAL EVENTS AND MAJOR ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS, AND PO POSITION LONG BEACH AS A DESTINATION ON THE WATERFRONT FOR LIVE MUSIC.

SINCE THEN, A LOT OF WORK'S BEEN DONE.

MARKET ANALYSIS HAS TAKEN PLACE, UH, EXPLORING PATHWAYS, UH, TO PERMITTING, UH, RFPS FOR OPERATIONS.

YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT ALL THOSE STEPS, UH, INCLUDING AN ENTERTAINMENT STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE'RE EVOLVING, BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS IT ALL HAS LED UP TO HERE TO TODAY.

UH, AND SO, UH, A FEW THINGS I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT AS WE BEGIN THIS ONE.

UH, THIS IS GONNA CREATE GOOD PAYING LOCAL UNION JOBS, BOTH IN CONSTRUCTION AND, UH, LONG-TERM, UH, UH, JOBS

[01:00:01]

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE INVEST IN THIS ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR, WE LIFT UP WORKERS, WORKERS ALL THROUGH THE PROCESS, WALL TO WALL.

SECONDLY, THIS IS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT THAT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR VULNERABLE AND FUND, UH, A FUND THAT HAS BEEN LARGELY DEPENDENT ON OIL REVENUE.

AND IT DRA CREATES NEW SUSTAINABLE REVENUE AND ACTIVITY FOR OUR CITY BECAUSE IT'S A SPECIAL FUND.

WE'RE MAKING THIS INVESTMENT TODAY, NOT AT TAXPAYERS AND AT AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE, BUT RATHER A, UH, A STRATEGY THAT ACTUALLY PAYS FOR ITSELF AND GENERATES POSITIVE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY INTO THAT TITLE AND FUND.

ADDING TO SOME OF OUR ALREADY EXISTING REVENUE GENERATING ASSETS LIKE OUR CONVENTION CENTER, OUR QUEEN MARY, UH, LIKE OUR ARENA, IT ADDS A NEW, UH, REVENUE GENERATING ASSET TO OUR CITY.

UH, THIRD, THIS, UH, THE, THE PLAN HERE IS TO CREATE DIRECT TANGIBLE BENEFITS THAT SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL.

WE KNOW THAT OUR RESTAURANTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE HAD CHALLENGES POST PANDEMIC.

THIS PUTS NEW POINTS ON THE BOARD, NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING PEOPLE INTO OUR SHOPS, INTO OUR BUSINESS DISTRICTS, INTO OUR RESTAURANTS, TO SUPPORT OUR CITY, AND WHEN THEY SHOP HERE, AND WHEN THEY STAY AT A HOTEL, AND WHEN THEY EAT AT A RESTAURANT THAT SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL, UH, OUR LOCAL REVENUE AND OUR GENERAL FUND AND OUR LOCAL SERVICES.

AND THEN FINALLY, UH, THIS WILL HELP, UH, HELP LONG BEACH TO CEMENT ITSELF AS A PREMIER WATERFRONT DESTINATION FOR LIVE MUSIC, UH, IN ENTERTAINMENT.

WE ALREADY KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL CITY, BUT ARE WE READY TO TAKE A NEXT STEP AND CREATE A NEW REVENUE GENERATING ASSET AND REALLY PUT US ON, ON THE PATHWAY, UH, TO BE BECOMING WORLD RECOGNIZED AS WE HEAD INTO 2028? SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, UH, TO GET US TO THIS POINT.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AND THANK THEM OUR HARDWORKING CITY STAFF.

THIS HAS BEEN, THIS HAS TAKEN LIKE RECORD TIME TO GET TO THIS PLACE AND RECOGNIZING THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE TIMELINESS OF PREPARING FOR 2028, UH, THE OPERATORS WHO'VE ALL BID, ALL THE FOLKS WHO OP, WHO BID ON THIS OPPORTUNITY ALSO SAW THE OPPORTUNITY IN LONG BEACH.

WANNA THANK ALL OF THAT INTEREST, UH, THE LABOR PARTNERS, THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THE HOTEL OPERATORS, UH, THE, THE, THE ARTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, UH, WHO HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT THROUGH LETTERS, UH, BY SHOWING UP TODAY AND EXPRESSED, UH, SUPPORT FOR THIS THROUGH THIS WHOLE, UH, WHOLE PROCESS.

SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.

AND THAT SAID, UH, WE ARE NOW READY TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.

THIS PRESENTATION WILL COUNT FOR BOTH THIS ITEM AND THE NEXT ITEM.

SO WE'LL HEAR THE PRESENTATION, HAVE OUR COUNCIL DELIBERATION, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO VOTES AFTER THIS.

SO LET'S PROCEED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO, UM, UH, APPRECIATE THAT VERY GOOD OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE, UH, TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE, AND THE VISION AND THE, AND WHERE THIS PROJECT CAME FROM.

UH, MR. MAYOR, YOU HAVE CLEARLY BEEN AN INCREDIBLE, PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR THIS AND, AND TO HELP SET THAT VISION.

UH, AND THE TEAM, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAS BEEN VERY, VERY BUSY, UH, DOING A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE.

AND SO WE WILL GO THROUGH SOME OF THAT TONIGHT.

UH, THIS IS A BIG INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING AND WE'VE PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO, UH, BOTH THE RFP AND THE BID RESPONSES AND ALSO THE THOUGHTFULNESS ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS IN A WAY, UH, THAT IS, UH, QUICK, UM, THAT IS AFFORDABLE, UH, THAT IS, UM, UH, THAT IS COST EFFECTIVE AND ALSO, UH, THAT WILL BRING ON REVENUE VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

SO, I WILL TURN TO FIRST TO BO, UH, MARTINEZ TO GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE HIGH LEVEL ON THIS.

UH, JOHNNY, UH, VALLEJO, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WHO'S REALLY BEEN LEADING THE TEAM ON THE DAY TO DAY, WE'LL GO THROUGH A LOT OF THE SPECIFICS AND I'LL BE, UM, FINALIZING SOME OF THE FINANCIALS ABOUT HOW THIS, UH, GETS PAID FOR AND, UH, AND WHAT OUR, UM, ASSUMPTIONS ARE GONNA BE.

SO, UH, BEAU MARTINEZ.

THANK YOU, SENIOR MANAGER MOCA.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.

UH, BEAU MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

UM, THIS PRESENTATION IS MEANT TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED TEMP AM TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER PROJECT.

WE WILL THEN BE RECOMMENDING AN RFP AWARD REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR A SM GLOBAL TO OPERATE THE VENUE, AND THEN REQUEST THE ASSOCIATED BUN BUDGET.

APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER PROJECT HAS BACKGROUND.

THE CITY'S COMMITTED TO ENHANCING ITS POSITION, HAS A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT.

AND AS PART OF THIS VISION, AS MAYOR STATED, WE ARE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THE LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER PROJECT.

THIS PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE.

IT REPRESENTS A BOLD STEP TOWARD ACHIEVING KEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS AS RELATES TO THE INITIATIVE.

ONE IS DIVERSIFYING THE CITY'S REVENUE STREAMS. TWO IS STRENGTHENING, DIVERSIFYING THE CITY'S ECONOMY.

AND THIS CAN HAPPEN BY FOSTERING STRATEGIC GROWTH, ATTRACTING DIVERSE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY INVESTMENTS, AND CREATING JOBS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON SIX TARGETED SECTORS AND INITIATIVES.

THIS INCLUDES AEROSPACE, AVIATION, TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS, SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH AND

[01:05:01]

WELLNESS TALENT TO UNLEASHING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY THROUGH TOURISM, HOSPITALITY, ENTERTAINMENT, AND MUSIC.

THROUGH THE LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER PROJECT, WE AIM NOT ONLY TO CREATE A ENTERTAINMENT HUB ALONG THE SHORELINE AND THE WATERFRONT, BUT ALSO POSITION LONG BEACH AS A GLOBAL LEADER IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY.

AS A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS THIS ORIENTATION, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DIRECTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER ADJACENT TO THE QUEEN MARY CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING 10 TO 12,000 ATTENDEES TO ENJOY AND HOST MAJOR EVENTS AND CONCERTS.

THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ACTIVATE THE QUEEN MARY SHORELINE SHORESIDE PROPERTY WITH LONG-TERM PLANNING EFFORT, LIKE THE SHORELINE VISITING PROCESS, AND THE PD 21 UPDATES TO CONTINUE.

ADDITIONALLY, THE AMPHITHEATER PROJECT WILL LIKELY BE THE CENTERPIECE OF THIS CITY'S UPCOMING ENTERTAINMENT STRATEGIC PLAN, LOOKING AT WAYS TO BOLSTER AND GROW THE CITY'S CREATIVE ECONOMY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE SUCCESSFUL IMP IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AMPHITHEATER PROJECT IS A SELECTION OF A WELL EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE AND CAPABLE OPERATOR.

TO THAT END, IN OCTOBER, 2024, CITY STAFF RELEASED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO SELECT AN OPERATOR FOR THE NEWLY PROPOSED VENUE.

AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO JOHNNY VAL VALLEJO WILL GIVE US MORE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE DUE DILIGENCE OF THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS MARKET ANALYSIS.

BE TERMINATED BY THE CITY UPON CLOSURE OF THE VENUE ANYTIME DURING THAT SECOND FIVE YEAR TERM.

THANKS BO.

AND A SMALL CORRECTION, UH, THAT RP WAS RELEASED IN AUGUST OF 2024.

SO, AS PART OF OUR INITIAL DUE DILIGENCE, THE CITY CONTRACTED WITH AECOM TO REPAIR A MARKET AND FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PROPOSED CONCEPT.

THE ANALYSIS PROJECTED STRONG DEMAND FOR A TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER IN LONG BEACH, SPECIFICALLY NEAR THE QUEEN MARY.

THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE LOS ANGELES METRO HAD THE THIRD HIGHEST SHARE OF THE NATIONAL CONCERT MARKET.

THAT LONG BEACH ITSELF WAS HOME TO SOME OF THE STRONGEST CONCERT GOING DEMOGRAPHICS, AND THAT BECAUSE OF OUR CENTRAL LOCATION, OUR PRIMARY VENUE MARKET RADIUS WOULD COVER MOST OF LA AND ORANGE COUNTIES.

WITH THE GREEK THEATER AND HOLLYWOOD BOWL ANCHORING THE SMALL AND LARGE VENUE STRONGHOLDS IN THE REGION, THE MARKET ANALYSIS SHOWED A SPECIFIC NEED FOR A VENUE WITH A SEATING CAPACITY BETWEEN 10 AND 12,000 SEATS, HIGHLIGHTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THIS DEMAND.

THE ECOM ANALYSIS ALSO PROVIDED ASSURANCE THAT A PROPOSED AMPHITHEATER WOULD NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES AFTER OUR NEWLY RENOVATED LONG BEACH ARENA.

SEATING SEASONALITY ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE ARENA IN AMPHITHEATER WOULD COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER AS THEIR PEAK USAGE PERIODS ARE INVERSE.

THE LONG BEACH ARENA IS PRIMARILY USED FROM LATE FALL TO EARLY SPRING, WHILE AMPHITHEATERS EXPERIENCED THEIR BUSIEST TIME DURING THE WARMER SUMMER AND EARLY FALL MONTHS.

THIS DYNAMIC SUGGESTS THAT BOTH VENUES COULD WORK IN SYNERGY, ALLOWING LONG BEACH TO EXPAND ITS YEAR ROUND MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT OFFERINGS, AND POSITION LONG BEACH AS A MAJOR MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION.

AECOMS FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS ALSO INDICATED THAT SUFFICIENT REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS INCREASED PARKING REVENUE AT CITY OWNED FACILITIES AND INCREASED SALES TAX AND TOT COULD REPAY CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND GENERATE FUTURE SURPLUS REVENUE BASED ON THE MARKET AND FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS.

CONCURRENT WITH PRELIMINARY PLANNING EFFORTS, THE CITY PREPARED THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LAST YEAR FOR A VENUE OPERATOR.

THE CITY RECEIVED A TOTAL OF SIX PROPOSALS THAT WERE EVALUATED BY A SELECTION COMMITTEE MADE UP OF MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS BASED ON THE EVALUATION CRITERIA, INCLUDING THE PRIORITIZATION OF AN OPERATIONAL MODEL THAT MINIMIZED IMPACT TO THE ADJACENT ASSETS LIKE THE QUEEN MARY AND CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES.

THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THE SELECTION OF A SM GLOBAL TO OPERATE THE NEW VENUE.

A SM GLOBAL'S PROPOSAL WAS A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT MODEL SIMILAR TO THAT USED AT THE QUEEN MARY, WHICH ALLOWS THE CITY TO RETAIN OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL OF THE QUEEN MARY CAMPUS IN SUPPORT OF THOSE ADJACENT ASSETS AND OUR LARGE SCALE PROGRAMMING LIKE THE INSOMNIAC MUSIC FESTIVALS AND DARK HARBOR.

THIS MODEL IS A LARGE PART OF THE QUEEN MARY'S SUCCESSFUL RELAUNCH.

THE IMPORTANCE, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT MODEL IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED HERE WITH THE NEED TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE MANY IMPACTED ASSETS ON SITE.

IN ADDITION TO THE PROPOSED TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER, THE SITE INCLUDES MAVERICK HELICOPTERS, THE CARNIVAL CRUISE TERMINAL DOME, THE CARNIVAL PARKING GARAGE, THE QUEEN MARY AND PARKING EVENT SPACES, THE LONG BEACH TRANSIT WATER TAXIS, AND THE HARRY BRIDGES SPECIAL EVENTS PARK.

AS ANN HAS MENTIONED BEFORE, NUMEROUS LARGE SCALE EVENTS ACROSS THE SITE.

IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIAL EVENTS TEAMS RETAIN THE ABILITY TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES AND RESPOND TO IMPACTS ACROSS THE CAMPUS.

THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT MODEL PROVIDED THAT ABILITY, THE TERM OF THE PROPOSED OPERATING AGREEMENT IS FOR FIVE YEARS, WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR ONE ADDITIONAL FIVE YEAR TERM, THE AGREEMENT CAN

[01:10:01]

WITH SIX MONTHS NOTICE, A SM GLOBAL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE OPERATING AGREEMENT.

INITIALLY, THEY WILL PROVIDE PRE-OPENING SERVICES, WHICH WILL INCLUDE CONTRIBUTING TO PRE-CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN, REVIEW, OPERATIONAL AND BUSINESS PLANNING, SALES AND MARKETING AND EVENT BOOKING.

ONCE THE VENUE IS COMPLETE A SM GLOBAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, WE'LL THEN TRANSITION TO AMPHITHEATER MANAGEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, NAMING RIGHTS AND SPONSORSHIPS, EVENT BOOKING, GUEST SERVICES, EVENT MANAGEMENT, FACILITY MAINTENANCE, AND CAPITAL PLANNING.

AS SM GLOBAL WILL ALSO PROVIDE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES SUPPORTED BY THEIR AFFILIATED COMPANY.

SAVER.

SAVER WILL PROVIDE A FULL SLATE OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES, INCLUDING CONCESSION OPERATIONS, PREMIUM HOSPITALITY SERVICES, CATERING AND MANAGEMENT OF ANY THIRD PARTY FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENDORS.

A SM GLOBAL WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY LEGENDS, A LEADING GLOBAL VENUE AND LIVE EXPERIENCE COMPANY.

AS A COMPANY, THEY BRING THE EXPERTISE OF CONDUCTING OVER 20,000 LIVE EVENTS ANNUALLY ACROSS SPORTS, MUSIC, AND ENTERTAINMENT AT OVER 400 VENUES SERVING OVER 160 MILLION GUESTS AROUND THE WORLD.

IN ADDITION TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE THE CONVENTION CENTER.

FOR YEARS, A SM GLOBAL HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE OPERATION OF AMPHITHEATER VENUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

A SM GLOBAL OPERATES NUMEROUS OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE RENOWNED GREEK THEATER IN LOS ANGELES AND THE WATERFRONT PIER SIX PAVILION IN BALTIMORE.

AMONG OTHERS, THE MAJOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A SM GLOBAL'S OPERATING AGREEMENT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.

FOR PRE-OPENING SERVICES, THE CITY WILL REIMBURSE THE OPERATOR UP TO $1.5 MILLION IN EXPENSES TO SUPPORT PRE-OPENING OPERATIONS, INCLUDING BOOKING SALES AND MARKETING ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

ALL THESE PRIOR TO THE VENUE OPENING AFTER THE AMPHITHEATER OPENS, THE CITY WILL PAY A SM GLOBAL A $300,000 ANNUAL MANAGEMENT FEE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL CPI INCREASE OF 3%.

A SM GLOBAL WILL RECEIVE AN 18% COMMISSION FOR THE SALE OF NAMING RIGHTS.

WITH THE CITY RETAINING 82% A SM.

GLOBAL WILL ALSO RECEIVE A 20% COMMISSION FOR THE SALE OF OTHER SPONSORSHIPS.

WITH THE CITY RETAINING 80% SAVER, A SM GLOBAL'S FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS WILL HAVE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO PROVIDE ALL CONCESSIONS AND CATERING SERVICES, AND WILL SHARE A PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE WITH THE CITY.

MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE A 52% OF GROSS RECEIPT, GROSS RECEIPTS FROM GENERAL F AND B CONCESSIONS.

AS IS TYPICAL FOR MANAGEMENT OR OPERATING AGREEMENTS, THE CITY WILL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING ALL OPERATING EXPENSES NOT COVERED BY OPERATING REVENUE, EXCEPT FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS.

A SM GLOBAL WILL ALSO PREPARE A PROPOSED ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR.

A SM GLOBAL WILL MAKE A $1 MILLION CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL PRIORITIZE FOOD AND BEVERAGE EQUIPMENT NEEDS, FOLLOWED BY OTHER FURNITURE FIXTURE AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS AS SM GLOBAL WILL WORK WITH THE CITY TO SUPPORT CURRENT AND FUTURE MAJOR EVENTS AT THE AMPHITHEATER, INCLUDING OUR EXISTING MUSIC FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

FINALLY, AS M GLOBAL WILL INCLUDE A PROVISION TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ACCOMMODATE CITY APPROVED COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THOSE EVENTS.

AT COST COMMUNITY EVENTS COULD RANGE FROM APPROXIMATELY 7,600 FOR SMALLER EVENTS UP TO $32,000.

FOR LARGER EVENTS, PRE-OPENING EXPENSES WILL BE COVERED BY AVAILABLE IDLE CASH IN THE TIDELANDS FUND AND REPAID FROM NET OPERATING PROFIT.

THE MANAGEMENT FEE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE VENUE'S OPERATING COSTS.

WITH THE NET OPERATING PROFIT BEING PAID TO THE CITY, THE CITY WILL ACT AS DEVELOPER AND OWNER OF THE VENUE AND WORK CLOSELY WITH A SM GLOBAL AS OUR OPERATOR AND WILL AND ENGINEERING FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT, DESIGN AND ENGINEERING.

IN ADDITION TO THE OPERATOR AGREEMENT, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED AMPHITHEATER ITSELF.

COST ESTIMATIONS ARE APPROXIMATELY 14 MILLION SPLIT BETWEEN PROJECT SOFT COSTS PARKING LOT AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY REGARDLESS OF THE AMPHITHEATER DEVELOPMENT.

AND FINALLY, THE FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE AMPHITHEATER.

I'D ALSO NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING WORK ON THE AMPHITHEATER PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S PROJECT, LABOR AGREEMENT PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS, THE INSTALLATION OF GRANDSTANDS AND SEATING, THE INSTALLATION OF FENCING AND SHADE STRUCTURES, AND THE REQUISITE ELECTRICAL AND UTILITY WORK.

FURTHER CONCERT INVENT OPERATIONS WORK SUCH AS STAGE HANDS, ELECTRICAL, AND LIGHTING WORK AND ENGINEERING WILL UTILIZE UNION LABOR.

AND FINALLY, AN EXISTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN LEGENDS SLASH A SM GLOBAL AND UNITE.

HERE, LOCAL 11 WILL REQUIRE THAT F AND B CONCESSIONS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSIONS WILL WORK AT THE NEW VENUE, WILL BE SUBJECT TO A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

[01:15:04]

WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS AND SPECIAL EVENTS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS ON MUCH OF THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND PERMITTING WORK.

WE'VE NEARED 50% DESIGN AND ARE PROCEEDING EXPEDITIOUSLY.

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PURCHASING TEAM TO PLAN FOR THE VARIOUS PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT, INCLUDING THIS OPERATOR AGREEMENT.

RFP.

WE ARE WORKING ON AN AMBITIOUS TIMELINE WITH A GOAL FOR MAJOR SITE IMPROVEMENTS.

TO BEGIN IN JULY, WE ARE LOOKING TO PRI PRIORITIZE THE GRANDSTANDS AT SEATING AND STAGING BEFORE YEAR END, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY PROVIDE SOME USABLE VENUE FEATURES BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE REMAINDER OF THE VENUE ELEMENTS WOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE SPRING 26 CONCERT SEASON, PROVIDING A SM GLOBAL WITH A TARGET TO PUT TOGETHER A FULL CONCERT SLATE AT THE NEW VENUE.

THE CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN HAS PROGRESSED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND PRESENTS A SITE THAT INCLUDES PLACEMENT FOR MAJOR ELEMENTS SUCH AS GRANDSTAND, STAGE, FLOOR SEATING, BACK OF HOUSE RESTROOMS AND ARTIST, CREW, AND VIP AREAS.

THE VENUE WILL ACCOMMODATE APPROXIMATELY 11,000 SEATS AND WILL INCLUDE DEDICATED AREAS FOR VIP PARKING, RIDE SHARE, AND SHUTTLES.

THE RIDE SHARE AND SHUTTLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY COMPONENT AS A VAST MAJORITY OF VISITORS WILL ACCESS THE VENUE THROUGH THESE OFFERINGS WHILE PARKED OFFSITE AT CITY OWNED LOTS AND OR THE CONVENTION CENTER.

ADDITIONALLY, WHILE NOT SEEN HERE, A SIGNIFICANT ALLOCATION OF PARKING WILL BE RESERVED IN FRONT OF THE QUEEN MARY TO SUPPORT HOTEL AND SHIP OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE AREA OF THE OLD ENGLISH VILLAGE, WHICH IS UNDERGOING REMOVAL AT THIS TIME.

OPERATIONALLY, THE CITY WILL LOOK CL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE QUEEN MARY TEAM TO DEVELOP NEW REVENUE STREAMS TO HELP OFFSET ADVERSE IMPACTS TO PARKING AND TO CAPITALIZE ON THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW VISITORS TO THE SITE.

AND WITH THAT, I BELIEVE I AM HANDING IT BACK TO TOM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHNNY.

SO, AS YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE A LOT OF WORK'S GONE INTO FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO THIS AND, AND THE MARKET FOR IT, UH, A LOT OF THOSE STUDIES WERE DONE AND REALLY SHOW A STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS.

AND SO I GET TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FINANCIALS.

UH, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE PROJECT COST AND NOW IT'S HOW DO WE CREATE THAT FINANCING PLAN.

THE FIRST THING I WANNA SAY RIGHT UP FRONT IS WHENEVER A CITY DOES AN IDEA LIKE THIS, AND WE PUT OUT THIS, ONE OF THE INVARIABLE REACTIONS WE'LL GET FROM THE COMMUNITY IS, HOW COME YOU'RE NOT FUNDING, YOU KNOW, ROADS OR INFRASTRUCTURE OR POLICE AND FIRE? I JUST WANNA SAY VERY CLEARLY THESE FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR THAT.

SO IT'S NOT A CHOICE THE COUNCIL'S MAKING BETWEEN RESIDENTS OR, UH, THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT.

THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS CAN ONLY BE SPENT IN THIS AREA ALONG THE COAST.

UH, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

UM, SO IT'S ABOUT A $14 MILLION PROJECT.

THE AMPHITHEATER ITSELF IS ONLY ABOUT 10 MILLION, AND THE OTHER 4 MILLION IS FOR, UH, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, BUT ALSO FOR SITE IMPROVEMENTS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO ANYWAY.

WE DO RECOMMEND DOING THOSE TOGETHER.

AND NOW SO WE CAN HAVE A, A REALLY, UM, COMPREHENSIVE, UM, EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU'RE ON SITE.

UH, THE FUNDING SOURCE IS THE THAILANDS FUND.

UH, THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT CAN ONLY BE USED, UH, DOWN IN THAILANDS.

AND THIS PROJECT IS UNIQUE.

UH, WHILE WE DO HAVE LOTS OF THAILANDS PROJECTS AND, UH, NOT VERY MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY AND BRING IN DOLLARS THAT CAN BE USED TO HELP FUND A LOT OF THOSE PROJECT COSTS.

AND SO, UH, I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR THAT THERE'S OTHER NEEDS IN THAILANDS.

THIS ACTUALLY WILL HELP THOSE, UM, UH, EVENTUALLY GET FUNDED BECAUSE IT WILL BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCE.

UH, AND SO, UM, THE REVENUE AND PAYOFF, UH, THE NET PROFIT PRIMARILY, UM, COMES FROM FOOD AND BEVERAGE REVENUE.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF FROM TICKET SALES, UH, BUT FOOD AND BEVERAGE IS REALLY WHERE A LOT OF THE FUNDING COMES FROM.

AND SO, UH, WE'LL LOOK IN IN THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT SEE THAT THE INVESTMENT PAYOFF PERIOD, UH, IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

SO A RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN THREE YEARS IS, IS, IS A PRETTY STRONG RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

UM, I'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

PLEASE GO BACK.

UM, AND SO A SM GLOBAL PROJECTS A FIVE YEAR NET PROFIT OF APPROXIMATELY $12 MILLION, UH, WHICH WOULD COVER, UH, THE COST OF THE AMPHITHEATER.

UH, WE WILL HAVE SOME PRE-OPENING EXPENSES.

IF WE WANNA DO A, A BIG, UH, EVENT TO REALLY SHOWCASE THIS AND, AND PUT OURSELVES ON THE MAP, UH, WE'LL NEED TO COME BACK WITH A SEPARATE BUDGET REQUEST.

AND THEN ONCE CAPITAL EXPENSES ARE PAID OFF IN THE TIDELANDS FUND, THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE THAT NET ADDITIONAL REVENUE.

UM, AND THAT IS PART OF OUR OVERALL STRATEGY AS OIL REVENUES DECLINE, UH, TO FIND ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE CHARGE FROM THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.

AND THEN, AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT SLIDE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE OTHER DOLLARS THAT WE THINK WILL BE GENERATED NOT JUST IN TIDELANDS, BUT FROM PARKING AND FOR A GENERAL FUND THAT WILL HELP, UH, OUR OVERALL FINANCIAL PICTURE.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS.

SO, UM, THIS IS DIVIDED INTO THE FIVE YEAR TOTAL AND THE 10 YEAR TOTAL.

UH, AND SO, UH, WE ARE ASSUMING A FOOD AND BEVERAGE ASSUMPTION OF ABOUT $23 AND 80 CENTS.

IT'S ACTUALLY A, A VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBER.

THE AVERAGE, UH, OF THESE EVENTS NATIONWIDE IS $31.

AND SO CALIFORNIA TENDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT ON THE HIGHER SIDE.

SO WE'RE AT, WE'RE EXPECTING, UH, OR, OR ESTIMATING A CONSERVATIVE 2380.

[01:20:01]

AND SO, UH, OVER FIVE YEARS, THERE'S THE $12 MILLION IN THE NET VENUE OPERATING INCOME.

THAT'S AFTER EXPENSES.

UM, THAT BY ITSELF WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE AMPHITHEATER.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE EXPECTING OVER FIVE YEARS, $6 MILLION IN CITY PARKING REVENUE.

A BUNCH OF THAT IS IN THE TIDELANDS, BUT SOME OF IT'S IN THE, COULD BE IN THE, UH, IN, IN UPLANDS, AND THEN AN $11 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS FROM SALES TAX AND TOT AND THESE OTHER, UH, BENEFITS AS THE MAYOR TALKS ABOUT THIS, UM, UH, UH, THIS ENTERTAINMENT STRATEGIC PLAN AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAS A CHANCE TO, TO BENEFIT FROM THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY AT THE LOW LEVEL.

IF YOU ESTIMATE FIVE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, SO $28, UM, PER, UH, CAPITA, WHICH IS STILL BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THEN THOSE NUMBERS GET A LOT STRONGER.

AND YOU GO FROM $29 MILLION UP TO 32.

AND THEN OVER, UM, 10 YEARS, UH, YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, UH, UP TO A $65 MILLION, UH, NET, UH, CAPITAL, OR, I'M SORRY, A NET, UM, OPERATING, UH, POSITIVE TO THE CITY.

UH, WE ALSO, WHEN WE DO THESE THINGS, WE DO SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS.

SO WE SAY, WHAT IF THOSE ARE WRONG? UH, AND SO WE DID A SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS AT 66%, UH, AND UH, TO ACCOUNT FOR ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT NOT BE, UH, BE PROJECTING.

AND EVEN IN THAT CASE, UH, THIS, UH, WILL, UH, PAY FOR ITSELF, UH, UH, ALMOST WITHIN FIVE YEARS AND, AND CERTAINLY WITHIN 10 YEARS.

AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL PROJECTIONS, BUT AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THESE, WE FEEL, UH, VERY CONFIDENT THAT THESE ARE ARE GOOD STRONG NUMBERS AND THIS WILL BE AN OVERALL BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AND THEN, UM, SINCE THIS IS A, A LOAN, WE'RE BORROWING CASH FROM THE TIDELANDS, WE'RE ACTUALLY SAVING, UH, GO, UH, THE INTEREST RATE OF GOING TO THE, UM, MARKET.

IF WE WERE TO GO TO THE MARKET, WE'D BE PAYING INTEREST, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE TAKING A CASH LOAN AND THEN USING THOSE DOLLARS TO REPAY.

AND THEN IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES ALONG THE WAY WHERE THINGS, YOU KNOW, UH, DON'T QUITE MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS, WE HAVE BACKUP PLANS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CASH IS REPAID.

SO WE'RE NOT AFFECTING ANY OTHER TITLES PROJECTS.

SO, UH, WE'RE AT THE END AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE, UH, UH, GETTING SOME QUESTIONS AND, UH, THE TEAM'S READY FOR THAT.

UH, BUT ESSENTIALLY WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS, AWARD THE CONTRACT TO A SM GLOBAL, UH, THAT THEN THERE WILL BE A TO, UM, UH, UH, WITH A TOTAL ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 300,000 SUBJECT TO CPI OF 3%, UH, THAT WE APPROVE THE ONE-TIME PAYMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF UP TO 1.5 MILLION.

UH, AND, UH, THE VARIOUS OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS YOU SEE HERE.

AND THEN ALSO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE LINS FUND.

UH, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, AS THIS PROJECT PROGRESSES, THERE'S GONNA BE OTHER UPDATES, UH, UH, THIS IS JUST THE FUNDING AND THE AWARD OF THE AGREEMENT.

THEN WE REALLY GET INTO THE PROJECT DETAILS, INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE, THE PERMITTING THROUGH THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT.

AND SO THERE'LL BE MULTIPLE OTHER STEPS, UH, AS WE, UH, AS WE MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THE SUMMER, UH, AND GET UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND HOPING, UH, TO HAVE OUR FIRST, UH, CONCERT COULD MAYBE BE EVEN AS EARLY AS NOVEMBER.

UH, AND THEN GET READY FOR THE SEASON IN 2026.

SO WITH THAT, UH, WE CONCLUDE OUR PRESENTATION.

TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS QUEUED UP TO SPEAK.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA DO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST, THEN WE DO OUR DISCUSSION BEHIND THE RAIL.

AND BEFORE WE DO SO, WE WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE A NUMBER OF LETTERS THAT COME THROUGH.

CAN WE READ THOSE LETTERS INTO THE RECORD? YES.

OR NOT THE WHOLE LETTER, JUST WHERE THE LETTER CAME FROM.

THERE ARE 21 LETTERS, UH, BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, LONG BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, LONG BEACH RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE.

VISIT LB SLASH MEET, LB AND BIXBY KNOLL'S, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, HOTELS, EVOLUTION HOSPITALITY, HYATT REGENCY, MARRIOTT, LONG BEACH, HILTON, LONG BEACH, AND HYATT CENTRIC.

THE NONPROFITS WERE ARTS COUNCIL AND LONG BEACH SYMPHONY AND SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDED.

ALTER SOCIETY, HARBOR BREEZE, CRUISES, WORLD TRADE OFFICE SUPPLIES, FINGERPRINTS, ALEX'S BAR, UH, CREATIVE CLASS, PARKER'S, LIGHTHOUSE LA OPERA, AND WATCH ME SPORTS BAR.

THAT CONCLUDES THE LIST.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THERE ARE 12 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

UH, SO THAT BRINGS IT TO 90 SECONDS.

UH, A PIECE, I'LL READ THE NAMES.

PLEASE LINE UP WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME.

FIRST IS SAMANTHA MELLINGER, THEN REINA BARRERA, THEN LISA ARIA, ANGEL G DAVID VENTURA, ANDREW GONZALEZ, KELLY RUGO, UH, DANNY SALIS, STEVE GOODLING, UH, ANDREW ANDREA ROMERO, GREG JOHNSON AND MATTHEW FAULKNER.

THANK YOU, SAMANTHA.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

FIVE YEARS, OUR CITY HAS BECOME KNOWN AS A MUSIC FESTIVAL DESTINATION.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE SPEAKING TODAY IN MY CAPACITY AS VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR VISIT LONG BEACH, WHERE IT'S MY JOB TO MARKET THE CITY AS A DESTINATION FOR MEETINGS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS AND TOURISM.

UM, I, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT OVER THE PAST

[01:25:01]

AND THAT'S REALLY IN LARGE PART, NOT ONLY, UM, TO THE WORK OF LONG BEACH SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING, WHICH HAS BROUGHT FOLKS LIKE DAY TRIP HERE, BUT ALSO A SM GLOBAL, WHICH HAS BROUGHT CALI VIBES AND COASTAL COUNTRY JAM AND SOME OTHERS.

AND AS WE TALK TO REPORTERS AND STUFF ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THIS IS REALLY RESONATING WITH THEM AND IT'S BRINGING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO THE CITY.

SO I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE MOMENTUM IN THIS AREA, AND NOW IS THE TIME TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT MOMENTUM AND TO REALLY INVEST, UM, IN, IN OUR MUSIC SCENE AND OUR ENTERTAINMENT SCENE IN THE CITY.

I WOULD ALSO SAY AS A RESIDENT, I CAN'T RECALL A TIME SINCE THE AQUARIUM AND THE PIKE WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID, THAT WE INVESTED IN OUR, IN OUR TOURISM, UM, MARKETING TO, TO THIS DEGREE.

SO TO HAVE A NEW ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN ENJOY AS WELL AS A RESIDENT, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT, BOTH AS A RESIDENT AND, AND IN MY JOB MARKETING THE CITY.

SO, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS RASHINA, THEN LISA.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, ON THE HEELS OF THE SCATHING LA COUNTY AUDIT, ON THE HOME LIST LIST EXPENSES, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ON THIS PROJECT WE DON'T MAKE HEADLINE NEWS BECAUSE WE KNOW THINGS WEREN'T ACCOUNTED FOR PROPERLY.

DO WE HAVE MILESTONES AND YOU KNOW, WHAT REVENUE COMING IN, WHAT GETS EXPENSED? AND I, I HEARD THE, THE, THE NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING, WHICH IS GREAT.

I THINK THE IDEA ITSELF IS GREAT, BUT I THINK IN THESE MEETINGS OR MAYBE VIA THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' NEWSLETTERS, WE CAN HAVE A RECURRING, YOU KNOW, REPORT CARD ON WHAT'S COMING IN AND WHAT'S GOING ON AND, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT IN MIND BECAUSE WE ALSO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE QUEEN MARY MANAGEMENT COMPANY, AND I DON'T WANT THE SAME THING HAPPENING HERE.

SO THAT'S REALLY ALL MY COMMENTS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL NOTED.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS LISA, THEN.

ANGEL.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, LISA ARIAS, AREA GENERAL MANAGER WITH THE HYATT REGENCY.

AND WE ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT THE MUSIC, THE ENTERTAINMENT, THE TOURISM THAT THE AMPHITHEATER WOULD BRING TO US.

UH, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION, MAYOR AND LEADERSHIP, AND, UH, ARE EXCITED TO SEE LONG BEACH CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

NEXT SPEECH, THERE IS ANGEL, THEN DAVID.

GOOD.

EVENING ANGEL GARCIA, REPRESENTING HERE, HYATT CENTRIC.

THE PIKE, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

UH, BRINGING TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UM, UH, VERY EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JUST FURTHER GROW AND, AND CEMENT LONG BEACH AS AN ENTERTAINMENT, UH, DESTINATION.

SO, UH, VERY FORTUNATE, NOT ONLY AS A MEMBER OF THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR HERE IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO AS A RESIDENT.

VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION.

SO, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS DAVID AND THEN ANDREW.

GOOD EVENING, HONOR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME'S DAVID VENTURA.

I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH UNITE HERE, LOCAL 11.

AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN IN A SEVEN MONTH FIGHT, UH, FOR A FAIR CONTRACT WITH THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER AND A SM GLOBAL.

HOWEVER, ONE OF THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS, 1 51, ALLEGEDLY PAID TEMP WORKERS IN CASH STUFFED ENVELOPES WITHOUT PROPER WAGE STATEMENTS AND REPORTEDLY FAILED TO PAY OVERTIME.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE POTENTIAL LABOR VIOLATIONS.

THIS IS CONCERNING TO SAY THE LEAST.

WAGE THEFT IS THEFT.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE, IT HURTS WORKERS, UNDERCUTS HONEST BUSINESSES AND HAS NO PLACE IN OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY AT A PUBLIC FACILITY FUNDED BY OUR TAXPAYERS.

SO WE URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THESE WORKERS BY ENSURING THAT ALL EMPLOYERS AT A CITY-OWNED FACILITY UPHOLD THE HIGHEST LABOR STANDARDS.

THIS INCLUDES ENFORCING THE WORKER RETENTION ORDINANCE, REQUIRING A SM GLOBAL TO OFFER EMPLOYMENT TO AFFECTED WORKERS, AND GUARANTEEING THAT ALL EMPLOYEES RECEIVE THEIR RIGHTFUL WAGES AND BENEFITS.

BY TAKING THESE STEPS, LONG BEACH CAN DEMONSTRATE ITS COMMITMENT TO FAIR LABOR PRACTICES AND SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER.

THERE'LL BE JOBS AFTERWARDS, UM, IN THE OPERATIONS, AND THE REVENUE GENERATED WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY WORKERS, POLICE, AND FIRE.

ALRIGHT, NEXT IS KELLY.

WAIT, ANDREW AND THEN KELLY.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF ANDREW GON, ALSO THE LA AND OC BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL REPRESENT 160,000 MEMBERS OF THE L OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL.

UM, HERE, SPEAK IN FAVOR OF STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, ITEMS 24 AND 25 TO, UH, BUILD THIS BEAUTIFUL AMPHITHEATER WITH A SM GLOBAL.

YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW LABOR, HOW A CITY CAN SUPPORT LABOR AND BUSINESS ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

BE SUCCESSFUL AT BOTH.

AND WHEN LABOR AND BUSINESS COME TOGETHER AND NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, GREAT PROJECTS LIKE THIS ARE POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS, WE'RE GONNA PUT TOGETHER GREAT UNION PAYING CONSTRUCTION WAGE JOBS.

[01:30:01]

THIS IS A FANTASTIC PROJECT.

IT NEEDS TO GET DONE.

I REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

ALRIGHT, NEXT IS KELLY AND THEN DANNY.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

MR. VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M KELLY WILO, PRESIDENT OF YOUR LONG BEACH SYMPHONY, AND I AM HERE TO SHARE OUR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FOR THE TWO AGENDA ITEMS REGARDING THE LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER.

FOR NEARLY A DECADE, THE LONG BEACH SYMPHONY HAS REMAINED STEADFAST IN ITS ADVOCACY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER.

HAVING HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A COMMISSIONER ON THE LONG BEACH QUEEN MARY LAND DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE 10 YEARS AGO, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND THE CITY COUNCIL'S UNANIMOUS DECISION TO ADOPT THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH NOTABLY INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE VENUE, AN ICONIC SPACE THAT HAS BEEN APTLY DESCRIBED AS THE SUMMER HOME OF THE LONG BEACH SYMPHONY.

SO IT IS WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT AND A PROFOUND SENSE OF OPTIMISM THAT WE HAVE LEARNED AT THE CONSIDERATION OF A SM GLOBAL.

AS THE POTENTIAL OPERATOR AND MANAGER OF THE VENUE, THE LONG BEACH SYMPHONY HAS MAINTAINED AN EXTRAORDINARY AND DEEPLY VALUED WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH A SM FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE COULDN'T BE MORE SUPPORTIVE TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP AT THE NEW VENUE.

MOREOVER, THE PROSPECT OF UTILIZING TIDELANDS FUNDS TO FACILITATE AND ACCELERATE BOTH THE CONSTRUCTION AND LAUNCH OF THE AMPHITHEATER IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CONSIDER.

SUCH AN ENDEAVOR WOULD ELEVATE THE CITY'S CULTURAL OFFERINGS AND SERVE AS AN ECONOMIC CATALYST, DRAWING AUDIENCES FROM ACROSS THE REGION AND BEYOND, THEREBY REINFORCING LONG BEACH'S REPUTATION AS A VIBRANT WORLD-CLASS MUSICAL METROPOLIS.

THE LONG BEACH SYMPHONY WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTS BOTH AGENDA ITEMS AND EXTENDS OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN SHAPING LONG BEACH INTO A VIBRANT HUB FOR THE ARTS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE.

ALRIGHT, NEXT IS DANNY SALAS, THEN STEVE GOODLING.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR.

GOOD CITY COUNCIL.

MR. MOCA, I'M PROUD TO BE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, MR. MR. RICHARDSON, YOU PUT OUT A BOLD STATEMENT A WHILE BACK.

YOU ARE GONNA TRANSFORM THIS CITY OF LONG BEACH.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE BOLD STATEMENTS OR BOLD VISIONS, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL, THE GOOD HEARTS OF THIS CITY, THE STRONG WORK ETHIC THAT THIS CITY HAS.

UM, MOREOVER THAN THAT, THIS CITY CARES THE DIVERSITY OF THIS CITY, CITY, THE UPLIFTING OF WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, FOR MANY PEOPLE AND MANY FAMILIES TO COME, YOU'RE GONNA BE GIVING LEGS UP TO A LEG, UP TO THE YOUTH.

THIS PROJECT IS NOT ONLY BOLD, IT'S VISIONARY, BUT IT'S HAPPENING.

YOU'VE CHOSEN SOME OF THE BEST OF THE BEST.

A YOU KNOW, THE, THE TEAM YOU, YOU'VE ESTABLISHED MAKE THIS A REALITY.

AND WE'RE HERE WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO SUPPORT THIS CITY.

I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE AQUARIUM OPEN.

I'VE KNOWN SOME OF THE STRUGGLES.

I'VE SEEN 'EM COME, I'VE SEEN 'EM GO.

WE'VE, WE'VE ALL TRIED, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS REAL.

AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF ALL THE HARD WORK AND, AND THE DEDICATION THAT YOUR TEAM HAS.

IT, IT'S, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE, MR. MAYOR OF, OF THE HARD WORK AND WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU HAVE A DREAM AND NOW THE VISION IS REALITY.

SO, THANK YOU EVERYONE.

NEXT IS STEVE GOODLING AND THEN ANDREA ROMERO.

WHAT'S THAT? STEVE? ME? YEAH.

IN TURN, IN ADDITION TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, IN ADDITION TO THE ARENA, BUT NOW AN OUTDOOR THEATER.

UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF, MR. MOCA.

UH, I REMEMBER STANDING ON THE BOW OF THE QUEEN MARY WITH YOU MAYOR, AND YOU'RE POINTING OVER BY THE MAYA HOTEL WITH A BA VACANT FIELD, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR DREAM OF HAVING AN AMPHITHEATER, AND HERE WE ARE 18 MONTHS LATER, AND BECAUSE OF YOU, BECAUSE OF THE COUNCIL AND THE SUPPORT CITY MANAGEMENT DOING ITS DUE DILIGENCE, THAT DREAM IS BECOMING A REALITY IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF TOURISM, W THIS PAST THE LAST TWO MONTHS, WE'VE BEAT SAN DIEGO IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM.

THAT'S FOR LONG BEACH, A HUGE FEAT.

IN ADDITION, IT'S, IT'S ALL THESE FOLKS AND I I KNOW ALL OF THE WORKERS ARE CREATING THIS HUGE SUCCESS AGAINST OUR NEIGHBORS.

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND LARGEST AMPHITHEATER IN LA COUNTY.

THIS IS GOING TO SET YET ANOTHER BAR FOR US

[01:35:01]

SO WE CAN EXPAND FURTHER OUR REACH.

AND IN ADDITION TO WHAT KELLY CENTER FROM THE SYMPHONY FOR AN ART CENTER, BUT ALSO FOR A PERFORMANCE CENTER, BRINGING VISITORS IN FROM LA COUNTY, INLAND EMPIRE AND ORANGE COUNTY.

AND THAT WILL TRICKLE DOWN INTO OUR RESTAURANTS AND THAT'LL TRICKLE DOWN INTO OUR HOTELS.

AND TONIGHT WE'D LIKE TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FROM OUR TOURISM SECTOR.

WE HAVE OVER 60 MEMBERS HERE, MANY OF THEM GENERAL MANAGERS AND AND ALSO FRONTLINE WORKERS.

AND WE'D LIKE TO SHOW OUR IMPORTANT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.

SO PLEASE STAND AND LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THIS VISION.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT GRAND OPENING.

THANK YOU ALL.

NEXT IS ANDREA ROMERO, THEN GREG JOHNSON.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANDREA ROMERO AND I WORK AS A COOK AT THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER.

MY COWORKERS AND I ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR A FAIR CONTRACT THAT RECOGNIZES OUR CONTRIBUTION AND ENSURES JOB SECURITY.

MEANWHILE, CONCERNS REMAIN ABOUT LABOR PRACTICES AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

ONE OF A SM GLOBAL SUBCONTRACTORS HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF WAGE THEFT AND POTENTIAL TAX VIOLATION IMPACTING WORKERS WHO, WHO HELP KEEP THIS FACILITY RUNNING.

A SM MUST UPHOLD WORKER PROTECTIONS INCLUDING WORKER RETENTION OBLIGATIONS UNDER CITY LAW.

I URGE THE CITY TO ENSURE ALL WORKERS WHETHER DIRECTLY EMPLOYED OR SUBCONTRACTED OR TREATED FAIRLY AND THE LABOR LAWS ARE ENFORCED.

NEXT IS GREG JOHNSON AND THEN MATTHEW FAULKNER.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, I HOPE YOU GUYS GET THAT RIGHT WITH THE WORKERS.

WE CAN'T HAVE A WORLD CLASS VENUE WITHOUT THE WORKERS, THAT'S FOR SURE.

UM, I'M HERE TO, UH, REPRESENT THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH, WHERE I SERVE AS A BOARD MEMBER.

UH, I'M ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN LONG BEACH AND A RESIDENT, UM, AND A LONGTIME ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE.

SO THE WAY THAT I SEE THIS WHOLE THING, WE DO SUPPORT, UH, THE AMPHITHEATER.

I REMEMBER HAVING LUNCH WITH KELLY RUG RIELLO ONE TIME AND SHE WAS SAYING, HEY, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A AMPHITHEATER OUT THERE ON BY THE QUEEN MARY.

AND I WAS LIKE, UH, I COULDN'T SEE IT, BUT I'VE ALWAYS KEPT IT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND.

AND TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION IS GREAT.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A CITY COUNCIL THAT IS REALLY REAL AND A MAYOR WHO'S REALLY, REALLY ACTIVE ABOUT THIS, CREATING THIS CREATIVE ECONOMY.

WE ARE A LEADER IN THIS STATE.

FROM MY SEED AT THE ARTS COUNCIL.

I'VE SEEN IT FOR MYSELF.

WE ARE A LEADER IN ARTS AND CULTURE.

THIS IS JUST GOING TO ACCENTUATE, UNDERLINE, AND EXCLAIM THAT WE ARE A ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION IN THE STATE.

WE SUPPORT IT.

BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL.

OUR FINAL SPEAKER PLEASE, MATTHEW.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICH, UH, RICHARDSON, HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

DELIGHTED TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT, UH, WITH A BIG VOTE OF SUPPORT FOR THIS AMPHITHEATER.

I REALLY WANTED TO SAY IT'S ONLY ROCK AND ROLL, BUT I LIKE IT .

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S COMING FOR LONG BEACH.

I DID WANNA MENTION TONIGHT, ONE THING TO HAVE YOU THINK ABOUT TWO THINGS ACTUALLY.

ONE IS THE UTILIZATION OF THE SITE FOR OTHER SMALLER PERFORMING ARTS ENTITIES.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I AM ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MUSICA ANGELICA.

AND WE PRODUCE CONCERTS, WE PERFORM HERE IN TOWN AND 12,000 SEATS A LITTLE BIG FOR US .

SO IN THINKING ABOUT HOW IT MAY, MAY BE UTILIZED, THINK OF THINGS LIKE STAGE COACH AND COACHELLA AND VENUES THAT HAVE MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES GOING ON AT A TIME THAT MIGHT CREATE SOME BETTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY.

THE OTHER THING I ALSO ENCOURAGE IS, UH, BEING A, A PASSENGER ON THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE QUEEN MARY, IT'S ALWAYS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, HOW IS THIS GONNA IMPACT THE QUEEN MAR MARY? HOW IS THIS GONNA MAKE THE QUEEN MARY BETTER TOO? AND I THINK THAT'S A HUGE PART OF IT.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS.

DELIGHTED TO BE A PART OF IT.

DELIGHTED TO RUN AN ORGANIZATION THAT PERFORMS HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF LONG BEACH.

THE BEVERLY O'NEILL THING.

ALRIGHT, WELL, I WANNA THANK, UH, EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT, UH, UH, AND, UM, PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC COMMENT.

LOTS OF GREAT, UH, COMMENTS.

JUST WANNA SAY A A FEW THINGS.

ONE, UM, IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT, UH, THIS IS A PART OF A

[01:40:01]

LARGER STRATEGY.

YOU HAVE A GREAT HISTORY AT THE TERRACE THEATER THAT IS ONE SIZE A VENUE.

VENUE IS ONE SIZE VENUE.

THE ARENA IS ALL YEAR ROUND FACILITY.

UH, WHAT'S BEEN MISSING IS A LARGE SCALE OUTDOOR, UH, FACILITY THAT CAN REALLY COMPLIMENT WHAT'S BECOME A FESTIVAL DESTINATION ON THE WEST COAST OVER ON THE QUEEN MARY, UH, FAIRGROUNDS.

IT'S SORT OF BECOME A FESTIVAL GROUNDS.

UH, THIS WOULD ADD AND COMPLEMENT THOSE STRATEGIES THAT'S BEEN IMPORTANT.

IT'S ALSO BEEN IMPORTANT SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING THAT IF WE'RE GONNA DO IT, WE'RE GONNA DO IT RIGHT AND WE'RE GONNA BUILD IT UNION.

SO THAT'S BEEN CLEAR FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WITH, UH, CITY STAFF.

SO THIS HAS A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT.

UH, IT IS IN ALL THESE, UH, PLANS HAS FACTORED THE MEASURE RW WAGES INTO THIS.

AND IT WILL BE A UNITE HERE LOCAL 11 FACILITY.

AND SO IT WILL BE WALL TO WALL UNION IN THIS FACILITY.

THAT'S VERY CLEAR TO US.

UM, AND WE ALSO WANNA BE, UH, JUST, JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT, UH, UNLESS WE SEE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS BOTH TO TITANS AND TO GENERAL FUND, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

SO IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE ONLY TAKE THIS STEP IF IT CREATES POSITIVE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TO SUPPORT, UH, TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY HIGHLAND'S OPERATIONS, BUT OUR ENTIRE CITY'S SERVICES.

SO THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE CLEAR ABOUT.

WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT BEHIND THE RAIL.

THE MAKER OF THE MOTION IS COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS.

EXCITING TIMES.

UM, TO SEE A VISION COME TO REALITY IS SUPER EXCITING.

OUR LONG BEACH WATERFRONT GIVES US A BREATHTAKING VIEW, AND SOON MANY MORE WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT VIEW AND ENJOY INCREDIBLE LIVE MUSIC, LONG BEACH, GOOD MUSIC, GOOD VIBES, AND GOOD VIEWS WILL NOW GO HAND IN HAND.

THIS ANTHEM THEATER IS AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL HELP FUEL OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND PROMOTE CULTURAL GROWTH.

THE PROJECTED NUMBERS THIS THEATER IS EXPECTED TO DRAW WILL REVITALIZE THAT OUR ENTERTAINMENT ATTRACTION INCREASED FOOT TRAFFIC AND INCREASED FOOT TRAFFIC LIKE NEVER BEFORE, AND GIVE LIFE TO OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS CORRIDOR.

AS WE HAVE STRESSED, WE ARE INVESTING IN A TEMPORARY ANTHEM THEATER.

AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I ALSO FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH OUR NUMBERS.

UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. MOCA FOR CLARIFYING THE FINANCES AND WHERE EVERYTHING IS COMING FROM.

I IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE AWARE OF THAT.

ALSO, UM, MAY, MAY STAFF EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE MEAN ABOUT TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER.

SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

SO, UH, WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, BUILDING THIS AS A TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER, EVEN THOUGH WE EXPECT IT TO BE AROUND FIVE TO 10 YEARS.

UH, WE HAVE HEARD FROM THIS, UH, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL ABOUT THE IDEA OF A PERMANENT AMPHITHEATER, WHICH WOULD BE ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE AND A AND A, UM, YOU KNOW, LARGER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

UH, BUT, UH, MO MANY OF THE AMPHITHEATERS THAT WE SEE OUT THERE ARE ONES THAT CAN BE TAKEN APART AND THEY CAN BE BROUGHT IN AND THEY CAN, UH, BE CONSTRUCTED ON SITE.

UH, AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THE PROCUREMENT, UM, UH, VERY SHORTLY ABOUT, UH, SEEING WHAT IS OUT THERE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TEMPORARY.

UH, BUT TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES, IT'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURES THAT YOU CAN BRING IN.

IT'LL LOOK AND FEEL LIKE AN AMPHITHEATER, BUT THEY ARE MODULAR.

YOU CAN MOVE THEM AROUND.

UH, WE ARE GONNA BE USING, UM, PORTABLE TOILETS.

UH, THEY, YOU KNOW, DON'T THINK PORTA-POTTIES THINK MORE UPGRADED THAN THAT, BUT, UH, IN ORDER TO DO A PERMANENT AMPHITHEATER OVER THERE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A LOT OF LIKE SEWER UPGRADES AND WATER UPGRADES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT HAVEN'T, UH, EXISTED ON THAT SITE.

SO THE TEAMS THOUGHT ALL THAT THROUGH.

UH, AND THEN EVENTUALLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS AMPHITHEATER DOWN WHILE AND, UH, CONSTRUCT A NEW ONE AND HAVE A SEAMLESS TRANSFER OVER.

THAT'S AT LEAST THE VISION RIGHT NOW.

IF I CAN ADD, JUST ADD TO THAT, I DON'T USE THE TERM TEMPORARY.

UH, I SAY PHASE ONE AND WHILE WE ANTICIPATE PHASE TWO, 'CAUSE IDEALLY WE'LL KNOW IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO IF THIS WAS A, A SMART BET AND CAN BEGIN STEPS AS WE PLAN THE ENTIRE AREA ABOUT BUILDING A LONG-TERM PERMANENT ICONIC ON THE WATER, UH, VENUE THAT WILL ADD TO THE ARCHITECTURAL SORT OF VALUE OF OUR CITY AND BECOME KNOWN AS A WORLD CLASS VENUE.

SO IT'S REALLY STEP ONE AND STEP TWO IS WHAT WE ANTICIPATE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU MR. MORICA.

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH AND TOOK.

IT FORTH IN AN EXCITING WAY AS A LIVE MUSIC VENUE TO OUR CITY HERE IN LONG BEACH.

SO AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE VISION.

AND MAYOR, I JUST WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION AND LEADERSHIP, UM, ON THIS INITIATIVE.

I WANNA COMMEND THE STAFF AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENTS FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION IN CREATING THIS PLAN TO BRING

[01:45:01]

SO AS IT'S BEEN STATED TODAY, LONG BEACH IS ALREADY HOME TO AN ARRAY OF DIVERSE BUSINESSES.

UM, AND THIS AMPHITHEATER WILL SERVE AS A WELCOME ADDITION TO OUR CITY'S ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.

THE DECISION TO DEVELOP THIS VENUE PUTS US ON THE WORLD STAGE AS A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION FOR CONCERTS, FESTIVALS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT BOTH VISITORS AS WELL AS RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY.

THE LOCATION ITSELF, AS WAS STATED BY COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, IS NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR WITH THE ICONIC QUEEN MARY THE WATERFRONT AND THE, AND OUR SKYLINE AS THE BACKDROP.

THIS VENUE HAS ASSETS THAT IS NOT MATCHED BY ANY OTHER CITY.

IT IS VITAL THAT WE HARNESS ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY, EXPLORING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO BRING REVENUE RESOURCES, TO CONTINUE FUNDING ALL OF THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THAT OUR CITY RESIDENTS RELY ON.

IT'S ALSO EXCITING TO SEE SO MANY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES OUT WHO ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF BRINGING NEW VISITORS AND TOURISTS TO THEIR FRONT DOORS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AS WELL TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF LABOR IN SHAPING OUR CITY.

AND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, THIS PROJECT WILL BRING HUNDREDS OF NEW JOBS TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AND PLANNING CONSTRUCTION AND THE STAFFING NEEDS THAT WE DESCRIBED TO SUPPORT THE CALIBER OF THIS VENUE.

LABOR IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY, AND IT SUPPORTS OUR SERVICES THAT ENRICH OUR DAILY LIVES.

THIS BUILDING WILL BE BUILT AS NOTED WITH UNION LABOR.

THIS IS WHO WE ARE AND THIS IS WHO WE'LL BE GOING FORWARD.

I'M EAGER TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS VENUE, WHICH REPRESENTS A FRESH AND DYNAMIC WAY TO INJECT ENERGY AND NEW REVENUE INTO OUR CITY.

I'M THRILLED THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DESIGN SUCH A VISIONARY PROJECT.

IT IS A BOLD STATEMENT ABOUT LONG BEACH'S FUTURE, ONE THAT WILL PAY DIVIDENDS IN THE FUTURE IN THE FORM OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE WHO CALLS OUR CITY HOME OR WHO COMES TO VISIT US.

SO WITH THAT, I WANNA THANK THE STAFF AS WELL FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE.

AND I'M PARTICULARLY, UH, KEEN ON THE FACT THAT YOU HIRED A THIRD PARTY, UM, AECOM TO DO SOME ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH.

I HOPE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT WENT INTO ENSURING THAT THE NUMBERS AND THE STRATEGY THAT WE HAVE, UH, SET OUT HERE, UM, IS ONE THAT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL TO SUCCEED.

I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE, UH, IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL.

STRENGTHENING THE LONG BEACH PO POSITION AS A TOP TIER DESTINATION FOR MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, AND EEC ECONOMIC GROWTH, UM, FOR OUR CITY.

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.

WELL, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND, UH, YOU DID TALK ABOUT THIS AS STATE OF THE CITY, SO THIS WAS INCREDIBLE.

UM, I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT CAME OUT TODAY JUST TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.

UM, THESE ARE INCR IT'S INCREDIBLE TURNOUT OF, OF SUPPORT AND JUST THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.

SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THOSE FOLKS.

UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION.

UM, IF YOU THINK ABOUT A YEAR, THAT'S INCREDIBLE, MAYOR, IT REALLY IS.

UM, IT REALLY DOES TALK A LOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE HARD WORK THAT HAS GONE IN AT THIS POINT TO, UH, TO GET US HERE.

SO IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.

UM, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, I ALSO, UM, LIKE HOW THIS WAS STRUCTURED, UM, THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE TIDELANDS FUNDS, UM, AND THE, AND THE VENUE'S, OPERATING PROFIT PRO, UH, PROFITS WILL BE USED TO PAY BACK THAT, THAT FUND.

UM, EVEN, UM, LOOKING AT YOUR SPREADSHEET, EVEN A THREE YEAR RETURN, UH, IS GOOD.

EVEN IF IT'S A FIVE YEAR.

I MEAN, IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT WE'RE GONNA, UM, UH, GET THAT RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT SO QUICKLY.

UM, AND THIS MEANS THAT THE REVENUE THAT'S GENERATED TO GO INTO HELPING SUPPORT THAT, THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT OTHER CRITICAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON THE THAILANDS FUND.

'CAUSE WE ALSO, UH, SUPPORT A LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS IN THE THAILANDS FUND, LIKE, UH, THE NAPLES SEA WALL, UM, QUEEN MARY, AND SO MANY OTHER IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING IN, IN THAT AREA.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT.

UM, ALSO, I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS IS GONNA AGREE WITH ME.

UM, I ALSO LIKE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, UM, THAT I ASK AND UM, THE MAYOR CLARIFIED IS THE NOISE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GET, UH, IT DOESN'T MATTER, EVEN BEFORE SOMEONE'S BOOKED AND THEY PERFORM, WE GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE NOISE.

AND SO THE WAY THAT THAT'S SET UP AND THOSE SPEAKERS ARE FACING SOUTH, UM, IT'S REALLY GONNA BE GREAT FOR US.

UM, .

SO THANK YOU ON THAT TOO.

UM, I ALSO AM EXCITED THAT THE, UH, THE SPACE AROUND THE QUEEN MARY IS GOING TO BE PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED AND WE'RE

[01:50:01]

SO BRAVO TO EVERYONE.

THIS IS GREAT WORK.

I CANNOT WAIT TO GO TO MY FIRST CONCERT 'CAUSE GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER SONO.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND I PROMISE I WON'T SING.

UM, I JUST HAVE ONE ITEM I'D LIKE TO ADD TO, UM, THE WISHLIST.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING I HEAR ABOUT WITH EVERY NEW, UM, VENUE THAT'S EVER CREATED, AND THAT IS NEW AND IMPROVED DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE.

UH, IN THIS CASE WHERE WE HAVE HOPEFULLY NEW AND UNIQUE VISITORS TO THE AREA, I THINK WAY FINDING IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

SO I'M HOPING WE CAN FIND SOME SPOT, UH, WITHIN THE THAILANDS BUDGET TO, UH, HAVE SOME, UH, UH, WAY FINDING SIGNS THAT WILL GET PEOPLE, UH, IN HERE COMFORTABLY.

AND ON THE VERY FIRST VISIT, UM, I I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE VERY FIRST VISIT TO THE VENUE IS POSITIVE.

YES, SIR.

AND THOSE ARE ACTUALLY UNDERWAY.

WE'RE DOING THAT PLANNING.

WE TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

UM, WHEN YOU GO TO AN EVENT LIKE THAT, WE WANT IT TO BE EXCITING.

AND EVERY TIME YOU SEE A WAYFINDING SIDE, YOU GET MORE AND MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

AND SO, UH, PART OF THAT, UH, IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PORT THAT WE'RE ALREADY TALKING TO THEM ABOUT.

'CAUSE SOME OF THIS IS IN THEIR LAND AND SOME OF IT'S ON OURS.

UH, BUT YES, WAYFINDING WILL CERTAINLY BE A, A, A BIG PART OF IT.

GREAT FEEDBACK.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN A GOOD POINT.

I NEVER THOUGHT OF SIGNAGE IS IMPORTANT.

UM, MAYOR AND STAFF, THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND HAVING SUCH DEFINITION ON THE PRESENTATION.

CITY OF LONG BEACH IS CHANGING AND WE NEED TO LOOK HOW AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO SECURE OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE AS A CITY AND AS A COMMUNITY.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO REPLACE THE REVENUE GENERATED BY OIL IN THE TIDELANDS FUND.

I BELIEVE BELIEVE THAT REVENUE GENERATING ASSETS ARE A BETTER OPTION THAN NEW TAXES.

AND I THINK THE AMPHITHEATER WILL PRODUCE GOOD MONEY FOR THE CITY.

UH, AS SAM MELLINGER SAID, MUSICAL FESTIVAL DESTINATION.

UM, IT'S MORE THAN JUST REVENUE.

I THINK THE AMPHITHEATER IS A STAPLE PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO GIVE OUR CITY AND MOSTLY OUR ENTERTAINMENT AREA DOWNTOWN AND NEAR THE QUEEN MARY A REAL IDENTITY.

IT'S A GREAT PROJECT.

I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

UM, MR. MOCA TALKED ABOUT OUR FUNDING SOURCES.

I THINK WE'RE BORROWING FROM PROJECTS THAT ARE PARTIALLY FUNDED, BUT I HAVE TO SAY, IF WE DON'T FIND MORE WAYS TO GENERATE MONEY IN THE TIDELANDS AREA, THESE PROJECTS WILL ONLY STAY PARTIALLY FUNDED.

SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE AMPHITHEATER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THESE DISCUSSIONS TO WATCH AS WE, UM, MAKE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.

GREAT COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANNA COMMEND YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR VISION.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT LONG BEACH MUSIC HISTORY, UM, IN, IN GROUPS AS A COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF A VISION THAT IS COMING TO LIFE.

AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT WE'RE KIND OF LIKE A TROLLS MOVIE WHERE, UH, MUSIC IS REALLY LIGHTING UP LONG BEACH, RIGHT? SO ESPECIALLY YEAH.

IN, ESPECIALLY IN THAT VIL, I, I MEAN, WHO CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT KIND OF SCARY VILLAGE GONE, RIGHT? SO IT'S LIKE DARK, BUT THIS IS GONNA REPLACE IT AND BRING LIGHT, RIGHT? I KNOW, I I I THINK THAT WE THINK LIKE PARENTS YES.

I TOTALLY GOT THE REFERENCE.

YOU COULD JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, HOW WE'RE GONNA KEEP THE PUBLIC UPDATED AROUND THE OPERATIONS.

I'M SORRY IF YOU DON'T, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE KIDS AND I WATCH TROLLS LIKE A MILLION TIME.

BUT, UM, BUT JUST JOKING JOKES ASIDE, UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A GREAT WAY TO UPLIFT OUR ECONOMY, UM, OUR COMMUNITY AND AS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CAN BRING TO OUR BUSINESS CORRIDOR USING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY TO UPLIFT AND PLACE, MAKE OUR BUSINESS CORRIDOR THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND THIS IS GONNA HELP KICK US OFF AS WE HEAD INTO THINKING ABOUT WAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO REALLY LIGHT UP LONG BEACH WITH MUSIC AND LIFE.

UM, SO I WANNA ALSO JUST THANK STAFF AND EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKED SO HARD AND SO QUICKLY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN A REALITY.

BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE WE DO ADDRESS THE CONCERN ABOUT THE OPERATION.

I I CERTAINLY KNOW WHO A SM GLOBAL IS AS FAR AS NOW LEGENDS, BUT I WONDER IF YOU COULD JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT TO, UM, ADDRESS THE CONCERN BECAUSE, UH, THE PUBLIC HAVE SEEN EXAMPLES OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OPERATION DOESN'T GO WELL, BUT ALSO WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN IT DOES GO REALLY WELL.

SO IF

[01:55:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE MANAGED PROFESSIONALLY WITH HIGH STANDARDS, BUT HOW ARE WE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DEMONSTRATE THAT TO THE RESIDENTS AND THE PUBLIC BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE INVESTING IN THIS GREAT PROJECT? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

UM, I, I THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT.

SO, UH, I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WENT WITH A SM GLOBAL IS UM, THEY OFFERED, UM, UH, A MANAGEMENT MODEL VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THE QUEEN MARY, WHICH, WHICH PROVIDES THE CITY AND CITY STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM IN TANDEM, IN, IN, UH, AND IN CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FACILITY.

SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THE QUEEN MARY HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN SUCH A SHORT, SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO, UH, THE OPERATIONAL MODEL REALLY IS WHAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH, WITH, UH, WITH AS M GLOBAL AS A PARTNER, AS OPPOSED TO SOME SORT OF A LEASE TYPE OF AGREEMENT WHERE WE WOULD'VE GIVEN THAT RESPONSIBILITY AWAY.

UH, THE, THE, THE CITY AND THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT MODEL REALLY RETAINS A LOT OF THAT, THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND CONTROL.

GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER, SIR.

I ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT AS SM GLOBAL IS NOT ONLY A GREAT PARTNER, BUT THEY'RE ALSO INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY KNOW OUR COMMUNITY.

GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

PROCESS AND A SM WILL BE THE OPERATOR, WE NEED TO SEE THE IDENTITY OF THE LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER BEGIN TO TAKE, BEGIN TO, UH, UH, COME, COME, COME OUT ON ITS OWN RIGHT.

UH, LET'S SEE WHO'S NEXT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER X OTI.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, SINCE WE'RE ALL DOING POP CULTURE REFERENCES, I GUESS I'LL THROW ONE IN THERE TOO.

SO I HAD SHARED WITH THE MAYOR AND STAFF THAT, UM, 'CAUSE I'M A TRECHE, MY REFERENCE WAS THAT WE HAD MOVED IT WARP SPEED WHEN IT CAME TO, UH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU GENTLEMEN IN THE FRONT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT .

UM, BUT LEGITIMATELY, UM, I'M A WOMAN OF FEW WORDS.

UH, WHEN, UH, ALL THE POINTS OF REALLY THE SPEAKING POINTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, UM, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HIGHLIGHTED MANY OF THE EXCITING ASPECTS OF THIS PROJECT.

UM, AND YOU'VE HEARD ALL THOSE TONIGHT, SO I WON'T REPEAT THEM.

THE ONLY THING THAT I WAS GOING TO ADD TO, UM, JUST KIND OF THE DISCUSSION ACCOLADES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, THE EXCITEMENT AROUND THIS PROJECT IS MY EXCITEMENT AS A, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN STEEPED IN COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME, UM, THE FOCUS FROM A SM GLOBAL ON MAKING THOSE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO ACCOMMODATE CITY APPROVED COMMUNITY EVENTS, RIGHT? SO THE IDEA THAT THEY, AS THE STAFF HAD MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE REALLY PARTNERS HERE.

UM, THEY WANNA BE PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING TO UPLIFT THE ARTS.

UM, SO I THINK THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL HERE THAT WE'VE ONLY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE ON AND WE WILL LEARN THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO, UM, AGAIN, I'M, UM, INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHAT'S TO COME.

UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AS PARTNERS TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS VENUE IS A SUCCESS.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

COUNCIL MEMBER, I DO WANNA ADD A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ON THAT.

THAT WAS A BIG THING FOR US IN THE RFP IS WILL, UM, WILL THE, UM, WILL THE RESPONDER HELP US WITH CITY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS? WE LOVE THE VISION OF, OF, UM, YOU KNOW, REVENUE PAYING CONCERTS THAT HELP PAY FOR THE, UM, FOR THE AREA, BUT ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY, UH, AND SUPPORT OUR ARTS GROUPS.

AND SO, UM, ONE THING, JUST LIKE IN THE QUEEN MARY, I'LL GIVE THAT EXAMPLE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO GET THE QUEEN MARY UP AND RUNNING AND MAKE IT PROFITABLE, AND WE DID THAT.

AND THEN WE STARTED REALLY ADDING COMMUNITY FREE USE STAYS AND YOU'RE ABLE TO INVITE YOUR COMMUNITY TO COME TO THE QUEEN MARY FOR FREE BECAUSE WE GOT IT TO A POINT WHERE IT IS OPERATING BACK IN THE BLACK.

AGAIN, IT'LL BE THE SAME CONCEPT HERE.

WE HAVE THAT BUILT IN.

UH, WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO HEAT HIT THESE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, SO WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING TO MAKE THIS, UH, PROFITABLE.

AND THEN IN THE STAFF REPORT WE ACTUALLY CAN RANGE IT.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HEARD WAS, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERY EVENT NEEDS, YOU KNOW, 10,000 PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SOME OF OUR SMALLER ARTS EVENTS.

SO YOU CAN HAVE SMALL EVENTS BETWEEN 500 AND 1500 ATTENDEES, AND THAT COST WILL JUST BE AT COST, WHICH IS ABOUT $7,600.

UM, THAT, UH, WE CAN HAVE A SMALLER EVENT FOR MEDIUM SIZED EVENTS GO UP TO ABOUT 5,000.

THOSE WILL BE AT ABOUT 21,000.

AND THEN LARGER EVENTS WILL BE MORE THAN THAT, ABOUT 32.

AND SO, UH, THOSE ARE REALLY THE BARE MINIMUM.

THAT'S WHAT WE GET TO DO WHEN WE'RE CONTROLLING THAT VENUE.

AND THEN WE CAN WORK, YOU KNOW, ON, ON HOW TO, YOU KNOW, FIND REVENUES TO PAY FOR SOME OF THAT.

BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY BUILT IN THE MODEL AND IS VERY INTENTIONAL.

GREAT.

JUST TO, JUST TO EXPAND ON IT A LITTLE BIT, THAT WAS A PART, UH, OF OUR CONSIDERATIONS AS WELL, THAT WE DO HAVE SOME PRETTY COOL COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE, LIKE JUNETEENTH AND, UM, UM, THE LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL WHO THEY'VE BEEN IN THE CITY SO MANY YEARS, THE LONG BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL.

AND WE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THERE'S CHALLENGES IN BEING ABLE TO USE SOME OF THE OTHER VENUES.

THIS COULD BE A SPACE WHERE WE CAN FIND SOME AVAILABILITY AND WORK WITH 'EM ON COST BECAUSE WE OWN AND MANAGE THIS ASSET.

WE OWN THIS ASSET.

SO WE HAVE A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT RIGHT.

SO AFTER THIS CONTRACT IS APPROVED, WE WANT A SM TO REALLY STEP UP AND START.

WE WANT THE VENUE TO BEGIN SPEAKING FOR ITSELF AND REPRESENTING ITSELF AND CREATING ITS OWN IDENTITY.

BECAUSE I THINK THIS, THIS WILL CERTAINLY ELEVATE LONG BEACH IN MANY WAYS.

UH, BUT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS VENUE.

AND SO AFTER TONIGHT, ONCE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PUBLIC RFP

[02:00:01]

AT SOME POINT THERE'LL BE A SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED.

WE WANT THAT TO BE A BIG MOMENT.

UH, WE WANT, YOU KNOW, SITE TOURS AS WE'RE WE'RE PREPARING, WE WANT, WE REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS, UH, BUILD UP IN A WAY THAT IS ORGANIC AND IT BUILDS REAL EXCITEMENT AS WE LEAD INTO NEXT SEASON.

'CAUSE NEXT SEASON IS REALLY WHEN THE ACTION BEGINS, THE SEASONAL VENUE, THAT'S REALLY WHEN THE ACTION BEGINS.

AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.

COUNCIL MEMBER KERR? YES.

UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT BOLD VISION ALL OF THOSE MONTHS AGO, UM, AND TO THE TEAM FOR YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL PROCESS IN BRINGING IT TO FRUITION OVER THE LAST YEAR, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AT WARP SPEED.

UH, SO MY POP CULTURE REFERENCE IS WHEN SAMANTHA SAID THAT SHE WAS A KID WHEN THE AQUARIUM OPENED.

AND I HEART, MY HEART SANK A LITTLE BIT AS A FULL ADULT WITH A MEMBERSHIP AT THE TIME.

UM, MR. MOCA, I JUST WANNA CHECK IN ON ONE THING THEY SAID.

I KNOW THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW LOTS OF FOLKS ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT THE ECONOMY IN THIS MOMENT.

UM, AND YOU HAD SOME PROJECTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT NUMBER ON THE SLIDE IT IS.

UM, BUT CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROJECTIONS, KIND OF THE LEVEL OF CONSERVATIVENESS OR NOT WITH WHICH YOU MADE THOSE PROJECT, UH, PROJECTIONS AS WELL AS THE SENSITIVITY PROJECTIONS, JUST IN THE CONTEXT OF AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S SLIGHTLY UNCERTAIN.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU GOT TO THOSE NUMBERS? ABSOLUTELY.

UM, SO I'LL START, AND JOHNNY CAN ADD IN IF, IF I MISS ANYTHING.

BUT, UM, YES, WE'RE TRYING SOMETHING NEW HERE.

UM, WE HAVE NOT DONE AN AMPHITHEATER BEFORE, AND SO WE GOT, UH, A LOT OF, UM, ASSISTANCE FROM AECOM TO LOOK AT WHAT THE MARKETS ARE LIKE AND, AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY SPENDING AND WHAT, HOW MANY ATTENDANCE YOU CAN ACTUALLY, YOU CAN, YOU CAN EXPECT.

AND SO, UH, WE, UM, STARTED WITH THE CONSERVATIVE ASSUMPTIONS THERE AND THEN, UH, WE REALLY BUILT THE, THESE MODELS.

AGAIN, I, AS I MENTIONED, A LOT OF THE MONEY COMES FROM FOOD AND BEVERAGE.

WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THAT EVENT, THE TICKET PRICE NORMALLY GOES MOSTLY TO THE PROMOTER AND THE ARTIST THEMSELVES.

UM, YOU MAKE, UH, MORE OF THE REVENUE OFF OF THESE FACILITIES, OFF OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'RE HAVING WHEN YOU'RE THERE.

AND SO, UH, THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE IS A REALLY BIG PART OF IT.

UH, AGAIN, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 31.

IF WE WERE DOING AN AGGRESSIVE MODEL, WE WOULD SAY, WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO BETTER THAN $31 PER PERSON.

WE ACTUALLY WENT THE OTHER WAY AND WE ESTIMATED ABOUT 2380 PER PERSON TO BE CONSERVATIVE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE STARTING LOW WITH THE IDEA OF THAT, UM, WE, WE CAN HAVE HIGHER SPEND LEVELS.

UM, WE ALSO, UM, ARE REALLY PROJECTING THIS ON WHAT THE FACILITY ITSELF MAKES.

SOMETIMES YOU DO THESE ANALYSIS AND YOU'LL GET PITCHED THAT, HEY, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, TOT MONEY AND SALES TAX MONEY.

THOSE ARE HARD TO QUANTIFY.

THOSE BECOME A LOT MORE, UM, ESTIMATES THAN THAN THE ACTUAL FINANCIALS.

AND SO WE'RE NOT BUILDING THIS, UH, THIS MODEL BASED ON, UM, POTENTIAL REVENUES THAT COULD COME.

WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE ONES THAT WE KNOW AND WE CAN CONTROL ON THE SITE.

UH, AND THEN IF ANYTHING GOES OFF ON THOSE, 'CAUSE THEY'RE STILL ESTIMATES, THEY, THEY MAY GO UP, THEY MAY GO DOWN, THAT'S WHERE WE CAN DRAW ON ADDITIONAL PARKING REVENUE, ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN.

UH, AND IT'S ALSO A FINITE COST.

IT'S A, IT'S A $10 MILLION AMPHITHEATER.

UM, AND AFTER THAT IT'S REALLY ON, UM, THE OPERATION.

SO IF IT, IF IT DOESN'T MAKE MONEY, WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS AND THERE'S OUTS IN THIS CLAUSE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, THIS DIDN'T WORK OUT.

WE DON'T THINK THAT'S VERY LIKELY.

EVEN DURING, UM, PANDEMIC AND WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS REALLY GOING DOWN, PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCES, THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THAT.

AND THE LAST THING I'LL, I'LL ADD ON IS, UM, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, WHICH IS A MAGICAL, AMAZING PLACE TO GO TO A CONCERT, UM, PEOPLE GET ON A SHUTTLE AND THEY GO TO THE CONCERT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE THERE, YOU'RE ONLY AT THE BOWL.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT MAGNIFYING THAT AND SAYING, YOU'RE GONNA COME INTO DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, YOU'RE GONNA GO TO BIXBY KNOLLS, YOU'RE GONNA GO TO SECOND STREET FIRST, EAT, GET, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOUR, YOUR PRE-PARTY, THEN MOVE ON OVER TO THE BOWL AND SO, OR TO LONG BEACH ARENA.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS CONNECT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS, UPTOWN AND EAST SIDE, UH, AND HELP ADVERTISE THAT.

SO WE'RE CREATING THAT ECONOMIC GENERATION THERE, UH, THAT WILL HOPEFULLY ALSO BE A REVENUE GENERATOR AND A BOOST FOR OUR BUSINESSES.

I APPRECIATE THE UNIFIED SUPPORT OF THE WORK, UM, EVEN THOUGH SOME FOLKS MIGHT NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND OR HAVE THEIR CONCERNS THAT THEY'RE HERE AND EXCITED ABOUT, UM, A POTENTIAL NEW THING IN OUR CITY TO HELP FUND US INTO THE FUTURE.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THE SHUTTLES AGAIN, AND I KNOW THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS FOR LATER IN THE PROCESS, BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A VERY ROBUST SHUTTLE SYSTEM, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

WE KNOW IT CAN BE AN AREA THAT'S CHALLENGING FOR FOLKS TO GET TO.

SO THE WAY, UM, WHEN I HAVE GONE TO, WHEN I GO TO THE BOWL, I GET ON A BUS AT THE, AT THE MALL.

AND SO THE WAYS AND THE POINTS, WE CONNECT THOSE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY POTENTIALLY SO THAT THEY BENEFIT, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE MEETING UPTOWN OR LONG BEACH EXCHANGE AND DOING MEALS.

UM, THAT ROBUST SHUTTLE SERVICE WILL BE KEY, I THINK, FOR FOLKS REALLY ENJOYING THE EXPERIENCE.

UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATIONS.

I ALSO WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE ITEM.

UM, THERE'S MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES IN THE ROOM FROM TOURISM, UM, HOSPITALITY.

WE KNOW LABORS IN THE ROOM, WE KNOW NONPROFITS ARE IN THE ROOM.

UM, AND THERE'S COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE ROOM WHO ARE JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT EXPERIENCE HERE IN THEIR CITY.

UM, SO

[02:05:01]

UH, SO THANK YOU ALL OF YOU WHO CAME OUT TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS.

ALL RIGHT, WELL GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS, MEMBERS.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

ITEM 25 IS CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

ITEM 25, LET'S ROCK AND ROLL IS, UH, WE ALSO HAVE ITEM 25,

[25. 25-54764 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the Tidelands Area Fund Group in the Economic Development Department by $14,000,000, to fund design, permitting, engineering, project management services, infrastructure and site improvements, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the development of a temporary amphitheater, offset eventually by the venue’s future net operating profit. (District 1) Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

LET'S TAKE UP ITEM 25, RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS BY 14 MILLION TO FUND DESIGN, PERMITTING, ENGINEERING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS, FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER DISTRICT ONE, AGAIN, THIS WAS INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.

UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, WE'LL NOW GO.

THERE ARE, LET'S SEE, UH, 10 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

UH, I WILL READ THEM.

THERE ARE 90 SECONDS.

UH, SAMANTHA MELLINGER, LISA ARIA, ANGEL G CELESTE WILSON, UH, GRISEL DE SUAREZ, DANNY SALAS, KELLY SILT, UH, MATTHEW FAULKNER, AUSTIN MATOYA, AND STEVE KAKA.

IF YOU SPOKE ON THE FIRST ONE, YOU DON'T WANNA SPEAK ON THIS ONE, THAT'S FINE.

BUT IF YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THIS ONE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

SOMETHING TO HAVE MORE THAN YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE ORDER.

PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME.

YOU, YOU CAN GO FIRST.

GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CELESTE WILSON AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

UM, I AM PROUD TO VOICE OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR AWARDING THE TEMPORARY LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT CONTRACT TO A SM GLOBAL AND FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IN THE TIDELANDS AREA FUND GROUP TO FUND THIS PROJECT.

A SM GLOBAL HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS MANAGING THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, CONSISTENTLY ATTRACTING HIGH PROFILE EVENTS THAT GENERATE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR OUR CITY.

THEIR EXPERTISE WILL ENSURE THAT THE NEW AMPHITHEATER BECOMES A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.

FURTHER SOLIDIFYING LONG BEACH'S REPUTATION AS A VIBRANT CULTURAL HUB.

THIS PROJECT IS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT THAT WILL YIELD SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC RETURNS.

WITH A PROJECTED 500,000 ATTENDEES ANNUALLY, THE AMPHITHEATER WILL BRING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, VISITORS TO OUR CITY, BOOSTING FOOT TRAFFIC, AND DIRECTLY BENEFITING OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, AND OTHER CHAMBER MEMBERS.

THIS IS THE KIND OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT KEEPS BUSINESSES THRIVING AND KEEPS LONG BEACH COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER REGIONAL DESTINATIONS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE AMPHITHEATER IS A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR CITY'S LONG-TERM ENTERTAINMENT STRATEGY.

FAST TRACKING ITS DEVELOPMENT MEANS QUICKER RETURNS ON INVESTMENT AND AN IMMEDIATE BOOST TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT POSITIONS LONG BEACH AS A PREMIER DESTINATION AHEAD OF THE 2028 OLYMPICS, ENSURING THAT WE ARE READY TO HOST WORLD-CLASS EVENTS AND SHOWCASE OUR CITY ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE.

FOR THESE REASONS AND OTHERS, THE CHAMBER WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTS AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO A SM GLOBAL AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE AMPHITHEATER DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELEVATE LONG BEACH'S STANDING AS A PREMIER ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM DESTINATION DRIVING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR OUR CITY.

URGE THAT WE THINK ABOUT OUR LOCAL ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS AND HOW WE CAN USE THEIR SKILLS AND USE THE PERCENT FOR ARTS FUNDING FOR THAT.

PERFECT.

RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON POINT 90 SECONDS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU, GRISELDA.

GOOD EVENING, UH, ES NOTCHES.

UH, MY NAME IS RIS LAS SUAREZ.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH.

AND CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE FOR THIS WONDERFUL VOTE ALREADY.

UM, I'M HERE AGAIN TO SUPPORT ITEMS 24 AND 25 AND THE AMPHITHEATER IS NOT JUST ABOUT CONCERTS AND EVENTS, BUT ALSO ABOUT CULTURAL PLACE KEEPING, PLACE MAKING STORYTELLING, ENSURING THAT OUR CULTURE AND CREATIVITY REMAIN AT THE HEART OF OUR CITY'S FUTURE.

AND WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THIS VISION.

THERE'S BEEN SO MANY GREAT THINGS ALREADY SAID, UM, ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND IT'S A BOLD AND TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENT IN LONG BEACH CULTURAL AND CREATIVE ECONOMY.

THE CREATIVE ECONOMY REPORT WAS JUST RELEASED THIS PAST, UH, WEEK.

AND SO, UM, I HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT IS IT GONNA BRING IN, HOW IS THIS GONNA IMPACT? AND I, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT IN THE REPORT, UM, MANAGEMENT OF ARTISTS THIS INDUSTRY AND, UH, SOUND AND STAGING IS RISING IN ALLIE COUNTY.

AND SO THIS IS OUR STEP INTO THAT FOOTPRINT, INTO THAT ECONOMY.

AND IN ONE NIGHT, UH, 12,000 ATTENDEES WILL BRING IN, UM, CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AT NIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE VENUE.

THAT MEANS THEY WANNA LOOK GOOD IN THEIR NEW CLOTHES, THEY WANNA EAT GREAT, THEY WANNA HAVE A FUN TIME.

UM, SO THAT'S THE KIND OF IMPACT.

AND I ALSO

[02:10:01]

SO THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH.

UH, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS AUSTIN VENT TORE PRESIDENT AND CO FOR THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ALREADY SAID, SO I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF.

UM, I THINK FOR THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH COMMUNITY, WE ARE WHOLEHEARTEDLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR AN AMPHITHEATER, IT MEANS NEW VISITORS, IT MEANS NEW RESIDENTS, IT MEANS NEW TOURISTS COMING TO CHECK OUT DOWNTOWN, THE AMPHITHEATER AND SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHETHER IT'S PINE AVENUE OR EAST VILLAGE, OR THE WATERFRONT.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

MAYOR, GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MAYOR ZENDEJAS, AND EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCIL PEOPLE.

UH, MY NAME IS STEVE KOK.

I'M THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE QUEEN MARY.

UM, OUR MISSION AT THE QUEEN MARY IS TO CREATE EXPERIENCES.

THIS IS OUR MOTTO, THIS IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT EVERY DAY.

UM, PRIOR TO REOPENING THE SHIP, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH, UH, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON.

AND, UH, AND YOU GAVE ME THAT VISION.

AND THE VISION WAS BASICALLY BEING THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

SO THE VISION WAS VERY CLEAR AND I KNOW WALKING AWAY THAT THIS WAS, UH, GONNA HAPPEN.

SO THE FUTURE IS NOW.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON, ON THE VOTE.

THE QUEEN, MARY, AND THE CITY HAVE GROWN A SUCCESSFUL MUSIC FESTIVAL SCENE WITH MULTIPLE CONCERTS, BRINGING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO LONG BEACH.

IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY AND THE AMPHITHEATER WILL HELP US TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

UH, WE ARE THRILLED TO WORK ALONGSIDE A SM GLOBAL TO CONTINUE TO GROW ENTERTAINMENT AT THE QUEENSWAY BAY.

IT'S AN EXCITING TIME RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING UP WITH A SM FOR YEARS TO COME TO CREATE EXPERIENCES.

I WILL TELL YOU, STEVE, LAST WEEK I WAS WITH SOME MAYORS FROM, UH, OTHER CITIES ON THE QUEEN MARY.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'M ASHAMED TO SAY THIS, FOR THE FIRST TIME I DID THE GHOST TOUR, THE HAUNTED TOUR, IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

YOUR STAFF DID A GREAT JOB.

WE WERE THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED.

OKAY, GOOD, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS KELLY SOTE, UH, WITH EKA.

AND I'M SPEAKING TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.

UH, THE LBRA SUBMITTED A WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THEIR SUPPORT IN PERSON FOR THE PROPOSED LONG BEACH BEACH AMPHITHEATER PROJECT.

UH, THE LBRA REPRESENTS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED RESTAURANTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND HAS SUPPORTED TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY'S ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.

UM, OUR WORKERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS STAND TO BENEFIT FOR THE PROPOSED FROM THE PROPOSED AMPHITHEATER PROJECT AND THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT, THAT IT WILL BRING TO OUR CITY AND THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT CALL LONG BEACH HOME.

LRAS MEMBERSHIP STANDS READY TO ASSIST IN REALIZING THE VISION SET FORTH BY THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF.

ALL RIGHT, DAN, CAPTAIN DAN SALAS HARBOR BREEZE CRUISES.

YESTERDAY WE HAD A MINKY WHALE INSIDE OF RAINBOW HARBOR FEEDING.

I KNOW SAM'S GOT PROBABLY FOUR OR 5,000 LIKES ON THE INSTAGRAM SO FAR, AND IT'S GETTING READY TO GO VIRAL INSIDE OF RAINBOW HARBOR.

A WHALE WAS FEEDING 25 YEARS IN THIS HARBOR.

WHAT THE PORT, THE CITY AND ALL THE GOOD STAFF HAVE DONE.

WE HAVE TURNED LONG BEACH FROM A, A NAVAL TOWN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO DO IN OUR HARBOR TO AMAZING HARBOR WITH CLEAN WATER.

AND WE'RE ONLY GETTING BETTER.

WE'RE WORKING ON CLEAN AIR, WE'RE CHANGING ALL OF OUR ENGINES ON OUR BOATS.

WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS ZERO EMISSION.

WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, FOLKS.

AND I'M JUST HERE TO STAND PROUD AND SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND WE ARE SETTING THE, THE BAR FOR THE REST OF THE NATION FOR YOU TO ALL THE HARD WORK.

AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP GOING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ALRIGHT, WELL THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, VICE MAYORGA, COUNCILWOMAN THRASH.

THAT CONCLUDES THIS ITEM.

OKAY, WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO ITEM 23.

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT, ACTUALLY I GOTTA DO OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

HANG ON, I HAVE TO DO

[02:15:01]

THIS NEXT I HAVE TO DO OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT.

[ 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. ]

LET'S QUEUE UP OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE.

I, I'M REQUIRED TO DO THIS, GUYS.

UM, OKAY.

I'M GONNA READ THE NAMES.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

JAMES COLLINS, ASHLEY BRADY, ERICA CURRY, LAURA FOY, JENNIFER LISA VEST, MC, ERICA ELMIRA, ANTHONY BRYSON, CARLA POLITO, JORDAN AND SASHA MOULA.

UH, UH, JAMES, YOU'RE UP.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER DOING THIS.

UM, CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MIC, SIR? THIS IS MY FIRST TIME.

GOOD MORNING.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M HERE BY MYSELF.

I'M TRYING TO SPEAK UP FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HOMELESS AND, UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE I HAD TO GO TO, WELL, I DON'T FEEL I WENT TO THE MSC, BUT I DON'T WANT GIVE ALL MY EXAMPLES.

I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A ONE-ON ONE, ONE OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS OR SOMETHING.

BUT I'M HERE AND, UM, WE CAN MAKE SURE YOU CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY IF YOU WANNA TALK TO SOMEBODY ON CITY MANAGER TEAM, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.

IF HEY, BUT LIKE I SAY, I WAS AT THE MSC BUILDING, I DO THAT WHEN I'M DONE.

I WAS AT THE MSC BUILDING AND I HAD TO SAY THAT I'M GONNA GO TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE JUST TO GET A TWO DAY VOUCHER FOR A MOTEL.

LIKE IT COMES DOWN TO THAT LIKE, AND IT IS MORE THAN THAT.

SO I'LL GET WITH THEM AND MAYBE WE CAN TALK OR SOMETHING.

UM, I'M NOT SURE.

SO WHAT MAKE SURE, UH, SOMEONE CAN TALK WITH YOU, RIGHT, RIGHT OVER HERE.

CITY MANAGER ON DUTY.

ALRIGHT, NEXT.

ASHLEY? YEAH.

HELLO, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS ASHLEY, AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I'M THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE U AND I STAND HERE TODAY, NOT ONLY AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, BUT ALSO A CONCERNED RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH.

UM, I'M CALLING ON THIS COUNCIL TO END ITS CONTRACT WITH SPACEX.

LONG BEACH PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING A LEADER IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, ETHICAL LABOR PRACTICES, AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

YET BY MAINTAINING TIES WITH SPACEX, WE CONTRADICT THESE VALUES.

THIS IS A COMPANY WITH A TROUBLING TRACK RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, UNSAFE LABOR CONDITIONS, AND TIES TO MILITARY PROJECTS THAT DON'T ALIGN WITH OUR INTERESTS OR COMMUNITY.

SPACEX OPERATIONS COMPUTE CONTRIBUTE TO AIR AND WATER POLLUTION, THREATENING THE HEALTH OF OUR COASTLINE AND MARINE LIFE.

THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF ITS ROCKET LAUNCHES IS IMMENSE RELEASING HARMFUL EMISSIONS EQUIVALENT TO MILLIONS OF DIESEL TRUCKS ANNUALLY.

LONG BEACH HAS FOUGHT HARD TO PROTECT ITS COASTAL ENVIRONMENT AND WE SHOULD NOT PARTNER WITH A COM, A CORPORATION THAT DISREGARDS THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

SPACEX IS DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH MILITARY CONTRACTS, INCLUDING PROJECTS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL SURVEILLANCE AND WEAPONIZATION OF SPACE.

DO WE WANT LONG BEACH TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MILITARIZATION OF SPACE RATHER THAN A PEACEFUL COMMUNITY DRIVEN INNOVATION? I GET IT.

SPACEX'S LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE PORT OF LONG BEACH PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT REVENUE TO THIS CITY WHILE SPACEX PRESENCE IS PITCHED.

AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER, I CAN'T SEE THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH A COMPANY THAT'S DIRECTLY TIED TO A FASTEST NAZI.

UH, THANK YOU.

IT OUTWEIGHS THE COSTS AND IMPACTS THAT IT COULD HAVE TO OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO ALTERNATE USES FOR THE WATERFRONT PROPERTY.

OUR SMALL BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE.

OUR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FACE UN BEING UNHOUSED.

UM, SORRY, I JUST LOST MY PLACE.

, UH, SORRY.

THAT'S, THAT'S NOT LONG BEACH.

LONG BEACH IS REALLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT DIVERSITY.

UM, THE SPACEX FACILITY SITS ON PT AT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH.

IT'S AN AREA THAT COULD BE REPURPOSED FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT.

INSTEAD OF REMAINING A RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL SITE IN THE CITY AND THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, CHOOSE NOT TO RENEW SPACEX'S LEASE OR CUT ITS CONTRACT.

THIS LAND COULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO A PUBLIC, A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE SPACE SUCH AS A WATERFRONT PARK, A MIXED USED HUB, A RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT SITE, INVESTING IN ALTERNATIVE INDUSTRIES, A MARITIME RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

THIS IS THE LI THE LIST GOES ON.

I'VE THOUGHT OF ALL OF THESE.

I SPACE X IS CONTRACT AND LEASE EXPANSIONS IN LONG BEACH HAVE MADE, UH, HAVE BEEN MADE WITH LITTLE PUBLIC INPUT.

OUR CITY'S WATERFRONT IS VALUABLE, IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE AND IT SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC PRIVATE CORPORATION.

ENDING OUR CONTRACT WITH SPACEX IS NOT A POLICY DECISION.

IT'S A

[02:20:01]

MORAL DECISION.

NEXT IS ERICA, AND AFTER ERICA IS LAURA.

HI MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS ACTUALLY MY SECOND TIME DOING THIS.

I FIRST STOOD HERE WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND NOW I'M 31.

AND I AM SO PROUD TO BE A RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN LONG BEACH.

WELCOME BACK.

AND TODAY I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON ENDING ALL CONTRACTS WITH SPACEX IN THIS CITY.

I, UM, I'M NOW A LICENSED THERAPIST HERE AND AS A THERAPIST, I HELP MY CLIENTS GET CLEAR ON THEIR VALUES AND SET GOALS THAT ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THOSE VALUES.

AND I LOVE THAT LONG BEACH HAS VERY CLEAR VALUES THAT IT LIVES INTO IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

LIKE JUST HOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE AMPHITHEATER TONIGHT.

LIKE THAT IS SO, LIKE SUCH A LONG BEACH THING AND I LOVE THAT.

UM, SO I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT LONG BEACH REALLY VALUES INTEGRITY AS WELL AS BEING A CITY WITH A VIBRANT QUEER COMMUNITY THAT IT SUPPORTS AND LOVES.

THE PRESENCE OF SPACEX IN OUR CITY IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH ITS INTEGRITY.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT AWARE, MR. MUSK HAS BEEN CRITICIZED AS INSENSITIVE AND DISMISSIVE OF THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

A BUSINESS LEADER WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME LOVE AND SUPPORT IN THEIR HEART THE WAY THAT LONG BEACH DOES, HAS NO BUSINESS BRINGING ITS PROJECTS TO LONG BEACH.

WHILE THIS COMPANY MAY BRING IN GOOD PAYING JOBS, WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT SPACEX AND ITS TRANSPHOBIC LEADER.

LASTLY, I NOTICED WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE TIDELAND FUNDS THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WHEN I WAS 18.

IT WAS ABOUT, UM, BUT THE BELMONT PLAZA OLYMPIC POOL.

AND I REMEMBER LIKE IT CAME DOWN TO USING THE TED TIDELAND FUNDS TO, UM, REBUILD THAT POOL AND IT STILL ISN'T REBUILT.

I UNDERSTAND IT WAS SEISMICALLY UNSAFE AND LIKE WE HAVE TO KEEP EVERYTHING SAFE.

OF COURSE.

UM, BUT LIKE IT WOULD BE SO COOL TO SEE THAT POOL BACK UP AND RUNNING.

LIKE THAT'S WHERE I GREW TO LOVE LONG BEACH AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT BACK HERE.

SO THAT WAS MY OTHER THING.

WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS, THIS WHOLE WORLD IS COUNTING ON YOU.

THE POOL'S STILL A PROJECT.

STILL A PROJECT.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

HI.

I WAS HERE, UM, A BIT OVER A MONTH AGO AND YOU TOLD ME TO COME BACK, SO I DID.

UM, AND I SPOKE ABOUT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CRISIS THAT WE ARE FACING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.

UH, THE US IS HAS LOST ITS ALLIANCE WITH CANADA.

UM, SO THESE ARE TERRIFYING TIMES.

IT'S NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL TIMES.

THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE HAVE NAMES AND BUSINESSES.

ONE OF THEM IS ELON MUSK, WHO IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN EMBOLDENING THE NAZI PARTY IN GERMANY, EUROPE IS TERRIFIED.

AMERICANS ARE TERRIFIED.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IF THEY EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.

WE'RE SCARED AND WE FEEL VERY BETRAYED AND ABANDONED BY OUR POLITICAL OFFICIALS.

WE ARE IN A VERY POTENT MOMENT IN OUR LIFETIMES FOR THE NATION'S HISTORY AND OUR WORLD'S HISTORY.

AND YOU GUYS ARE IN AN EXTRAORDINARY POSITION TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS CHANGE AND TAKE A REALLY GREAT STAND.

THIS IS GONNA BE A TIME 2025 THAT YOU GUYS LOOK BACK ON WHEN YOU'RE ON YOUR DEATH BEDS.

AND YOU KNOW THAT I'M KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'M RIGHT.

THIS IS HOW IT'S GONNA BE.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR THE PLANET, FOR OUR WORLD, FOR OUR COUNTRY.

AND THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE NEED YOUR HUMANITY.

AND WE NEED YOU TO TAKE A STAND AND NOT DO BUSINESS WITH A NAZI AND NOT ENABLE FASCISM AND CANCEL THE SPACEX PROJECT.

WE CAN'T BE SITTING HERE ACTING LIKE THIS IS JUST A COMPANY.

IT'S NOT.

THE REASON THAT THEY'RE LEAVING FLORIDA IS BECAUSE OF ROCKET EXPLOSIONS.

FLORIDA DOESN'T WANT THEM.

THERE'S SO MUCH DEBRIS IN THOSE OCEANS.

WHEN A ROCKET EXPLODES, THEY HAVE TO LAND ALL THE PLANES AT THE AIRPORTS.

HOW'S THAT GONNA WORK WITH LAX? HOW'S THAT GONNA WORK WITH SANTA ANA? JOHN WAYNE? HOW'S IT GONNA WORK WITH LONG BEACH AIRPORT? HOW'S THAT GONNA WORK WITH THE PORT? WE'RE GONNA HAVE ROCKETS EXPLODING WHILE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO BUSINESS IN AND OUTTA THE LONG BEACH PORT.

WELL, PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO LIKE USE YOUR AMPHITHEATER.

THIS ISN'T SUSTAINABLE.

THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REQUIRED TO SEND THOSE ROCKETS, THE TERRORS IN THE OZONE LAYER, IT IS ONE THING TO TRASH TWITTER.

IT IS ANOTHER THING TO TRASH YOUR COUNTRY.

IT IS ANOTHER THING TO TRASH DEMOCRACY.

IT IS ANOTHER THING TO TRASH THE WORLD.

IT'S ANOTHER THING TO TRASH OUR CITY AND OUR PLANET.

SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS, I'M JUST A REGULAR OLD PERSON DOING SOME ACUPUNCTURE FOR SOME LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

YOUR POLITICIANS, WE ARE TERRIFIED.

PLEASE, PLEASE STAND WITH US.

WE WILL STAND WITH YOU.

AND WE ARE, WE WE'RE TRUSTING YOU.

WE'RE LOOKING TO YOU.

WE ARE BEGGING YOU.

PLEASE TAKE THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND STAND

[02:25:01]

NEXT IS JENNIFER, AND AFTER JENNIFER IS MC.

GREETINGS, HONORABLE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DR.

JENNIFER LISA VEST.

I LIVE IN THE ALAMEDO BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER IN LONG BEACH, AND I LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THERE BE A FORUM, THAT THERE BE AN AGENDA ITEM TO DISCUSS.

SPACEX.

I'M OPPOSED TO SPACEX COMING TO LONG BEACH FOR SEVERAL REASONS RELATED TO SAFETY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE OWNERS, WHITE SUPREMACIST, SEXIST, HOMOPHOBIC, AND TRANSPHOBIC POLITICAL VIEWS.

ACCORDING TO A NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE, SCIENTISTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF SPACEX AFTER RECENT EXPLOSIONS, THE POTENTIAL AVIATION SAFETY ISSUE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SPACESHIPS EXPLODING OVER LONG BEACH MUST BE CONSIDERED.

ACCORDING TO DR.

AARON BOLEY, CO-DIRECTOR AT THE OUTER SPACE INSTITUTE AND AN EXPERT IN SPACE SUSTAINABILITY.

THE RISKS AND COSTS OF THE SPACE FLIGHT INDUSTRY ARE BEING EXPORTED TO THE AVIATION INDUSTRY.

THE EXTENT OF THE DEBRIS FIELD, HOW MUCH DEBRIS, HOW MUCH LETHAL DEBRIS, MEANING HOW MANY CHUNKS COME DOWN WITH A SPEED THAT CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

THAT IS STUFF THAT IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD AT THIS POINT.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON WE SHOULD NOT DO BUSINESS WITH SPACEX IS BECAUSE LONG BEACH SHOULD NOT DO BUSINESS WITH A NAZI.

I MOVED TO LONG BEACH BECAUSE OF WHAT LONG BEACH OFFERS.

IT OFFERS SO MUCH FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE I FEEL SAFE AS A WOMAN, AS A NATIVE, AS A BLACK WOMAN, AS A GAY WOMAN, AS A TWO-SPIRIT, I FEEL SAFE HERE, BUT CAN I BE SAFE HERE IF LONG BEACH IS DOING BUSINESS WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS ACTIVELY TARGETING EVERY GROUP I BELONG TO, EVERY GROUP MY COMMUNITIES BELONG TO.

THAT IS NOT WHO LONG BEACH IS.

SO I URGE YOU, PLEASE, LET'S HAVE AN AGENDA.

LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION.

LET ABOUT SPACEX, LET'S NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE.

HOUSING AND EVICTION PROTECTIONS.

NEXT IS MC, THEN ERICA.

HELLO EVERYBODY.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, I JUST WANNA LIFT THE ASK TO, UH, END ALL CONTRACTS WITH SPACEX, UH, IN LONG BEACH.

AND THE DEMAND FOR THE WORKERS THAT ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR A FAIR WAGE, UH, WORKERS RIGHTS AND TENANTS RIGHTS WILL ALWAYS BE LINKED.

AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE AGAIN TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION LOOPHOLE.

UH, THIS LOOPHOLE ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO DISPLACE TENANTS, THE GUISE OF RENOVATION AND LEADING TO EVICTIONS AND LOSS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS AGO, THE LA CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED AN INTERIM ORDINANCE.

UH, WERE MOVING RENOVATION WORK AS A BASIS FOR EVICTION AND OVER 60% OF LONG BEACH 10, UH, LONG BEACH RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS, UM, HIGHER THAN LA COUNTY.

UH, AND YOU, I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO FOLLOW THAT.

WHAT MAKES IT EASY IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE THAT DATA AND INFORMATION YOU NEED.

IN JULY, 2021, UH, THE CITY MANAGER CONDUCTED A STUDY AND PREPARE TO REPORT EXPLORING PATHWAYS FOR ALLOWING RENOVATION WITHOUT FORCED DISPLACEMENT OF TENANTS.

AND JUST A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, IN 2021, THE CITY MANAGER REPORTED BACK MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS TO END THE LOOPHOLE, INCLUDING AN OPTION TO END SUBSTANTIAL, UH, SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL EVICTIONS AS A WHOLE.

BUT DESPITE TENANT SUPPORT, THE CITY FAILED TO DO SO.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, FOUR YEARS SINCE THEN, TENANTS ARE STILL LOSING THEIR HOMES.

WHEN TENANTS KNOW THAT REQUESTING REPAIRS COULD RESULT IN EVICTION, WHY WOULD THEY BE INCENTIVIZED TO REQUEST THOSE REPAIRS? HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS WAS A TOP BUDGET PRIORITY, UH, FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING THE BUDGET.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS Y'ALL HAD AND EVICTIONS CONSISTENTLY ARE ONE OF THE TOP REASONS WHY PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS.

SO WITH THIS CITY FACING A BUDGET SHORTFALL, THIS IS A LOW COST SOLUTION BY IMPLE IMPLEMENTING BETTER RENTAL PROTECTIONS AND ENDING SUBSTANTIALLY MODEL EVICTIONS.

IN ADDITION, YESTERDAY WAS TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY AND THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM MAKING IT RECOGNIZED IN THE CITY AND BEYOND WORDS AND RECOGNITION, TRANS FOLKS NEED MATERIAL CHANGE NOW AND A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF TRANS FOLKS ARE HOMELESS IN LONG BEACH.

AS PROVEN BY THE HOMELESS POINT IN TIME REPORT BY THE CITY LAST YEAR, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT THE TRANS COMMUNITY, WHICH INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO AFFORDABLE

[02:30:01]

REMOVING THIS LOOPHOLE WOULD ENSURE THAT RENOVATIONS ARE TRULY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST A MEANS FOR LANDLORDS TO BYPASS RENT CONTROL LAWS AND PROFIT FROM DISPLACEMENT.

WE MOVE SUBSTANTIALLY MODEL LOOPHOLES NOW AND PASS AN EMERGENCY MORATORIUM ON WHEN EVICTIONS NOW YOUR COMMUNITY, WHICH ARE MADE UP OF MAJORITY TENANTS, WANT THIS AND HAVE BEEN ASKING SINCE 2021, WHICH OF YOU, WHICH OF YOU WILL ACTUALLY BRING THIS FORWARD TO SUPPORT LONG BEACH RESIDENTS? YOU CAN MAKE ENORMOUS POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL DO THAT SOON.

NEXT IS ERICA, THEN ANTHONY.

TEST TEST.

GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MY FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ERICA AMIRA AND I AM A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUNSELOR HERE IN LONG BEACH.

AND TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT ONLY AS A PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED TO SERVING INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS, BUT AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN WHO WITNESSES FIRSTHAND THE DEATH OF THIS CRISIS EVERY DAY.

WHILE WE CELEBRATE A 2.1% DECREASE IN HOMELESSNESS FROM 2023 TO 2024, THE REALITY REMAINS HARSH.

HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION CONTINUE TO DEVASTATE LIVES, AND THE BARRIERS TO RECOVERY REMAIN OVERWHELMING.

HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE, HUNGER, ILLNESS, AND CONSTANT UNCERTAINTY.

AND IN THESE DESPERATE CONDITIONS, SUBSTANCE USE IS NOT ABOUT SEEKING A HIGH, IT BECOMES A MEANS TO SURVIVAL.

CHRONIC PAIN, UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND PAST TRAUMA, FUEL DEPENDENCY, UH, TRAPPING INDIVIDUALS IN A VICIOUS CYCLE WHERE ADDICTION LEADS TO HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELESSNESS FUELS ADDICTION.

MANY LOSE HOUSING DUE TO ADDICTION WHILE OTHERS TURN TO SUBSTANCES AS AN ESCAPE FROM UNBEARABLE CONDITIONS OF STREET LIFE.

WITHOUT INTERVENTION, THESE INDIVIDUALS FACE AN EVER PRESENT RISK OF OVERDOSE AND PREMATURE DEATH.

DESPITE THE NEED ACCESS TO TREATMENT, RE ACCESS TO TREATMENT REMAINS LIMITED, LONG WAIT LISTS, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE ABSENCE OF BASIC IDENTIFICATION KEEP MANY FROM RECEIVING HELP.

EVEN THOSE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ENTER TREATMENT MAY FIND THEMSELVES DISCHARGED BACK ONTO THE STREETS WHERE RELAPSES ALMOST INEVITABLE.

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITIES ARE AT CAPACITY LEAVING INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS WITH NOWHERE TO GO.

ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE IS INSURANCE.

MEDICAL MEDI-CAL PROVIDES ESSENTIAL COVERAGE FOR AT LEAST 75% OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

HOWEVER, ONLY A HANDFUL OF FACILITIES IN LONG BEACH EXCEPT MEDI-CAL, CREATING A BOTTLENECK THAT LEAVES THOSE IN URGENT NEED STRANDED ON LONG WAIT WAITING LISTS.

SO WITHOUT STABLE HOUSING, RECOVERY IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE YET LONG BEACH LACKS THE NECESSARY TEMPORARY AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THAT ACCEPTS MEDI-CAL TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AFTER TREATMENT.

THE ABSENCE OF RECOVERY FOCUSED HOUSING OPTIONS FORCES PEOPLE BACK INTO UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENTS MAKING RELAPSE.

ALL BUT CERTAIN WHEN TREATMENT IS INACCESSIBLE AND HOUSING IS UNAVAILABLE, WE ARE NOT JUST DELAYING PROGRESS, WE ARE ACTIVELY LOSING LIVES.

SO IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION, WE MUST CONFRONT THESE ISSUES WITH URGENCY IN ACTION.

AND EL SEGUNDO HAVE BEEN FRONTIERS IN AEROSPACE, WHETHER IT'S DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT OR THE RELATIONS WITH, UM, ROCKET LAB OR CURRENTLY SPACEX.

NEXT IS ANTHONY AND THEN CARLA.

HELLO, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK TOO LONG 'CAUSE I'LL BE BACK UP FOR 30, BUT I JUST WANT TO URGE YOU TO, UM, LISTEN TO THE OTHER RESIDENTS THAT CAME BEFORE YOU AND SPOKE ABOUT AT LEAST PUTTING SPACEX ON THE AGENDA TO BE DISCUSSED, UH, BEYOND THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT SPACEX BRINGS.

UM, WE SEE WHO'S AT HELM, ELON MUSK AND WHAT HE REPRESENTS AS THE PUPPETEER OF DONALD TRUMP, WHAT HE REPRESENTS IN RELATION TO FASCISM AND NAZIS.

DO WE WANT THAT ENTANGLED WITH THE IDENTITY OF LONG BEACH, I THINK SHOULD BE TABLED AND DISCUSSED THROUGH THE RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH.

UM, I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THIS TIME.

LIKE I SAID, I'LL BE UP AGAIN FOR ITEM 30.

UM, AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WE CAN DO HERE IN LONG BEACH.

UH, MAYOR, YOU'VE, YOU'VE MADE YOUR DREAM A REALITY WITH THE AMPHITHEATER AND AN INITIATIVE OF LONG BEACH GROW IS A FANTASTIC INITIATIVE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LONG BEACH GROW AS A LONG BEACH RESIDENT, BUT MAYBE WE CAN LOOK INTO AEROSPACE IN OTHER CAPACITIES, WORKING WITH OUR OWN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HERE, CREATING OUR OWN AEROSPACE DEPARTMENT, UM, BEING A FRONTIER IN THAT FRONT.

LONG BEACH

[02:35:01]

SO THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WE CAN DO HERE IN THE CITY.

UM, BUT UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL THE RESIDENTS COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING A TRUE DISCUSSION.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER PUTTING THAT AS AN AGENDA ITEM.

UH, CARLA AND THEN SASHI.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS CARLOS PLUTO.

JORDAN, I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN ME BEFORE.

I AM A LOCAL LODGE 1930 SECRETARY TREASURER FOR THREE MONTHS NOW.

AND, UH, UNION SERVED FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WE CELEBRATED WORLD TV DAY.

THIS MOR YOU KNOW, EARLIER THIS EVENING, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS IN NEED OF STABLE FUNDING AND NOT SOLELY RELYING ON GRANTS.

WE HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY LEADERS MAKE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO FUND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH LIVES.

DEPEND ON THIS, THE RESIDENTS, THE LONG BEACH, UM, LONG BEACH DEPENDS ON THIS.

I IMPLORE YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH OF THIS CITY.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CITY OPERATIONS CANNOT CONTINUE WITHOUT STABLE FUNDING EVERY DAY.

THERE'S A NEW ARTICLE TODAY, THEY LAID OFF 10,000 EMPLOYEES IN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

UM, THERE WAS SOME FEDERAL WORKERS, CDC GRANTS ARE BEING CANCELED EVERY DAY.

OUR STAFF AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS REALLY UNSTABLE.

THERE'S WORRIED, THERE'S A LOT OF ANXIETY BECAUSE HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ALREADY DO OUR JOBS WHEN WE'RE ALREADY DOING A JOB OF LIKE FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THESE SERVICES? I JUST AN EXAMPLE IS WORLD TB DAY, THE TB OUTBREAK.

UM, SO I'M JUST HERE TO REMIND YOU AND I ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M ANTICIPATING A LIST COMING SOON AS A UNION STEWARD FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.

AND I, I AM HERE TO EMPLOY YOU TO REALLY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST BUDGET HEARING WITH A LOSS OF FUNDING OF 75 POSITIONS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND, YOU KNOW, THE CITY MANAGER TO REALLY, REALLY PUT US IN THE MAP AS YOU DO PD AND FIRE.

WE ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS.

THE CITY, WE'RE KEEPING IT HEALTHY AND WE WANNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITH WITHOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PRIORITIZING.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING THE WORK ACTUALLY.

THANK YOU CARLA.

FINAL SPEAKER SASHI, CARLA SACHI, MORALLY DARRIN FIVE SYLLABLES.

I'LL WORK, I'LL WORK ON THAT.

THANKS SASHA.

YOU CAN SELF-TEST.

I'M A BUSINESS REP WITH THE, I AM REPRESENTING THE LARGEST SEGMENT OF THE, UH, CITY'S EMPLOYMENT POPULATION.

I'M HERE ECHOING MY MEMBERS' COMMENTS ABOUT FINDING STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

UH, LAST SUMMER WE WERE HERE, UH, PRESENT DISCUSSING THE HAZARDS OF RELYING ON PERENNIAL GRANT FUNDING AND ASK THE COUNCIL TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE MORE STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

GRANT FUNDING CAUSES THE DEPARTMENT TO OPERATE UNDER THE CONSTANT THREAT OF INTERRUPTION, IF NOT TERMINATION.

I KNOW OF HAVING PERSONALLY WORKED UNDER GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS, IT CAUSES A STRESS AND ON THAT, AND I EVEN SPOKE TO AN EMPLOYEE, THIS IS RANDOM EVEN OFF OF HERE, UH, THIS AFTERNOON.

UH, SOMEBODY THAT WORKED 20 SOME YEARS, SHE SAID IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NOW WORKS IN THE HARVARD DEPARTMENT AND THAT SHE ACTUALLY MENTIONED THAT HOW STRESSFUL IT WAS WORKING UNDER THE CONSTANT THREAT OF, OF, UH, GRANT TERMINATION.

IN FACT, I EXPECT TO BE MEETING AND CONFERRING WITH DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT SOMETIME SOON REGARDING THE IMPACTS ON MEMBERS FOR THE GRANTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO EXPIRE THIS YEAR.

SO WE'RE BACK AT IT.

HOW ARE THESE EXPIRATIONS GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE HEALTH OF THE CITY AND WHAT CAN THE CITY DO ABOUT IT? WE'D LOVE TO LEARN OF PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS LAST YEAR'S ASK FOR FINDING STRUCTURAL FUNDING.

I KNOW I'M NOT ASKING FOR THAT ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IF THERE'S BEEN ANY PROGRESS MADE TO THAT.

THANK YOU ON THAT TOPIC.

AND A QUICK ADD, I'M AS SOLIDARITY WITH MY LABOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE.

I SUPPORT THE AGENDA ITEM TO IMPROVE SELF-CHECKOUT REGULATION THAT PROVIDES SAFETY.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

TO ITEM 23, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, VICE MAYORGA COUNCILWOMAN THRASH RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER TO EVALUATE OPTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING A LABOR

WELL, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

JUST A FEW THINGS BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO'VE RAISED, UH, THE QUESTION IN THE PORT.

ALL VERY FAIR QUESTIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO ASK STAFF TO TELL THEM HOW THEY CAN GET THEIR, YOU KNOW, GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AT THE PORT, UH, ON, ON THAT SPECIFIC TOPIC.

SO IF SOMEONE CAN MAKE SURE THEY'RE DIRECTED, THEY HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS IN THE PORT HARBOR COMMISSION WHERE THEY DISCUSS THESE TOPICS.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHERE, WHERE THE APPROPRIATE PLACE IS.

UH, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'LL NOW MOVE

[02:40:01]

[23. 25-54822 Recommendation to request City Manager to evaluate options for establishing labor standards requirements regarding staffing and operational standards for self-checkout operations (SCOs) in grocery retail stores and retail drug establishments in Long Beach to proactively address retail theft and advance the preservation of public safety and welfare, with the intention of developing an ordinance that would enact new self-checkout labor standards requirements for staffing and operations at subject grocery retail stores and retail drug establishments in Long Beach. Office or Department: Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District; Roberto Uranga, Vice Mayor, Seventh District; Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Councilwoman, Eighth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS REGARDING STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SELF-CHECKOUT OPERATIONS IN GROCERY RETAIL STORES AND RETAIL DRUG ESTABLISHMENTS TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS RETAIL THEFT AND ADVANCE THE PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE.

UH, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND THE SECOND OF THE MOTION THEN STRAIGHT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THERE'S 23 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, MAYOR, I'D LOVE TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST, PLEASE.

OKAY, ALL.

SO WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT.

FIRST I AM GONNA READ THE FIRST 10.

CELESTE WILSON, FRANCISCO VALENCIA, UH, TINA CARILLO, LIZ CASAS, DON JANSSEN, STEVE MARTINEZ, UH, DEVIN ALAR.

STEVE NEIL CON, COUNCILMAN, HONORARY COUNCILMAN STEVE NEIL NA, TUSHNET, AND SARAH S THOSE ARE THE FIRST 10.

PLEASE COME FORWARD, DR.

NA.

ALL RIGHT, UH, CELESTE.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CELESTE AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, REPRESENTING NEARLY 900 BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY.

TONIGHT I URGE YOU TO REJECT ITEM 23, A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD MANDATE STRICT STAFFING RATIOS FOR SELF-CHECKOUT STATE STATIONS, LIMIT CUSTOMER TRANSACTION AND IMPOSE HEAVY FINANCIAL PENALTIES ON BUSINESSES.

WHILE WE ALL SHARE THE GOAL OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY, THIS ITEM SENDS A DAMAGING MESSAGE ABOUT LONG BEACH THAT WILL DRIVE BUSINESSES AWAY.

FIRST, IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO POTENTIAL INCOMING BUSINESSES AND REINFORCES A FALSE AND HARMFUL PERCEPTION THAT OUR CITY IS UNSAFE AND UNWELCOMING TO BUSINESSES.

INSTEAD OF OPENING NEW LOCATIONS IN LONG BEACH, THEY WILL GO TO SEAL BEACH, LAKEWOOD, TORRANCE, CITIES THAT OFFER A MORE STABLE, BUSINESS FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.

THIS ITEM WILL NOT STOP CRIME, BUT IT WILL STOP BUSINESSES FROM CHOOSING LONG BEACH.

SECOND, IT DOESN'T PREVENT CRIME.

CALIFORNIA LAW ALREADY PROHIBITS RETAIL EMPLOYEES FROM INTERVENING IN THEFT.

AND WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS PRESENCE AS A STRONG DETERRENT, SECURITY GUARDS ARE CONSIDERED THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DETER AND PREVENT THEFT, NOT EMPLOYEES.

THIRD, IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT STAFFING, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY TALK ABOUT STAFFING, BUT ALL THIS ITEM DOES IS UNFAIRLY PENALIZED BUSINESSES THAT ARE USING TECHNOLOGY TO STAY COMPETITIVE.

AND THIS APPROACH IS A THINLY VEILED ATTEMPT TO PASS A STAFFING MANDATE WHILE DOING NOTHING TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY.

IF WE TRULY WANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS TO TACKLE THE CORE ISSUES SUCH AS SECURITY UPGRADE GRANTS THROUGH V LONG BEACH'S VIP PROGRAM.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN BEFORE HOW WELL INTENDED POLICIES CAN BACKFIRE YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED.

NEXT IS FRANCISCO.

AFTER FRANCISCO IS TINA.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, I'M GONNA KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET.

UH, I'M GONNA START MANAGER HERE FOR A GROCERY BUSINESS.

UM, HAVING THE SELF CHECKOUT OR I WANT YOU GUYS TO PROPOSE THIS AS A NO BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT EVERYBODY.

EVERYTHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SELF OUT AS AN OPTION FOR EVERYBODY TO GO AND IN AND OUT.

YOU KNOW, ME AS A DAD, I HAVE KIDS SOMETIMES I JUST WANNA GO GRAB A SODA CHIPS QUICK, YOU KNOW, LEAVE.

AND I DON'T WANT TO GET ONLINE THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE ON, UH, IN FRONT OF ME.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS OFFICE THEATER COMING UP, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

WE CAN HAVE MORE TOURISTS COMING INTO OUR TOWN.

HOW ARE WE GONNA DEAL WITH THOSE, ALL THESE, UH, PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR BUSINESSES? YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE OPTIONS.

UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, A PROPOSED, YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, ON THE BOAT FOR A NO BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S GONNA LIMIT, UH, OUR SERVICES TO OTHER, UH, THE COMMUNITY.

AND ALSO, LIKE SHE SAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GONNA GO AND DECIDE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WE TRY TO STAY, UM, UPFRONT WITH THE COMPETITION.

UM, ONE LAST THING.

YOU KNOW, WE, EVERYBODY ORDERS THROUGH AMAZON.

YOU KNOW, I'M SURE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ALSO USE SALT CHECKOUT AND WHY THEY CHOSE TO DO IT MAYBE 'CAUSE THEY WERE LIKE IN AND OUT, THEY WANTED TO GET OUT REALLY FAST.

UM, AND I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THEIR OPINIONS AS WELL.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO PLEASE, UH, TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND, UH, MY NAME'S TINA CARILLO.

I WORK FOR RALPH'S GROCERY COMPANY.

UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON SELF-CHECKOUT.

UM, SELF-CHECKOUT IS BOTH A CONVENIENCE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND ALSO A CHOICE.

WE DO HAVE OUR REGULAR LANES OPEN

[02:45:01]

AS WELL IN OUR STORES.

UM, IT HELPS US, UH, MAINTAIN COSTS IN OUR STORES AND LOWER PRICES.

IF WE DO REMOVE SELF-CHECKOUT, UM, I COULD SEE IT GOING THE OTHER WAY WITH HIGHER PRICES.

UM, WHEN WE DO HAVE MORE SELF-CHECKOUTS IN OUR AREA, UH, OUR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, UM, THAT CAN CONVENIENCE AND GETTING THEM IN AND OUT.

UM, THAT'S WHY THEY CHOOSE US.

AND THEY DON'T GO TO THE AMAZON, THEY DON'T GO TO ONLINE REAL REALTORS.

THEY STAY LOCAL AND THEY SHOP OUR GROCERY STORES HERE AND KEEP EVERYBODY, UM, THRIVING IN WITH A JOB.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

NEXT IS LIZ AND THEN DAWN.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS LIZ AND I'VE ALSO BEEN WITH, UH, ROUSE GROCERY BUSINESS FOR, UH, OVER 35 YEARS.

UM, I LOVE, UH, VISITING THE LOCATIONS HERE IN LONG BEACH.

AND JUST LIKE THE FEW, UH, FOLKS AHEAD OF ME ALSO STRONGLY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UH, RESTRICTING SOUTH CHECKOUT.

UM, REGULATING SELF CHECKOUT WILL REALLY HAVE CONSEQUENCES ON OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WILL DRIVE UP GROCERY PRICES, CREATE LONGER LINES, AND MAKE SHOPPING LESS CONVENIENT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS WHO RELY ON SELF CHECKOUT FOR QUICK AND EFFICIENT OPTIONS.

UH, WE, WE MENTIONED BEFORE, TINA MENTIONED IT, UH, THAT WE DO HAVE OPTIONS.

WE HAVE REGULAR SELF, REGULAR CHECKOUT, AND SOME FOLKS, AND A LOT OF OUR, OUR CUSTOMERS, UH, THEY LOVE TO COME IN AND TO GET OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

SO I APPRECIATE TIME THIS EVENING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

NEXT IS DON, THEN STEVE.

STEVE.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DON JANSEN.

UH, I'VE LIVED HERE IN LONG BEACH, WORKED HERE IN LONG BEACH MY WHOLE LIFE.

UH, WENT TO JEFFERSON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WENT TO WOODROW WILSON, UH, HIGH SCHOOL.

UH, MY FIRST JOB WAS WITH BOYS MARKET ON ANAHEIM AND REDONDO, AND I'M CURRENTLY THE MANAGER AT RALPH'S AT THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE.

I'M HERE TODAY TO STRONGLY OPPOSED THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, RESTRICTING SELF-CHECKOUT AND URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS MEASURE.

THIS IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

OUR STORES ALREADY OPERATE SELF-CHECKOUT LANES IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS CUSTOMER PREFERENCE, PROVIDING SHOPPERS WITH BOTH CONVENIENCE AND CHOICE.

THIS ORDINANCE WILL NOT IMPROVE THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

INSTEAD, IT WILL LEAD TO HIGHER GROCERY PRICES, DRIVE CUSTOMERS TOWARDS ONLINE RETAILERS, AND ULTIMATELY HURT LOCAL BUSINESS AT A TIME WHEN FAMILIES ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH RISING COSTS, IMPOSING UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS THAT MAKE OVERSEAS MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS ACCESS, LESS ACCESSIBLE IS THE WRONG APPROACH.

RATHER THAN LIMITING OPTIONS FOR CONSUMERS, WE'D BE SUPPORTING POLICIES TO KEEP PRICES DOWN AND HELP LOCAL BUSINESS.

I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS MISGUIDED PROPOSAL AND VOTE NO ON SELF CHECKOUT WARRANTS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS STEVE MARTINEZ, AND THEN DEVIN ALAR.

HI, MY NAME IS STEVE MARTINEZ.

I'VE WORKED FOR ROS GROSS STREET COMPANY FOR 51 YEARS, 21 OF THOSE YEARS.

I WAS A PROUD UNION MEMBER.

I'M KIND OF A HISTORY BOOK ON THE GROCERY BUSINESS.

I'M AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL 'CAUSE SIMPLY IT'S GONNA RAISE THE COST.

WHEN I STARTED WORKING IN THE GROCERY BUSINESS, THERE WERE 17 UNION MARKETS, DIFFERENT MARKETS.

TODAY THERE ARE FOUR.

UH, COMPETITION IS STUFF.

WE ARE IN A BATTLE FOR OUR SURVIVAL.

UH, WE HAVE TO RUN THE GROCERY STORES AS EFFICIENTLY, UH, COST SAVINGS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHILE GIVING THE CUSTOMERS THE GREAT SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

IF YOU GO FROM 17 TO FOUR, YOU GOTTA BE A LITTLE NERVOUS.

YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA WONDER, HOW CAN I SURVIVE IN THIS CLIMATE.

UM, I'M ALSO A CITIZEN OF LONG BEACH FOR 42 YEARS, UH, BUT I DO STRONGLY, UH, OPPOSE THIS PROPOSITION.

NEXT IS DEVIN LEARD AND THEN STEVE NEAL.

GOOD EVENING ADMIRAL MAYOR.

UM, CITY COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME IS DEVIN ALAR, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THE LA COUNTY FEDERATION OF LABOR.

UM, I'M IN STARK DISAGREEMENT WITH THE, UH, FOLKS WHO HAVE SPOKEN HERE ALREADY.

UH, I THINK THOSE ARE CROCODILE TEARS.

UH, THIS IS THE SAME GROUP THAT HAS BEEN GOUGING PRICES FOR FAMILIES IN LONG BEACH AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

EVERY WEEK, MIKE COSTCO UP AT RALPH'S NO MATTER WHAT.

AND SO TO ME, UM, THOSE SOUNDED MORE LIKE THREATS THAN ECONOMIC EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS.

UM, AND SO I STAND RIGHT HERE WITH MY UFCW BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THEY KNOW, THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEMSELVES.

THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR, THEIR CUSTOMERS.

AND THEN, AND I GOTTA BE HONEST, I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR LONG BEACH.

AND SO TO ME THIS IS A REALLY EASY DECISION.

EITHER YOU'RE FOR THE WORKING CLASS OR YOU'RE NOT.

UH, BEFORE THE NEXT SPEAKER, I'M GONNA CALL UP SO THEY CAN START TO LINE UP, UH,

[02:50:01]

THE NEXT, UH, 10 OR SO.

SO THERE'S STEVE, NEIL, THEN NADA, TNI, SARAH S AND THEN THE REMAINDER ARE SHAMEIKA PEACOCK, UH, VINCENT SHEZ, UH, TERRY MONDOR, LINDA MOLINA, LETICIA DELGADO, KAREN REZA, MIA HERNANDEZ, UH, CURTIS LAWRENCE, SHAUNA HAM, ROSE BROCK, DEREK SMITH, UH, GRETCHEN SWANSON, TIM JAMES, JENNIFER SABER, AND SAM WALDOCK.

IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP IN THAT ORDER.

UH, COUNCILMAN NEIL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

HONORABLE MAYOR, ESTEEM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY STAFF.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS STEVE NEIL, FORMER NINTH DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, FORMER PROUD MEMBER OF UFCW 3 24.

AND TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU REPRESENTING THE LA FEDERATION OF LABOR, WHICH REPRESENTS 800 AFFILIATED UNIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, OR 300 AFFILIATED UNIONS WITH 800,000 UNION MEMBERS IN SEVERAL INDUSTRIES.

AND TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM SEVERAL WORKERS IN THESE ENVIRONMENTS WHOSE VOICES AND EXPERIENCE ARE SPEAKING TO THE ESCALATING CHALLENGES, THE HOSTILITY, AND EVEN SOME VIOLENCE THAT IS EXPERIENCED AND THEIR OVERALL SENSE OF WELLBEING WITHIN THE STORES THAT THEY WORK AT.

ALL OF THESE WORKERS HAVE SHARED THE LACK OF ADEQUATE STAFFING, THE OVERSIGHT AND RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE IN THESE STORES, IT'S A MATTER OF SAFETY.

SAFETY IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THE TRUTH IS WHEN THERE ARE FEWER EYES ON THE FLOOR, WORKERS ARE LEFT TO FACE HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE, AND THEFT.

SO THESE AREN'T JUST ISOLATED INCIDENTS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM, FROM THE WORKERS WITHIN THESE STORES.

LABOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVOCATING FOR SAFER WORK ENVIRONMENTS, RESPECTFUL WORKPLACES.

AND WE KNOW THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENTS DON'T JUST HAPPEN.

THEY ARE CREATED THROUGH POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT HOLD EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURE THAT WORKERS ARE SAFE.

SO ARE YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED? YOU CAN WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.

WELL, I JUST THANK YOU AND ASK THAT YOU GUYS WOULD SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE WORKERS.

IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

NEXT IS NADA, THEN SARAH.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORTH IN LONG BEACH.

WE CAN ADOPT PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO CREATE A MORE EFFECTIVE RETAIL ENVIRONMENT, ONE WHERE WORKERS ARE PROPERLY SUPPORTED AND CUSTOMERS FEEL SAFE.

WITH SMART SOLUTIONS THAT INCREASE STAFFING, WE CAN PREVENT THEFT BEFORE IT HAPPENS BY HAVING MORE EMPLOYEES, ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH CUSTOMERS, AND MONITORING THE SCHOOL STORE FLOOR STAFF ASSIGNED TO SELF CHECKOUTS SHOULD FOCUS SOLELY ON MONITORING AND ASSISTING CUSTOMERS AT THESE STATIONS.

THEY SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER TASKS TO ENSURE SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE NOT COMPROMISED.

ENHANCED SAFETY FOR BOTH WORKERS AND SHOPPERS, ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS SENIORS LIKE ME AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

MORE STAFFING AT STORES.

MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY RESOURCES ARE SPENT ON OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS.

THIS IS GOOD BUSINESS FOR IMPROVING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND REDUCING THEFT RELATED LOSSES.

I REALLY THINK IT BALANCES, UM, AND FOSTER AND FOSTERS A STRONGER COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS POLICY WILL HELP CREATE A SAFER RETAIL ENVIRONMENT IN LONG BEACH.

BENEFITING BOTH BUSINESSES AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY, MA'AM, ARE SAFER STORES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON.

ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS SARAH, THEN SHAMEIKA.

AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SARAH SERRANO AND I WORK FOR CVS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

THE COMPANY'S USE OF SELF-CHECKOUT IS AN ATTEMPT TO RUN STORES WITH AS FEW STAFF MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE.

IF THE COMPANIES WANT TO GO THIS ROUTE, THERE SHOULD BE REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE SELF-CHECKOUTS ARE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES TO HELP ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS.

OFTENTIMES AT MY CVS, THERE ARE ONLY TWO

[02:55:01]

EMPLOYEES ON THE SALES FLOOR, AND THE SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINES ARE LEFT UNATTENDED FOR LONG STRETCHES OF TIME AS WORKERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE OTHER TASKS AWAY FROM THE FRONT END OF THE STORE.

SELF-CHECKOUT GIVES AN EASY AVENUE FOR THIEVES TO STEAL MERCHANDISE TO FRUSTRATE HONEST CUSTOMERS WHO ARE FORCED TO OPERATE MACHINES THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH.

THESE REASONS LEAD TO CUSTOMERS BECOMING FRUSTRATED AND HOSTILE, PUTTING WORKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SCARY AND UNSAFE SITUATIONS.

COUNSEL, I ASK THAT YOU, YOU TO SUPPORT THIS POLICY TO HELP MAKE CUSTOMERS SAFER.

ALSO MONITORING SELF SELF-CHECKOUT.

NEXT IS SHAMEIKA AND THEN VINCENT.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SHAMEIKA PCO.

I HAVE WORKED AT AS A FOOD CLERK FOR BONDS FOR 24 YEARS AND I HAVE LIVED IN LONG BEACH.

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I COME FROM A STORE THAT RECENTLY CLOSED, WHICH IS BIXBY.

WE CLOSED IN FEBRUARY DUE TO THE INCREASED UM, LEASE.

AND BECAUSE OF THE THEFT, THEY COULDN'T CONTINUE TO LEASE, SO THEY CHOSE TO CLOSE.

SO CURRENTLY I AM AT A STORE WHO HAS A CHECKOUT.

OFTENTIMES WE ARE LOW STAFF AND THERE'S ONLY THREE STAFF MEMBERS.

MYSELF AS A CHECKER, A SUPERVISOR, AND A COURTESY CLERK.

THAT LEAVES ME RUNNING A REGISTER.

THERE IS NO ONE SCHEDULED TO MONITOR SELF-CHECKOUT FROM OPEN TO CLOSE.

SO IF I HAVE A LINE AND A CUSTOMER NEEDS ASSISTANCE, THE LIGHT IS BLINKING OR THEY DON'T PAY FOR IT, I HAVE TO STOP MY LINE TO GO ASSIST AT SELF-CHECKOUT.

DURING THOSE TIMES.

SOMETIMES I'M LEFT VULNERABLE 'CAUSE I'M ALREADY UP THERE BY MYSELF.

SO IF A CUSTOMER IS IRATE, IF THEY'RE ANGRY, I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEESCALATE THAT AND STEP BACK FROM MY OWN SAFETY.

SO I DO ASK THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND LABOR WITH THIS ORDINANCE.

I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORTS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

AND THAT V WAS, THAT WAS MY VINES.

I'VE SEEN YOU MANY TIMES AT THAT V VANCE, UH, VINCENT, AND THEN TERRY.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS VINCENT CHARE AND I'M A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN FOR CVS.

I WORKED ALL AROUND THE SOUTH BAY AND ALL THE LONG BEACH STORES.

THE CURRENT COMPANY IS SET UP OF HOW TO MAN.

THE FRONT END WITH SELF-CHECKOUT IS DISMISSIVE TO CUSTOMERS AND A RESPONSIBLE AS EMPLOYER IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE, ASSOCIATES MUST BE IN CHARGE OF THE REGISTER AND SELF-CHECKOUT SIMULTANEOUSLY WATCHING BOTH SECTIONS WHEN THEY HAVE NO VISIBLE VIEW OF WET ITEMS. ARE AGILELY BEING SCANNED OUT AT THE SELF-CHECKOUT? WHAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR? NOT ONLY ARE WORKERS SEVERELY MULTITASKING AND MULTI SUPERVISING, THE SELF-CHECKOUTS ARE USUALLY CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN THE BIRD'S EYE VIEW NEAR THE DOOR WHERE ANY CUSTOMER COULD JUST BASICALLY WALK OUT, WHICH JUST ENCOURAGES A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN DISHONEST TRANSACTIONS, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO DECREASE IN SALES REVENUES FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.

THIS IS REALLY NOT THE GRAB AND GO MODEL THAT I DON'T THINK THEY HAD IN MIND WHEN IMPLEMENTING A SELF-CHECKOUT.

BUT A SELF-CHECKOUT RATIO IS A SOLUTION BECAUSE EVERY SELF-CHECKOUT IS NOT WORTH A PART-TIMERS JOB OR ASSISTANCE TO A CUSTOMER.

WITH THE CURRENT BUSINESS MODEL, AT LEAST AT C-V-S-C-V-S WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE TO TRY TO ELIMINATE ANY FRONTEND ASSOCIATES BY MAKING SELF CHECKOUT INTO A SELF ASSISTED CHECKOUT WHERE YOU HELP YOURSELF.

YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED THIS NOW, WHERE YOU WILL NOT SEE A MANAGER OR ASSOCIATE AT THE SELF CHECKOUT.

THEY WILL GUIDE YOU TO THE SELF-CHECKOUT WHERE YOU WILL BRING UP YOURSELF AND LE AND LEAVE YOU ON YOUR WAY.

MEANING THERE IS NO ONE SAFEGUARDING THE FRONT END THE CUSTOMERS.

SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED.

PUTS US CLERKS INTO SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS NO WINNING AND NO WAY TO PERFORM MY JOB DUTIES SAFELY.

ALRIGHT, NEXT IS TERRY AND THEN LINDA.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

MY NAME IS TERRY MONOR.

I HAVE BEEN A RALPH'S EMPLOYEE FOR 42 YEARS.

I LIVE BOTH IN LONG BEACH AND I WORK IN LONG BEACH.

IN GENERAL, THEFT IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM AT RALPH'S AND HAVING TO BE AROUND SOMEONE ATTEMPTING TO STEAL PUTS A, PUTS BOTH CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES AT RISK.

SELF CHECKOUT MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE.

INSTEAD OF BEING IN CONTROL OF THE TRANSACTION, WE ARE INSTEAD PUT IN SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE TO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO STEAL AND THEN OFTEN SUBJECT TO VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.

SELF CHECKOUT

[03:00:01]

AND WHERE THERE SO MANY SALES ARE LOST THROUGH SELF-CHECKOUT AND THE COMPANY SEEMS TO OFFER NO SOLUTION BESIDES COST SAVING MEMBER MEASURES SUCH AS LESS STAFFING OR RAISING THE PRICES FOR CONSUMERS, IT WILL REQUIRE PROPERTY STAFFING ON THE FRONT OF OUR FRONT END OF OUR STORES.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL GET BETTER.

CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SELF-CHECKOUT WILL BE SEEN AS A LESS ATTRACTIVE WAY TO STEAL, AND THE SELF-CHECKOUT AREAS WILL NO LONGER BECOME THE MOST DANGEROUS AREA IN THE STORE.

NEXT IS LINDA, AND THEN LETICIA AND THEN KAREN.

IS LINDA HERE? LINDA MOLINA.

NEXT IS LETICIA DELGADO.

AFTER LETICIA IS KAREN.

OKAY, GOOD.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

I AM LETICIA.

I'M WORKED FOR ROS FOR 35 YEARS.

I'VE WORKED IN MANY POSITIONS IN OUR, IN MY INDUSTRY, AND I'M CURRENTLY A MANAGER IN UNION STEWARD AT THE ROS ON PCH.

AS A MANAGER, I OFTEN HAVE TO STEP IN AND ASSIST MY SELF CHECKOUT CLERK, UM, WHO'S OVERWHELMED.

I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO APPROACH CUSTOMERS WHEN OBSERVE THEM.

THEY'RE PROPERLY NOT SCANNING THEIR ITEMS OFTEN TO SHIELD ME FROM INTERACTING WITH OTHER TRANSACTIONS.

THEY GET VIOLENT SHOVE CARTS IN MY WAY TO PREVENT ME FROM SUPERVISING THEIR TRANSACTIONS.

CLERKS HAVE NO CONTROL OVER POTENTIALLY FIVE TRANSACTIONS THAT MIGHT BE OCCURRING SIMULTANEOUSLY AND OFTEN WATCHING THEFT OCCUR IN FRONT OF OUR OWN EYES.

WITH ONLY ONE WAY TO PREVENT IT, IT WILL BE TRIED TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO PEOPLE WHO NOT ONLY COMMITTING CRIME ORDINANCE.

ESTABLISHING 2 0 1 RATIO WOULD EMPOWER CLERKS TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THE TRANSACTION THEY SUPERVISE AND MUST PUSH ROUTES TO GET TO, TO DO BETTER.

TO STAFF OUR STORES.

MORE STAFF IN OUR STORES IS THE BEST DETERRENT WE HAVE LEFT FOR THEFT AND MAKING OUR STORES SAFER.

NEXT IS KAREN AND THEN MIA.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I'M KAREN RE SIDE.

I'M PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS AND I ALSO SIT ON THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION FOR OLDER ADULTS.

THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS REPRESENT MEMBERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

ON BEHALF OF THE GRAY PANTHERS, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 23.

UH, IT IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH FOR LONG BEACH FROM PREVENTION OF RE RETAIL THEFT AND MORE STAFFING NEEDS A BETTER SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS.

LIKE MANY OF OUR GRAY PANTHERS MEMBERS, UM, I WILL NOT GO THROUGH SELF-CHECKOUT HALF THE TIME.

THE MACHINES DON'T WORK CORRECTLY.

THEY CHARGE THE WRONG PRICES AND I HAVE TO CALL OVER A STAFF MEMBER TO COME ASSIST ME.

OFTENTIMES THERE'S NOT A STAFF MEMBER THAT CAN DO THAT.

IT'S UM, NO SECRET THAT THE GROCERY INDUSTRY IS CHANGING.

EVERY TIME I GO IN, THE PRICES IN ARE INCREASED AND IT, THIS IS, UH, QUITE FRANKLY AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE LABOR COSTS.

SO I WILL NOT USE A SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINE.

I NEED MORE HELP.

OFTEN I CANNOT SEE THEM SCREENS OF THE HALF THE TIME.

HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS CANNOT OFTEN READ OR REACH THE UM, MACHINES.

UM, CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE BETTER WAY TO GO.

UM, WE WANT TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CHECKERS.

THEY LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE HELP AND SUPPORT THEM.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED.

UM, ANNA ROW MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS MA HERNANDEZ PEREZ AND I WILL BE READING A PUBLIC COMMENT FROM, UM, STATE SENATOR MAJORITY LEADER LENA GONZALEZ.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN MARY ZENDEJAS AND COUNCILWOMAN RESH INUK AND VICE MAYOR ROBERTO RANGA FOR INTRODUCING THIS ITEM.

SENATOR GONZALEZ STRONGLY SUPPORTS AGENDA ITEM 23, WHICH IS ESTABLISHES LABOR REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SELF-CHECKOUT OPERATIONS IN GROCERY AND DRUG RETAIL STORES.

THIS MEASURE WILL ENSURE ADEQUATE STAFFING LE LEVELS HELP DETER THEFT, IMPROVE EMPLOYEE MORALE, AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

I URGE YOUR SUPPORT TO PROTECT OUR WORKERS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD EVENING.

NEXT IS CURTIS AND THEN SHAUNA.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL AND

[03:05:01]

MAYOR.

MY NAME IS CURTIS LAWRENCE.

I'VE BEEN AN ALBERTSON'S EMPLOYEE FOR FIVE YEARS AND PROUDLY SERVE AS A STEWARD AT MY STORE.

THE GROCERIES AND OPPOSITION TO OUR POLICY ARE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT PROVIDING MORE STAFFING THE STORES WOULD BE INEFFECTIVE AT MAKING THE STORES SAFER AS THEIR GENERAL POLICIES, POLICIES ARE FOR EMPLOYEES TO NOT ENGAGE WITH THOSE IN THE ACT OF STEALING.

WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS WORKING WITH UPWARDS TO SEVEN SELF-CHECKOUTS IN MY STORE, SEVEN SIMULTANEOUS TRANSACTIONS, THEY'RE OFTEN DRAGGED INTO ENGAGING WITH THIEVES WHETHER OR NOT THEY DECIDE TO.

IF THE SELF-CHECKOUT LOCKS UP WHEN THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO STEAL, WE HAVE TO ASSIST THEM.

WE HAVE TO INTERACT WITH THEM.

BY PERFORMING THE FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES OF A OF A BY PERFORMING THE FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES OF A SELF-CHECKOUT GROCERY CLERK, WE ARE FORCED TO INTERACT WITH THE POTENTIAL THIEVES.

EVEN THOUGH THE GROCERS CLAIM IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, AS PER THEIR COMMON POLICIES, VISIBILITY OF EMPLOYEES IS ALREADY THE MOST EFFECTIVE PRACTICE PRACTICE TO PREVENT RETAIL THEFT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ENCOURAGES VISIBILITY AND RECOGNIZES THAT AN INCREASE IN THE PRESENCE OF EMPLOYEES HELPS DETER BAD BEHAVIOR.

AS OF NOW, THE FRONT END OF GROCERY STORES OFTEN HAS ONE PERSON SUPERVISING ALL TRANSACTIONS.

IF THIS POLICY PASSES, WE WILL SEE MORE EMPLOYEES ON THE FRONT END, AND AS A RESULT, SAFER STORES AND SAFER SHOPPING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT RELY ON OUR GROCERY STORES TO PROVIDE THEIR GROCERIES AND THEIR NUTRITION.

NEXT IS SHAUNA VANDER.

HELLO, HONORABLE MAYOR AND, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS HANNAH HAMROCK.

IT LOOKS LIKE SHAUNA.

UM, I'M A MEMBER OF, UH, CLERGY AND LAITY, UNITED FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN LONG BEACH.

AND I'M ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVOCACY FOR NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, UH, FOR LONG BEACH AND, UH, WEST ORANGE COUNTY.

SO ON BEHALF OF CLUE, I WANTED TO STATE IN PUBLIC RECORD THAT WE SUPPORT THIS ITEM NUMBER 23 THAT'S BEFORE YOU.

AND WE ALL, WE WANT WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS TO HAVE A COMFORTABLE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AND FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.

UM, WE KNOW THAT THE PRICES OF FOOD ARE GOING UP.

IT ISN'T, UH, THE FAULT OF PAYING WORKERS A DECENT PRICE.

AND THE, UH, THE RATIO OF, UM, PROFIT HAS GONE UP FOR, FOR THE CORPORATIONS AND STORES.

UNDERSTAFFED STORES CONTRIBUTE TO BAD SHOPPING EXPERIENCES, STAFF STRESS FOR WORKERS, AND, UM, AND AS ELECTED OFFICERS, IT'S YOUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION AND MEASURE POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS SAFE.

UM, INDUSTRIES THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC RELY ON AND EVERYONE GOES TO ARE GROCERY STORES AND DRUG RETAIL STORES.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET OUR BASIC NEEDS, OUR GROCERIES AND OUR MEDICINE.

UM, THIS IS WHY OUR SHARED VISION SHOULD BE THAT STORES HAVE ADEQUATE MAN.

YOUR WELL SUPPORT THE STAFF TO BOTH.

MA'AM, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED.

SIR, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED.

I KNOW THAT 90 SECONDS GOES QUICK.

UH, DEREK AND THEN GRETCHEN.

AND THEN TIM.

YEAH, GOOD EVENING.

I WANT ADDRESS A FEW OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE OPPOSITION OF THIS MOTION.

WHERE WE ACTUALLY ALL AGREE IS THAT RETAIL THEFT VERSUS, UH, VIA SELF-CHECKOUT IS ON THEIR EYES UNDENIABLY TRUE.

NO ONE'S EVEN HERE TO DISPUTE IT.

BUT BASED UPON THE CORRESPONDENCE AND TESTIMONY OF, UH, OF THE GROCERS, THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A PLAN OR ANY INTEREST IN COMING UP WITH A PLAN TO DEAL WITH.

FACT NUMBER ONE, THE BEST IDEA THEY SEEM TO HAVE PER THE CALIFORNIA GROCERY ASSOCIATION IS TO WAIT FOR PROP 36 TO MAGICALLY MAKE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY.

IT FEELS MORE THAN A LITTLE TRUMPIAN, UH, TO THINK THAT MASS INCARCERATION OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS IS GONNA SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

BUT WHEN THE GROCERY INDUSTRY'S ONE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THEY HELP CREATE IS TO, UH, UH, IS TO PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL, THEN I'D HAVE TO AGREE THEY ARE OUT OF IDEAS.

SO WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS GOING TO DO AND ENFORCED WITH THIS FACT IS RESORT TO THE SAME OLD THREATS, WHICH IS IT'S GONNA COST THE CUSTOMERS MORE.

UH, THAT'S REALLY FUNNY BECAUSE ALL THE WORKERS HERE KNOW THAT CUSTOMERS ALREADY PAY MORE DUE TO THE THEFT.

SO EITHER WAY, THE CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING MORE.

THE INDUSTRY CREATED THIS PROBLEM BY INVESTING IN SELF-CHECKOUT SO THEY COULD SAVE MONEY AND STAFFING OUR PROPOSAL.

THIS PROPOSAL IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

IT SAYS THAT THEY CAN EITHER CONTINUE TO USE SELF-CHECKOUT SO LONG AS THEY STAFF IT PROPERLY IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS CUSTOMERS AND PROTECTS WORKERS.

OR CONVERSELY, THEY CAN CHOOSE TO DEEMPHASIZE A TECHNOLOGY THAT IS UNDENIABLY HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO THEFT.

SIR, YOUR TIMES CONCLUDED.

WHAT THEY CANNOT DO IS ACT LIKE,

[03:10:01]

TIM JAMES, CALIFORNIA GROCERS ASSOCIATION.

NEXT IS, UH, I THINK YOU'RE NEXT.

AND THEN GRETCHEN.

RIGHT? THANK YOU.

UH, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO NOT MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH THIS MEMO THIS EVENING.

UH, THERE ARE NUMEROUS OMISSIONS, UH, AND A NUMBER OF, UH, HOLES THAT ARE, UH, CURRENTLY IN THIS.

UH, THAT IS LIKELY BECAUSE NONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OR THE CITY TOOK ANY EFFORT TO, UH, WORK WITH, UH, GROCERY UH, OPERATORS ON THIS RETAIL THEFT ISSUE.

LET'S START WITH SOMETHING AND GET IT STRAIGHT.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT EMPLOYEES ARE DIRECTED NOT TO ENGAGE IN ANY RETAIL THEFT INCIDENTS.

THAT IS FOR THEIR SAFETY.

THAT IS FOR THE CONSUMER SAFETY.

THIS PROPOSAL IS ASKING US TO STACK EMPLOYEES IN THAT SAME AREA, WHICH WILL DO NOTHING TO PREVENT THE THEFT.

THESE THIEVES DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE BOLD AND THEY'RE BRAZEN.

THE ONE THING WE WILL AGREE WITH IN THIS MEMO IS THAT RETAIL THEFT IS CONSTANT AND ON THE RISE IN LONG BEACH WITH THIS ORDINANCE WILL RESULT IN OVER STAFFING IN, UH, THE SELF-CHECKOUT AREAS AND UNDERSTAFFING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STORE.

THIS CREATES AN UNNECESSARY COST AS WE KNOW ANY COST TO GROCERS ULTIMATELY BECOMES RESULTS IN A HIGHER PRICE FOR GROCERIES.

ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE RETAIL GROCERS WERE NOT BROUGHT IN THIS CONVERSATION AND WHAT WE NEED TO BE HONEST OURSELVES.

SIR, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED IS, SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, PLEASE.

NEXT IS GRETCHEN AND THEN JENNIFER SABER.

GOOD NE GOOD EVENING ALL.

I'M GRETCHEN SWANSON.

I LIVE IN ROSE PARK, CD TWO, A LIFELONG SHOPPER.

UM, I'VE NEVER SEEN AN OVERSTAFFED STORE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, SO JUST WANNA MAKE THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF, UH, THIS ITEM.

UH, IT'S A GREAT POLICY AND IT, IT COVERS A LOT OF ISSUES.

UH, WE HAVE TO PREVENT, NOT REACT, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

WE'RE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN AND THEN WE HAVE TO CALL HIGHER, HIGHER, UH, COST PERSONNEL LIKE POLICE TO COME IN AND DO SOMETHING, UH, IN NON A, UH, IN A NON-TIMELY MANNER.

UH, THE IDEA THAT THERE'S STAFFS THERE AND THERE'S STUFF GOING ON AND THEY'RE NOT TO BE A PART OF THAT, IT'S JUST INANE.

UM, CUSTOMERS GET OUR RATE AND THERE'S SOME LEGITIMATE, YOU KNOW, CONFUSION AT, AT CHECKOUT.

UM, I KNOW 'CAUSE I'M THERE AND I SEE IT.

UM, I'VE SEEN A REDUCTION IN STAFFING OVER THE, ALL THE YEARS.

45 PLUS YEARS I'VE, I'VE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL GROCERY DRUG, UM, ALL THE RETAIL, UH, OUTLETS AND THE WORKING STAFF LESS AND LESS AND LESS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THAT DEMAND.

SO I'M A PERFECT EXAMPLE THAT IF YOU PUT IN SELF-CHECKOUT, PEOPLE WILL NEED ASSISTANCE.

I NEED ASSISTANCE ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T WORK, IT DOESN'T ADD UP, IT DOESN'T RELATE TO THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME.

AND SO I HAVE TO PLEASE SOME MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED, UM, FROM THEIR DUTIES TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

PERSON WHO MIGHT BE ATTEMPTING TO STEAL.

NEXT IS JENNIFER AND THEN, UH, SAM, GETTING COUNSELOR AND MAYOR.

MY NAME IS JENNIFER AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR VINES FOR 28 YEARS.

I WORK, WHEN I WORK SELF-CHECKOUT.

I CONSTANTLY, IT CONSTANTLY LEAD TO CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE CUSTOMER AND MYSELF.

IT RUINS THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND LEADS TO SITUATIONS THAT THREATENS MY SAFETY AND PREVENT FOR ME, PREVENT ME FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT RELY ON US FOR THEIR GROCERIES.

WHEN I'M OVERSEEING UP TO SEVEN TRANSACTIONS AT ONE TIME, EVEN HONEST CUSTOMERS GETS FRUSTRATED WHEN THE SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINES LOCK UP FOR REASONS OUT OF THEIR CONTROL.

I ONCE HAD A CUSTOMER GET SO FRUSTRATED THAT HE SCREAMED AT ME AND THREW A METAL BAG RACK AT ME, WHICH HIT ME.

BUT THANKFULLY IT DIDN'T HIT ME AS HARD.

ON TOP OF THAT THEFT OCCURS IN FRONT OF OUR EYES EVERY DAY AS SELF-CHECKOUT COMPANY POLICY IS TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO EVERY

[03:15:01]

PEOPLE, STEAL FROM SELF-CHECKOUT, GET LOUD DEFENSIVE, AND WHEN WE APPROACH THEM, THEY'RE VERY UNPREDICTABLE IN THEIR BEHAVIOR.

COUNSEL, PLEASE SUPPORT THIS POLICY TO REGULATE THE SELF-CHECKOUT.

IT WILL FOSTER A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR WORKERS AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL.

MA'AM, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED.

ALRIGHT, OUR FINAL SPEAKER, SAM.

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SAM WALDOCK.

I AM A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE OFFICE OF STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL.

UH, I'M JUST HERE TO SHARE THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER'S SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM.

YOUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR ITEM 23 FROM OUR OFFICE TODAY, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO JUST VERBALLY REITERATE OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM, OUR SUPPORT FOR OUR UFCW BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WHICH IS SEEKING SAFER SHOPPING EXPERIENCES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THIS.

WELL, THAT NOW CONCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL NOW.

COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS.

THEFT AND DETER INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

UM, I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THRASH, INTECH, AND VICE MAYOR ORANGA FOR SIGNING ONTO THIS ITEM WITH ME.

THIS ITEM IS A SAFER STORES INITIATIVE THAT AIMS TO ESTABLISH ANTI RETAIL THEFT, STAFFING, AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SELF CHECKUP CHECKOUT OPERATIONS IN LONG BEACH GROCERY STORES AND DRUG ESTABLISHMENTS.

THIS WILL MAKE OUR STORES SAFER BY PROACTIVELY ADDRESSING RETAIL THEFT AND ADVANCING THE PRE PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE.

I WANT TO THANK ALL WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TODAY ON THIS ISSUE AND THOSE WHO SENT IN LETTERS ADDRESSING THIS ITEM.

I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, CHIEF ISH, UM, RICH FROM THE POA PRESIDENT OF THE POA AND OF COURSE THE GROCERY STORE WORKERS FOR MEETING WITH ME AND MY OFFICE AS A, AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE INITIAL PROCESSES, I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS ITEM IS IN ITS VERY BEGINNING AND THE ORDINANCE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS HERE.

AND WE WILL PROVIDE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING RETAIL WORKERS, STORE MANAGEMENT, AND INDUSTRY GROUPS TO HELP REFINE AND STRENGTHEN THE FINAL POLICY.

WE ARE ALSO WELL AWARE THAT RETAIL THEFT IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE.

AND WHILE THIS POLICY SOLUTION MAY NOT ERADICATE RETAIL THEFT ENTIRELY ON ITS OWN, IT WILL SERVE AS ANOTHER CRITICAL TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX TO PREVENT AND COMBAT RETAIL THEFT AND COMPLIMENT MANY OTHER TOOLS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THROUGH PROP 36 AND OTHER RECENT LEG LEGISLATION, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS, WHICH IS WHY THE DIRECTIVE INCLUDES AN EVALUATION OF ALL OPTIONS.

RETAIL THEFT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS BUSINESSES, CUSTOMERS, AND EMPLOYEES ALL ALIKE.

THIS SAFER STORES INITIATIVE WILL MITIGATE THOSE DOCUMENTED IMPACTS FROM A DRAIN ON PUBLIC RESOURCES REVENUE LOSSES FOR BUSINESSES TO IMPACTS ON EMPLOYEE SAFETY.

THE PROBLEM IS CLEAR, IT IS MADE CLEAR IN THE DISCUSSION SECTION THAT BOTH THIS PROBLEM OF RETAIL PET THEFT AND ITS CONNECTION TO INADEQUATE STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS HAVE RESULTED IN TWO FEW STAFF WHO ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST THE THEFT OF SELF-CHECKOUT OPERATIONS.

IN MY DISTRICT ALONE, THE PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY ACUTE IN STORES LIKE THE VONS IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH WHERE RETAIL THEFT HAS BECOME SO PREVALENT, THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE HAS GREATLY DIMINISHED AND EMPLOYEES ARE UNSAFE.

AS A CITY, WE HAVE PRIORITIZED STRATEGIES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP PREVENT RETAIL

[03:20:01]

FROM A RECENT RETAIL THEFT ROUND TABLE TO DEPARTMENTAL GRANT PROGRAMS AND PROSECUTION EFFORTS, THESE DISCUSSIONS AND EFFORTS AFFIRM THE NEED AND URGENCY TO DEVELOP TARGETED PUBLIC POLICY TOOLS TO DISRUPT AND PREVENT RETAIL THEFT IN LONG BEACH RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS.

OVERALL, THE ABSENCE OF ADEQUATE STAFFING AND PREVENTION MEASURES TO HELP MONITOR AND DETER THEFT ACTIVITIES IN RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS VIA SA SAFE CHECKOUT OPERATIONS PUTS AN UNNECESSARY STRAIN ON LOCAL PUBLIC RESOURCES.

DEPRIVES THE CITY OF CRITICAL SALES TAX REVENUE AS WELL.

VISIBLY VISIBILITY OF THE EMPLOYEES IS ALREADY A BEST AND TRAINED PRACTICE IN THE INDUSTRY TO PREVENT RETAIL THEFT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ENCOURAGES VISIBILITY AND RECOGNIZES THAT INCREASE IN EMPLOYEES HELPS DETER BAD BEHAVIOR.

THEREFORE, IT IS IN THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST TO RE REQUIRE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS TO ADOPT EFFECTIVE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES THAT WILL LIMIT THE PUBLIC BURDEN THAT RETAIL THEFT CREATES, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SELF-CHECKOUT RETAIL OPERATIONS.

THIS INTERN WOULD BENEFIT BUSINESSES THAT ADOPT SUCH MEASURES, CREATE SAFER WORKING CONDITIONS FOR RETAIL EMPLOYEES AND BOLSTER PUBLIC SAFETY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO AN, UH, ANALYTICAL AND DRAFT ORDINANCE TO COME BEFORE US AND I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES CAN SUPPORT THIS.

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH INTU.

AND THESE RETAIL EMPLOYEES KNOW THE TRUTH.

UM, AND TO MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES, UH, I'M A PROUD CO-SPONSOR ON THIS CRITICAL ITEM, THE SAFE STORE INITIATIVE.

UH, I WANNA THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND VICE MAYOR FOR SIGNING ON TO THE ITEM AS WELL.

ITEM 23 ADDRESSES A VITAL ISSUE FACING LONG BEACH, ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY'S ESSENTIAL GROCERY AND DRUG STORES.

I HAVE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM FRONTLINE WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES HERE IN OUR CITY.

SOME OF YOU ARE REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT.

YOU'VE SHARED DURING PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, PARTICULARLY CONCERNING CHRONIC UNDERSTAFFING AT SELF CHECKOUT AREAS.

THIS ISN'T MERELY AN INCONVENIENCE.

IT FOSTERS A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CREATES UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR BOTH EMPLOYEES AND SHOPPERS.

YOU ARE DEDICATED WORKERS WHO ALL TOO OFTEN HAVE TO FACE DAILY HARASSMENT AND REOCCURRING VIOLENCE.

YOU DESCRIBE FEELING ABANDONED AND CON WHEN CONFRONTING THEFT, OFTEN NEEDING A MANAGER'S APPROVAL JUST TO CALL FOR HELP.

AS AN APPOINTED COUNCIL MEMBER TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, I FIND THIS REALITY UNACCEPTABLE.

THE DATA CLEARLY BACKS UP THESE PERSONAL ACCOUNTS.

STUDIES CONFIRM THAT EMPLOYEES FEEL MORE DISRESPECTED AND BULLIED IN STORES WHERE UNDERSTAFFED SELF-CHECKOUTS LEAVE THEM MANAGING UP TO EIGHT TO 10 MACHINES ALONE.

ADDITIONALLY, CITYWIDE PETTY THEFT IS UP 16%, PLACING ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON POLICE RESOURCES THAT ARE URGENTLY NEEDED FOR OTHER MATTERS.

THIS ISSUE TRANSCENDS PROFITS AND LOSSES.

IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF EVERY RESIDENT AND WORKER IN LONG BEACH.

WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE OVERWHELMED, OUTNUMBERED, AND SOMETIMES DELAYED IN CONTACTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS COMPROMISED.

THE PROPOSED SAFE STORE INITIATIVE ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY WHILE ENSURING MINIMAL OPERATIONAL IMPACT ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY STAFF.

CENTRAL TO THIS APPROACH COULD BE INVESTIGATING USING PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AS THE PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.

OUR CORE INTENT IS NOT TO PLACE NEW ADMINISTRATIVE, INVESTIGATIVE, OR ENFORCEMENT BURDENS ON OUR CITY PERSONNEL, BUT TO PRIORITIZE THE RIGHT OF ACTION.

A TOOL THE CITY HAS USED SUCCESSFULLY BEFORE AND OTHER INITIATIVES, IT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES TO SEEK CIVIL REMEDIES, REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS, DRIVING COMPLIANCE THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE JUDICIAL PROCESSES.

THIS STRATEGY SAFEGUARDS MUNICIPAL RESOURCES FOR OTHER CRITICAL PRIORITIES.

THE CORE SOLUTION ISN'T COMPLEX AND IT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THIS ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY.

OUR RESIDENTS

[03:25:01]

A STAFF STORE IS A SAFE STORE.

RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT ADEQUATE STAFFING AND ATTENTION, ATTENTIVE EMPLOYEES ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DETERRENT TO THEFT.

WHEN STAFF, STAFF CAN ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH CUSTOMERS, IT NATURALLY REDUCES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEFT AND FOSTERS A MORE SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE DIRECTLY IMPROVING ALL PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES.

THIS CHALLENGE ISN'T UNIQUE JUST TO LONG BEACH.

IT REFLECTS A STATEWIDE TREND.

IT'S BEEN NOTED THAT IN CALIFORNIA ALONE MORE THAN 9 BILLION WAS LOST TO THEFT.

AND STUDIES INDICATE THAT 20 TO 25% OF THOSE LOSSES ARE SPECIFICALLY LINKED TO INADEQUATE STAFFING AT SELF-CHECKOUT SYSTEMS. WHILE WE ARE WORKING TO ACTIVELY COLLABORATE WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS, AS WE HEARD FROM THEIR SUPPORT HERE TODAY ON BROADER ISSUES LIKE THIS, WE CAN TAKE DECISIVE ACTION HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

UM, IN MY OWN DISTRICT, SOME OF I SEE WORKERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT, JUST AS I WAS TAKING OFFICE, THE LARGEST GROCERY STORE IN THE DISTRICT CLOSED A CRITICAL NEEDED ESTABLISHMENT IN EVERY COMMUNITY, A GROCERY STORE.

NOW CLOSED MANAGEMENT CITED POOR PERFORMANCE.

AND IT IS A WONDER, BUT THE LEVEL OF THEFT IN STORES THAT IT HADN'T CLOSED SOONER.

WE WANT TO GIVE GROCERS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO STOP THIS RAMPANT THEFT.

THE SAFE STORE INITIATIVE IS A CRUCIAL STEP FOCUSING ON ADEQUATE STAFFING STANDARDS ENFORCEABLE THROUGH PRIVATE ACTION.

WE NEED A POLICY THAT TARGETS THE SYSTEMATIC SHORTCOMINGS THAT LEAD TO UNSAFE CONSEQUENCES TO SUPPORT.

WE WANNA SUPPORT RETAIL EMPLOYEES, PROTECT RESIDENTS, AND HELP BUSINESSES REDUCE SIGNIFICANT SELF-CHECKOUT RELATED LOSSES AND FREE UP RESOURCES FOR OTHER PRESSING NEEDS.

TO IMPLEMENT THIS EFFECTIVELY, WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT OUR STAFF IS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON CRITICAL NEEDED ISSUES WITHIN OUR CITY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO AND ENCOURAGE OUR, OUR CITY, UH, STAFF TO EXPEDITE A REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL OUTLINING OPTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH PRIVATE RIGHTS OF ACTION.

AND HERE I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE THE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT COMMUNITIES DESERVE.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE SAFER STORE INITIATIVE.

APPRECIATE IT.

IS THAT, IS THAT CLOCK WORKING? OKAY.

I'M JUST CHECKING.

IT'S PART OF THE POLICY AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET IN TROUBLE FOR INTERFERING THIS PROPOSAL CONTRADICTS THOSE EXISTING SAFETY MEASURES.

UH, COUNCILMAN DUGGAN.

SO I WANNA START BY RECOGNIZING SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.

OUR GROCERY AND DRUG STORE WORKERS DESERVE A SAFE AND RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT JOBS IN THE PEOPLE WHO FILL THEM, PLAY A VERY VITAL ROLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW RETAIL THEFT IS A REAL CRIME AND IT AFFECTS NOT JUST OUR STORES AND EMPLOYEES, BUT OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

IT'S NOT OUR BUSINESS'S FAULT.

THEIR INVENTORY KEEPS GETTING STOLEN.

IT ISN'T THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RETAIL EMPLOYEES TO REDUCE THE CRIME EITHER.

WE ARE INAPPROPRIATELY SHIFTING BLAME AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE STEALING AND PUTTING THE BLAME ON OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOR NOT TAKING APPROPRIATE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, MEASURES THAT ARE NOT NEEDED IN OTHER STATES OR EVEN IN NEIGHBORING CITIES.

THIS PROPOSAL CENTERS ON THE IDEA THAT MANDATING A SPECIFIC STAFFING RATIO, ONE EMPLOYEE PER TWO SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINES WILL REDUCE THEFT AND IMPROVE SAFETY.

EVEN THIS ITEM ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SELF-CHECKOUT ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY 20 TO 25% OF RETAIL LOSSES IN STORES THAT USE THEM HEAVILY.

THAT STATISTIC WAS USED BY ONCE OF MY, ONE OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

ALSO IN A DIFFERENT WAY, THIS MEANS MOST RETAIL THEFT IS HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STORE, AND THE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AREN'T CREATED BY PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT EMPLOYEES SEEING THEM STEAL AT SELF-CHECKOUT.

I DON'T SUPPORT FOCUSING ON THIS NARROW SLICE OF THE PROBLEM WITHOUT DATA ON HOW THIS MANDATE WILL CHANGE ANYTHING EXCEPT RAISE OPERATING COSTS THAT WILL BE PASSED ON TO OUR RESIDENTS IN THE FORM OF HIGHER GROCERY BILLS.

YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING ELDERLY PEOPLE, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE OUR GROCERY BILL COST.

GROCERY AND DRUG STORES HAVE AL ALREADY HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE TO PROTECT THEIR EMPLOYEES BY PRO PROHIBITING THEM.

THEY CANNOT INTERFERE DURING INSTANCES OF RETAIL THEFT.

[03:30:01]

MANY STORES ARE ALREADY ADAPTING TO THEFT AT SELF-CHECKOUTS WITHOUT BEING MANDATED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

ACCORDING TO THE 2024 REPORT, THE IMPACT OF RETAIL THEFT AND VIOLENCE SINCE 2019, OVER 64% OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS HAVE CREATED OR ADDED POSITIONS WITHIN THEIR LOSS PREVENTION TEAMS TRAINED IN RESPONSE TO INCREASES IN THEFT, VIOLENCE, OR LOSS.

69% HAVE ADDED MERCHANDISE LOCKING CASES FOR ITEMS COMMONLY STOLEN.

AND 50% HAVE ADDED SELF-CHECKOUT ITEM SCANNING, DETECTION, OR IDENTIFICATION.

COMPANIES ARE IMPLEMENTING MEASURES TO PREVENT THEFT THAT IS RIGHT FOR THEIR SPECIFIC STORE.

THERE ARE BUSINESSES WHO WATCH HOW BUSINESSES' DONE AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT WORK FOR THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

CITY GOVERNMENT IS NOT EQUIPPED TO TELL GROCERY AND DRUG STORES HOW TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS.

IT SHOULD BE THE BUSINESS'S DECISION ON HOW TO IMPROVE SELF-CHECKOUT OPERATIONS AND LABOR SHOULD BE AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

LONG BEACH CAN'T BE SEEN AS A CITY THAT OVER REGULATES THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND KILLS INNOVATION.

ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT THIS PROPOSAL TAKES A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH RE REQUIRING A RIGID STAFFING RATIO AND IMPOSING PENALTIES OF UP TO $2,500 PER HOUR FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.

WHO IS GOING TO BE PAYING THAT 2,500 THAT COULD HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR STORES ALREADY UNDER FINANCIAL STRAIN, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SEEN RECENT CLOSURE OF GROCERY AND DRUG STORES, INCLUDING IN DISTRICT THREE.

WE ALSO NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT TODAY'S RETAIL THEFT LOOKS LIKE.

IT'S INCREASINGLY ORGANIZED, AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT AT TIMES.

NATIONAL REPORTS SHOW THAT VIOLENCE DURING RETAIL CRIMES IS UP 42% AND THREATS INVOLVING WEAPONS ARE UP NEARLY 40% IN JUST THE LAST YEAR.

THESE AREN'T SITUATIONS ANY NUMBER OF STAFF AT SELF-CHECKOUT KIOSKS CAN BE EXPECTED TO SAFETY CONTROL.

IF OUR GOAL IS TRULY SAFETY, THEN OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ENFORCING THE LAW AND RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT MEANS IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES AND ENSURING THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR REPEAT AND AGGRESSIVE OFFENDERS.

WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGES MADE BY PROP 36, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY NEARLY 70% OF VOTERS.

AND FINALLY, THIS IS ULTIMATELY A CONVERSATION ABOUT AUTOMATION, NOT PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE RISE OF SELF-CHECKOUT IS PART OF A LARGER SHIFT IN HOW BUSINESSES ARE IMPLEMENTING NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

IF THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HOW AUTOMATION IS CHANGING JOBS AND HOW WE SUPPORT WORKERS THROUGH THAT TRANSITION, THAT'S A CONVERSATION WORTH HAVING.

RETAIL THEFT IS A REAL CONCERN, BUT THE BUSINESSES GETTING THEIR INVENTORY STOLEN ISN'T THE BURDEN.

I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION THAT STARTED.

I AGREE THAT DOING NOTHING ISN'T AN OPTION, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT PATH FOR LONG BEACH.

WE HAVE A WAY, REPHRASE IT.

NEXT IS VICE MAYOR URANGA.

AND THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND I AM, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS.

MY COUSIN DUNGAN MORE IS LESS.

AND LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.

THE MORE STAFF WE HAVE, THE LESS THE, THE LESS IS STOLEN.

THE MORE THAT IS STOLEN, THE LESS REVENUE THAT COMES TO LONG BEACH IN TERMS OF TAXES AND REVENUE LOSS.

BECAUSE TITLES ARE STOLEN, MORE OR LESS GOES BOTH WAYS.

SO I ALIGN MYSELF WITH, UH, THE COMMENTS BY MY COLLEAGUES, SAND ANDRA TOOK IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUES AT HAND, THE ISSUES THAT, THAT THAT WAS PRESENTED BEFORE.

THEY'RE NOT AN ISSUE OF AUTOMATION OR STAFFING.

THIS IS AN ISSUE OF SAFETY.

THIS IS AN ISSUE OF BEING ABLE TO CONTROL WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR MARKET AND WHAT COMES INTO IT.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

[03:35:02]

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO WORK THIS OUT.

AND I'M SURE THAT OUR STAFF CAN DO PRECISELY THAT.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS WHOLE ISSUE, LET'S THINK ABOUT IT.

LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT, MORE OR LESS WE WANT TO DO.

NOTHING MEANS MORE.

MORE WHAT? MORE THEFT.

BUT TO DO SOMETHING MORE STAFF MEANS MORE REVENUE, MORE MONEY THAT COMES INTO THE CITY'S COFFERS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

I, MR. MOCA, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME, WHERE IF I ASK YOU, MAN, CAN WE PUT A TIME LIMIT ON PUTTING SOMETHING TO BRING FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, 30 DAYS TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING, 30 DAYS WOULD BE A VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE, UM, AMOUNT FOR THIS STUDY.

SO WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT, BUT, UM, YOU, I THINK YOU CAN ASK FOR SOMETHING PROBABLY IN THE 90 DAY AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO CHECK IN AT THE TIME THAT WHAT WE HAVE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS.

UH, THIS IS, UH, NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN OTHER CITIES DO.

AND SO, UH, WE'VE GOTTA DO SOME LEGAL RESEARCH AS WELL, SOME OPERATIONAL RESEARCH.

HOW ABOUT 60 DAYS FOR AN UPDATE? AND YOU TELL ME IF YOU'RE READY OR NOT.

WE CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE IN 60 DAYS.

SURE.

ALRIGHT.

IS THAT OKAY WITH MY COLLEAGUES? THAT'S FINE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UM, I WANNA THANK FIRST THE WORKERS WHO CAME OUT TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND THOSE WHO REACHED OUT TO US BEFORE THIS, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND CONCERNS.

UH, I APPRECIATE IT GREATLY.

I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR MAKING THIS ITEM A REPORT BACK BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ROBUSTLY VET, UM, OUR STANDING TO DO SO.

THE IMPACT ON WORKERS LOCALLY, AS WELL AS IN THE, UM, ECONOMIC, UM, IMPACT OF THE AREA.

UM, I VISITED MY TEAM AND I, I I HAVE A LIST OF MY STORES.

I THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS FOR, FOR THE LIST.

UM, BUT I DID HAVE A LIST OF MY OWN FROM MY STORES.

THEY'RE STORES THAT I FREQUENT PERSONALLY.

UH, ME, MY TEAM AND I VISITED THESE STORES, LOOKED AT 'EM THROUGH THE LENS OF SAFETY OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE, HOW THEY'RE STAFFED, UM, TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT WE KNEW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT, UM, ON THE STORES THAT HAPPENED TO BE IN OUR DISTRICT.

AND WE KNOW THAT SOME, UM, AND NOT ALL EMPLOY SELF-CHECKOUT.

WE HAVE A FEW THAT DO NOT HAVE THAT AS THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.

UM, I ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE RETAIL THEFT.

I'M NOT GONNA GO BACK INTO THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID, BUT I THINK THE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME IN THIS CONVERSATION, UM, IS THAT WE HAVE A REALLY HONEST AND ROBUST CONVERSATION AS THIS COMES BACK TO COUNSEL.

UM, I THINK WE NEED TO FULLY, AS I SAID, EXPLORE THE IMPACTS FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE.

I KNOW, UH, MR. CITY MANAGER, YOU JUST KIND OF LOOKED AT THAT AND, UH, UM, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, UH, THE IMPACT ON WORKERS AND LONG BEACH HAS A HISTORY OF DOING HARD THINGS AND DOING BOLD THINGS.

WE KNOW THAT.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE DO IT, UH, WITH A KEEN EYE TO DETAIL.

UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE LOOKING AT THIS THOROUGHLY.

SO THAT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE BRING BACK, AND IF AN ORDINANCE COMES BACK TO US, IT HAS BEEN FULLY VETTED AND WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SET THE STAGE, UM, FOR SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO BE GOOD FOR WORKERS.

UM, AND I KNOW WE HAVE A HISTORY OF DOING THAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS DOING THAT.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GONNA ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT AS WELL IS THE REALITY OF IF THERE IS RETALIATION, IF ONE OF OUR GROCERS CHOOSES TO EITHER CUT JOBS OR TO LEAVE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS LIST OF WHERE STORES ARE, WE KNOW THERE'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR LARGE RETAIL SPACES SITTING EMPTY.

I KNOW AT LEAST THREE COUNCIL DISTRICTS HAVE EMPTY GROCERY STORES FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS.

ONE IN DISTRICT FIVE GOING ON FIVE YEARS NOW.

AND THAT BRINGS UP OTHER ECONOMIC CONCERNS TO THE AREA.

THERE ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED OFTENTIMES WITH VACANCIES IN THOSE BUILDINGS.

SO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE DO THIS IN A REALLY THOUGHTFUL WAY, UM, LOOKING AT WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE IF ONE OF THESE STORES DECIDED TO CLOSE.

'CAUSE THERE'S AN IMPACT TO WORKERS.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT MANY OF THESE BIGGER CHAINS HAVE LONG-TERM LEASES AND THEY CAN LET THAT PROPERTY SIT VACANT AND UNUSED FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY PAID OUT THE LEASE.

AND SO, AGAIN, AS WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION, WHEN THIS COMES BACK, I THINK WE NEED TO, TO LOOK AT IT IN OUR SUPPORT OF WORKERS AS WELL AS BEING PREPARED FOR SOME ECONOMIC

[03:40:01]

IMPACT.

UM, IF SOME FOLKS MADE SOME DECISIONS AROUND THE DECISIONS THAT WE MIGHT MAKE.

SO I DON'T WANT US TO BE SURPRISED.

SO IF IN THE REPORT BACK, IF IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE MAKERS OF THE MOTION, UM, TO REALLY LOOK POTENTIALLY AT WHAT HAS BEEN THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF SOME OF THOSE LARGER CLOSED RETAIL LOCATIONS, UM, JUST AS A POINT OF MEASURE, UH, FROM AN ECONOMIC AND A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, AS WELL AS, UM, THE ROBUST WORK THAT WE'LL LOOK AT THE SUPPORTIVE WORKERS IN THERE AS WELL.

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.

UH, YES.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND, UM, I WANNA SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS FOR HER LEADERSHIP, AND COUNCILWOMAN THRUSH TU AND VICE MAYOR URANGA, UH, FOR YOUR, ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS ITEM.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE MORE, UH, STAFF AT CHECKOUTS, NOT ONLY FOR MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, BUT TO ALSO, UM, PREVENT AND REDUCE, UH, THEFT BECAUSE, UH, WITH LESS THEFT, HOPEFULLY, UM, WE HAVE, UM, LESS BURDEN ON, UH, IS EVERYONE, POLICE INCLUDED, THAT HAVE TO COME AND DEAL WITH THIS STUFF.

SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, AND A REPORT BACK IN 60 DAYS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS A STRONG SUPPORTER AND SIGNER OF THE HERO PAY AND HAZARD PAY.

UM, AND I KNOW WE DID REALLY GOOD STUFF IN THE CITY ON THAT.

UM, I KNOW WE GOT SUED AND WE WON, BUT THIS WAS GOOD STUFF.

IT AFFECTED THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

UM, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OUR DUCKS IN A ROW.

SO, UM, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KERR FOR, I'D ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO A REV A ROBUST CONVERSATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM, BUT IT'S GOOD, IT'S GOOD STUFF.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK.

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

YES, I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE MEMBERS, UM, AND, UM, ORGANIZERS AND SUPPORTERS TO COME OUT AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUE, UM, COUNCILWOMAN SUN, DEJA VICE MAYOR ANG AND COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH INTO FOR BRINGING THE ITEM FORWARD.

I, I REALLY WANNA EMPHASIZE THE CONCERN AROUND SAFETY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT VACANT PARKS.

WHEN IT'S DARK, IT, IT CREATES A FEELING OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT INVITES CERTAIN BEHAVIOR OR, YOU KNOW, ACTIONS THAT ARE SCARY.

AND I THINK THAT IF YOU TAKE THAT CASE IN A MARKET, WELL, YOU CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE'S LESS WORKER PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S NOBODY AROUND.

THEY'RE GONNA BE MORE LIKELY TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FEEL EMBOLDENED TO DO THINGS.

AND WHILE THE WORKERS ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO DO ANYTHING, YES, FOR THEIR SAFETY, BUT IT'S STILL CREATING AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE COLLEAGUES AROUND THEM WHERE THEY FEEL SUPPORTED.

ALSO, AS A CUSTOMER, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE OR AS A WOMAN, IF I WAS IN A STORE WITH LIKE ONE WORKER AND THERE COULD BE A POT, YOU KNOW, AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT CREATED.

SO ALL AROUND, I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IS ABOUT A SAFE SAFETY, UH, FOR THE WORKERS, BUT ALSO FOR CUSTOMERS AS WELL.

AND I'D LIKE US TO LOOK INTO, IF WE CAN LOOK AT INFORMATION ABOUT, WELL, HOW, WELL, HOW, HOW IS SAFETY INCREASED WHEN WE HAVE MORE WORKERS ON SITE, AS WELL AS WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE MORE INCIDENT LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THERE'S LESS STAFFING.

UM, SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE I WANNA, WANNA MAKE SURE WE ALSO TAKE AN ANGLE IN LOOKING AT, UM, THAT AS A BIG FACTOR AND WHY THIS ITEM IS IMPORTANT.

YES, IT'S ALSO ULTIMATELY IN THE END ADDRESSING ISSUE OF THEFT, BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE WORKFORCE AND A SAFE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

UH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING AROUND FOR A SECOND ROUND.

I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER OD I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S SPOKEN YET BEFORE WE COME BACK.

THE GROUND DO NOT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE, RIGHT? WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT AN ADMINISTRATIVE OR CORPORATE PERSPECTIVE ON ENGAGEMENT AND WORKERS, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, DISCUSSING THAT, RIGHT, COMING BACK WITH, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE AS A CITY CAN THINK ABOUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

UM, AND THEN I'LL HAVE SOME COMMENTS.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, AND THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.

UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

UM, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DR.

SWELL BROUGHT UP AROUND THE SAFETY ISSUE.

I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE FOR ME THAT I WANNA LIFT UP THE MOST, UM, AS WE TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT? THAT WE HAVE OUR WORKERS IN, UM, WHEN THEY'RE WORKING IN THESE STORES.

AND I KNOW WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT OUR GROCERS HAVE AROUND ENGAGEMENT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN RETAIL THEFT, RIGHT? BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, THERE CAN BE POLICIES AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU OPERATIONALIZE THOSE POLICIES.

AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN A STORE, THEY'RE WORKING MULTIPLE, YOU KNOW, SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINES AND YOU'RE ENGAGING AND YOU'RE REQUIRED TO OFFER CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ON THE GROUND? UM, AND SO SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS ON

[03:45:01]

I ALSO THINK, TOO IS THAT PEOPLE MAY THINK, UM, AND WE'VE HEARD SOME DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT ABOUT, OKAY, WELL IS THIS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF OUR TIME? ARE THERE OTHER THINGS WITHIN A GROCERY, A GROCERY STORE THAT WE COULD INTERVENE IN? RIGHT? BUT I ALSO THINK AS A CITY WE CAN CHEW BUBBLE GUM AND THINK AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN THINK ABOUT ALL THE WAYS, UM, THAT WE CAN INTERVENE IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS.

AND WHAT, WHAT MAYBE WHAT IS THE KIND OF LIKE THE LOWER LEVEL THING AS A, AS A CITY THAT WE CAN INTERVENE ON IMMEDIATELY AND THIS MAY POTENTIALLY BE IT, RIGHT? SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REGULATE IN A WAY TO IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF OUR, UM, OF OUR WORKERS.

UM, AND ALSO CREATE THAT ENVIRONMENT AT OUR, AT OUR GROCERY STORES THAT GET RESIDENTS IN THEM, RIGHT? AND GET RESIDENTS WALKING THROUGH DOORS AND NOT NECESSARILY DOING ONLINE GROCERIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF BENEFITS HERE, UM, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT OUR CITY STAFF COME BACK WITH, SO THANK YOU.

I'M GONNA ASK SOME COMMENTS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJA HE QUEUED UP AGAIN.

DO YOU WANNA DO IT AFTER I SPEAK OR NOW? UH, LET ME JUST, UH, YEAH, GO AHEAD.

YES, THANK YOU.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL OF YOUR, UM, ALL OF YOUR GOOD POINTS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TODAY.

ALSO, JUST WANNA MAKE IT, UM, UM, CLEAR WHAT THE ORDINANCE, I'M SORRY, WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE, UM, ON THIS MOTION.

AND THAT IS TO BRING, UM, THE REPORT BACK IN, UH, SIX TO REPORT BACK IN 60 DAYS, UM, BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO 30, SO RESPECTFUL OF THAT.

AND ALSO, IF WE COULD ALSO, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A DRAFT ORDINANCE, IF WE COULD PLEASE, IF I COULD HAVE CITY STAFF OR, UM, COME BACK WITH THE DRAFTED ORDINANCE AS WELL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE CLARIFICATIONS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO, UM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE DIRECTION AND THE COUNCIL LETTER IS FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO DO A STUDY.

AND SO WE CAN'T DRAFT AN ORDINANCE UNTIL WE HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO DO IN REACTION TO THAT STUDY.

SO IT'S SORT OF A, A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK WITH THAT STUDY, AND THEN THE COUNCIL WILL GIVE DIRECTION.

AND IF THAT DIRECTION IS TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE, THEN IT WILL BE DRAFT AN ORDINANCE WITH THESE PROVISIONS, AND THEN WE'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO I'LL JUMP IN HERE.

STORE THAT USED TO HAVE FULL STAFFING, AND TODAY IT'S, IT'S AN AUTOMATED GROCERY STORE THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT EXPECTATION OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BRING THOSE QUESTIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THAT BEGINS A PROCESS WHERE IT LANDS ULTIMATELY MAY BE, UH, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD TODAY, OR IT MAY BE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THESE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS AND LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IS FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO EVALUATE OPTIONS MM-HMM .

GO LOOK AT WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, PUT THE COUNCIL IN A POSITION TO ADOPT AN OPTION THAT REQUIRES DOING SOME DILIGENCE, BOTH LEGALLY AND POLICY STANDPOINT, BUT THE IDEA IS BRING THE COUNCIL SOME OPTIONS.

I THINK WHAT COUNCILMAN YANGA IS ASKING FOR IS WE DON'T WANT THIS TO GO ON FOREVER.

UH, IF YOU'RE NOT READY WITH THOSE OPTIONS, THEN YOU NEED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE AT 60 DAYS, WHICH I THINK IS, UH, REASONABLE.

UH, I JUST WANT TO ADD MY COMMENTS HERE.

UM, SO FIRST I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.

UM, UH, THE WORKERS, UH, THE, THE, THE BUSINESSES.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN A PART OF THIS BODY IN ONE MORE WAY OR ANOTHER AS A STAFF MEMBER, A COUNCIL MEMBER, AND AS A MAYOR.

SO I'VE WORN A FEW DIFFERENT HATS AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS COME IN FRONT OF OUR CITY COUNCIL.

I'VE ALSO SEEN, UH, THE WAY WE'VE HANDLED, UH, TECHNOLOGY.

AND IN MANY WAYS, TECHNOLOGY MOVES FASTER THAN PUBLIC POLICY.

I REMEMBER WHEN UBERS SHOWED UP ON THE SCENE, AND GUESS WHAT, IT WAS IN FRONT OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AFTER A WHILE BECAUSE PEOPLE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT UBERS.

YOU HAVE ROBOTS DELIVERING FOOD RIGHT NOW.

GUESS WHAT? AT SOME POINT THAT'S GONNA END UP IN FRONT OF OUR CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S ROBOTS DOWNTOWN DELIVERING FOOD, AND THAT'S GONNA END UP IN FRONT OF OUR CITY COUNCIL.

THERE'S A CONVERSATION ON WAYMO.

THESE ARE AUTOMATED VEHICLES, UH, EVEN IN THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, THE CONVERSATIONAL AUTOMATION.

IT'S BEEN IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL MANY, MANY TIMES.

THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT IF THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE.

AND THIS IS CERTAINLY THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION AT COUNCIL, BUT IT'S ALSO AN INVITATION, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBERS, LIKE THERE'S A CLEAR ISSUE HERE THAT THE COUNCIL IS RAP IS, UH, GRAPPLING WITH, AND THERE ARE FAIR QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED WHEN A GROCERY STORE OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEGINS TO OPERATE IN THE CITY.

I THINK THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND THAT IS CHANGING.

AND I THINK THERE ARE FAIR QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT LABOR STANDARDS ARE.

IF, IF I HAVE A SELF CHECKOUT AT A GROCERY STORE, THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN AT AN AIRPORT.

YOU GO THROUGH A SECURITY PROCESS AT THE AIRPORT, THERE'S A NATURE OF GRAB AND GO.

AND I WOULD WONDER IT'S PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF SHRINK THERE.

IF I GO INTO A GROCERY

[03:50:01]

I SEE IT AS AN INVITATION IF THERE ARE IDEAS OR THOUGHTS.

I'M CURIOUS, WHAT IS A STAFFING STANDARD? IS THERE A STAFFING STANDARD? WHAT'S THE LONG-TERM PLAN HERE? THESE ARE ALL FAIR QUESTIONS.

I WILL ALSO SAY THAT THERE IS A BROADER CONVERSATION HAPPENING ACROSS OUR REGION AND OUR STATE AROUND RETAIL THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

AND THERE'S A CLEAR EXPECTATION ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC FOR LONG BEACH TO TAKE LOCAL ACTION ON THIS.

NOT JUST TO SIT BACK AND WAIT ON THE STATE TO FIGURE OUT PROP 36 ACCOUNTABILITY OR EVEN STANDARDS.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? UH, IF YOU OFFER A SHOP HERE, THERE IS SOME EXPECTATIONS OF LOCAL ENGAGEMENT.

SO ENGAGE, COME, BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS APPROPRIATE AND HOW DO WE CREATE AND MAINTAIN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE SAFE.

UH, AND I THINK ALL OF THIS IS, IS FAIR TO ASK, AND I THINK IT'S, UH, A WORTHWHILE CONVERSATION.

IT IS NOT THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT'S JOB, JOB TO STAFF OR PROVIDE SECURITY AT A GROCERY STORE.

THAT IS NOT THEIR JOB.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE NEEDS TO BE A REALISTIC CONVERSATION AND EXPECTATION ON WHAT ARE THE DEMANDS OR EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR TAXPAYERS.

HEY, I'LL EVEN, I'LL EVEN GO AS FAR AS SAYING IF THERE'S AN AUTOMATED MODEL THAT IF THERE'S AN AUTOMATED MODEL.

I'VE SEEN MODELS WHERE, UH, AT DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE YOU'RE A REGISTERED MEMBER SOMEWHERE, SO YOUR CREDIT CARD'S ON FILE.

SO IT'S ENCOURAGED THAT YOU JUST GRAB IT, YOU KNOW, SCAN AND WALK OUT BECAUSE THERE'S AN ACCOUNTABILITY PROFIT.

THE CULTURE IS GRAB IT AND WALK OUT.

I'VE SEEN THAT.

BUT IF THE CULTURE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY BEFORE WALKING OUT, IT DOES AFFECT ME AS A SHOPPER.

IF I GO IN AND I SEE PEOPLE JUST WALK OUT WITH AN ARM FULL OF THINGS THAT WILL AFFECT THE CULTURE OF SAFETY THAT YOU WANT TO PRESENT.

AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE SEEN A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER WORKER SAFETY IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

WORKER SAFETY IS CERTAINLY PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHEN WORKERS ARE NOT SAFE, IT COMES IN FRONT OF OUR COUNCIL.

SO IF THIS WERE NOT AN ISSUE, IT WOULD NOT BE HERE IN FRONT OF OUR COUNCIL.

THAT IS THE POINT.

THE WAY YOU KEEP ISSUES LIKE THIS FROM COMING FRONT OF OUR COUNCIL IS, IS TWO WAYS.

EITHER ONE, YOU SOLVE IT AT THE STATE LEVEL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO, SO IT DOESN'T SHOW UP HERE.

OR TWO, YOU TALK TO US, YOU'RE MAKING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES ABOUT HOW THINGS OPERATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU GOTTA TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

YOU MAY FEEL, NOT FEEL LIKE LEGALLY IT MAY, YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

COME TALK TO US ABOUT THE TRANSITION THAT'S HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN ALL PLAN.

I REMEMBER WHEN A GROCERY STORE CLOSED DOWN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND IT DID HAVE AN IMPACT, AND I WISH WE WERE ENGAGED IN THE CONVERSATION MM-HMM .

ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO WE CAN DO WHAT WE DO.

WE HAVE A WORKFORCE AGENT.

WE, WE HAVE A LOT THAT WE CAN DO AND OFFER, UH, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND SO I THINK THIS IS A WORTHWHILE CONVERSATION.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION, UM, THAT DISCUSSION.

AND I THINK ULTIMATELY WHAT THE COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR IS SOME OPTIONS, UM, AND TAKE CONSIDERATION.

I THINK THERE ARE OTHER CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING ABOUT, UH, RETAIL, OTHER SPACES.

I THINK THIS IS, THEY'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT MORE SPECIFICALLY THE CULTURE AROUND, UM, THESE, YOU KNOW, THIS LEVEL OF RETAIL.

I THINK THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR HEARTENING AND, AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

AND THAT'S SORT OF IN THE WORKS.

SO THOSE ARE MY, MY THOUGHTS ON THIS.

I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER PUBLIC.

I HAVE, OH, COUNCILMAN SUPERMAN.

INPUT FROM THE GROCERS AND, UM, IF THAT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, THEN, THEN I'LL MAKE IT RIGHT NOW IF THE MAKERS OF THE MOTION, I THINK THAT'S, UH, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S EXPECTED HERE.

AND I WANTED TO HAVE YOU HAVE THE LAST WORD, BUT YOU JUST INSPIRED ME TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE HERE, AND THAT IS INVITING FOLKS TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

COME TELL US SOMETHING.

WELL, A NUMBER OF GROCERS WROTE US AND SOME FOLK TONIGHT HERE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THEIR, UH, OPINIONS, UH, WEIGHED IN AT THIS.

SO I'D LIKE TO ASK, IS THAT AN AMENDMENT TO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR? OR COULD THE CITY MANAGER JUST INCLUDE THAT IN HIS PROCESS WITHOUT DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL? WELL, I THINK I DO NEED SOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL BECAUSE 60 DAYS IS A VERY QUICK TURNAROUND FOR A REPORT.

UM, SO WE WILL COME BACK IN 60 DAYS.

I HEARD THINGS LIKE, LET'S DO SOME ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES.

UH, THAT WAS ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS.

I ALSO HEARD, UH, WE SHOULD BE DOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

SO EACH ONE OF THOSE EXTENDS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT BY PROBABLY SEVERAL MONTHS.

SO, UH, I DO WANT HEAR SOME INPUT ABOUT THAT.

WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE ANY OF THE WRITTEN THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN HERE.

UH, BUT IN ORDER TO LIKE START DOING FOCUS GROUPS AND MEETINGS, I'M GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK AND LIKELY ADD FOR, ASK FOR SOME ADDITIONAL STAFFING AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO I CAN GIVE YOU THOSE UPDATES AT 60 DAYS OR WE CAN GET SOME DIRECTION TODAY.

UH, COUNCIL SMITH, SUPER BERNARD, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR HERE? WELL, I'M, I'M LOOKING TO HAVE

[03:55:01]

THEN CITY HAS, I THINK THE MAKERS OF THE MOTION SHOULD OPEN UP AND OBVIOUSLY, UH, ENGAGE AND WHOEVER WANTS TO MEET WITH YOU ON THIS, AND I THINK STAFF SHOULD AS WELL.

AND THE ATTORNEY.

UH, DON, I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION.

I BELIEVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR MADE A, A FRIENDLY, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR A RESPONSE TO IT EARLIER.

UM, SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE DIRECTION GIVEN IN THE CITY MANAGER.

SO THAT WAS THE, JUST LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, UM, OF POTENTIAL CLOSURES.

YES, I DIDN'T, I WASN'T READY TO AGREE TO THAT.

I THINK IT, I FEEL LIKE IT TAKES US OFF COURSE.

WE NEED A, I FEEL LIKE A WHOLE NOTHER ANALYSIS AROUND THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

I THINK YOU GUYS ARE ARE UNCLEAR ON WHAT, WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR HERE.

MIGHT I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION? I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, UM, THINK THROUGH, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THROUGH, I I THINK THERE IS SOME HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST IN TERMS OF FOOD DESERTS AND CLOSURE.

WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF LONG BEACH, I THINK? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? I THINK SO.

I THINK WE, I, I THINK FOR ME WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND THAT HAS TO BE PART OF A CONVERSATION.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE PART OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT I THINK THE CONTEXT, CONTEXT OF IF, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME DISTRICTS HAVE FEWER STORES AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS, AND IF ANY OF THOSE STORES WERE TO CLOSE, THERE IS AN IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES.

AND I THINK WHEN WE HAVE A CONVERSATION LIKE THAT, WE AT LEAST NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S CONTEXT THERE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANYBODY HAS TO FACTOR THAT IN.

UM, I THINK YOU MEAN YOU WANT THAT CONTEXT TO BE REPRESENTED AND CORRECT THE WAY IT COMES BACK.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, TOM? YEAH.

SO I THINK THAT CERTAINLY MAKES IT EASIER.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WHAT COULD HAPPEN OR MIGHT HAPPEN.

UM, BUT WHEN WE HEAR ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE STAFF SIDE, WE THINK, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, INPUT OUTPUT MODELS, THOSE ARE NORMALLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT.

SO I THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WOULD HELP, UH, SHRINK THE, THE TIME AND THE SCOPE AND THE COST.

YEAH, I THINK, I THINK WHAT THE COUNCILWOMAN MEANS IS LIKE, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTEXT IS THERE.

I MEAN, WE DO HAVE SOME AREAS THAT HAVE FOOD DESERTS.

IS THERE THAT, I THINK THAT CONTEXT IN RECENT HISTORY IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE, BUT I THINK A SEPARATE, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ECONOMIC STUDY IS NOT WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED.

UH, COUNCILMAN SUPER.

YOU, YOU'RE GOOD.

YOU GO? YEAH.

OKAY, GREAT.

ALRIGHT, SO WE'VE DONE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DAAS MEMBERS.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

AS TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY AND RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AS A SAFE CITY FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND MEMBERS OF THE L LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO REAFFIRMING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH'S VALUES AS A SAFE AND WELCOMING PLACE.

WHERE ARE WE NOW? ITEM 30, PLEASE REPORT, REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING MARCH 31ST

[30. 25-54852 Recommendation to adopt resolution officially recognizing March 31st as Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Long Beach and recognize the City of Long Beach as a safe city for transgender people and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, while also reaffirming the City of Long Beach’s values as a safe and welcoming place for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN.

UM, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UM, COULD I KINDLY REQUEST THAT WE, UH, DO, IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS FIRST, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY.

UH, I HAVE ANTHONY BRYSON, JANINE STALLINGS, NANCY WU, AND ALICE BRI.

BRI, UH, AM MAYA.

SO IS ANYONE HERE FROM THAT LIST? PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ANTHONY, I THINK YOU'RE UP FIRST.

UH, GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

UH, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL OF LONG BEACH, DECLARING LONG BEACH, A SANCTUARY CITY FOR TRANSGENDERED PERSON IN ALL MEMBERS OF L-G-B-T-Q-I-A TWO-SPIRITED COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UM, IT WAS ONE OF ONLY 47 CITIES NATIONALLY THAT HAVE GOT A PERFECT SCORE ON A HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, FOUNDATION, MUNICIPAL, UH, INDEX.

IT ALSO RECEIVED AN EXTRA 11 BONUS POINTS.

[04:00:01]

WE WANT, OR WE'RE URGING THE CITY TO PLEASE, YOU KNOW, ADOPT THIS MOTION AND UPHOLD THOSE STANDARDS.

WE SEE WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THE RHETORIC ABOUT, AROUND THESE ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION THAT'S PROLIFERATING THE COUNTRY, WE NEED TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR THOSE FLEEING THEIR CITIES, FLEEING THEIR STATES TO SEEK GENDER AFFIRMATION CARE.

WE SEE THAT, UH, IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SENATE PASSED BILL NUMBER 1 0 7, WHICH PROTECTS INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SANCTUARY FROM OUT-OF-STATE PROSECUTION, WHERE WE LOOK AT TEXAS, WHERE THEY LOOK TO MAKE IT A FELONY FOR BEING A TRANSGENDERED IDENTIFYING SIBLING.

WE URGE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO BE THE SAFE HAVEN TO RECOGNIZE ITS DIVERSITY FROM A CITY THAT HAD AN OPENLY GAY MAYOR TO NOW AN OPENLY OR AN OBVIOUSLY BLACK MAYOR.

TRANSGENDERED SIBLINGS DIE AT A PHENOMENAL RATE AND ARE MURDERED DUE TO THIS LEGISLATIONS GLOBALLY.

IN THE LAST YEAR, 351 TRANSGENDERED SIBLINGS WERE MURDERED, AND THE YEAR PRIOR, 320 TRANSGENDERED SIBLINGS WERE MURDERED IN RELATION TO ANTI TRANSGENDERED LEGISLATION.

WE SEE THAT THIS CONTRIBUTES TO VIOLENCE AGAINST THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

AND REPORTS DOCUMENT THESE MURDERS, THESE MURDERS, 351 IN THE LAST YEAR, ONE OF EVERY FOUR OF THESE TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS WERE BETWEEN THE AGE OF 19 AND 25, MAKING UP 6% OF THESE MURDERS.

WE HEARD FROM OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT LONG BEACH PROLIFERATES WITH TRANSGENDERED, TRANSIENT, AND TRANSGENDERED YOUTH, WE NEED TO BECOME A SANCTUARY CITY.

YEAH, IT'S, UH, THAT'S IT.

I'M LIKE, YOU, YOU GUYS BLIND ME UP HERE.

I TALK TO CROWDS ALL THE TIME, BUT TALKING TO YOU GUYS, I'M SHAKING.

SO, UM, JUST PLEASE, I URGE YOU TO PASS THIS MOTION AND, UH, LET'S STAND TOGETHER FOR OUR TRANSGENDER SIBLINGS.

UH, JANINE, FOLLOW MY NANCY VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MAYOR, IF YOU'RE AROUND STILL.

UM, MY NAME IS JANINE.

I LIVE DOWNTOWN IN DISTRICT ONE, I'M TRANSGENDER.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT HOW YOUR VOTE ON THE TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBER, OF, UH, VISIBILITY RESOLUTION AND YOUR ACTIONS IN THE BUSINESS DEALINGS OF OUR CITY ARE RELATED.

SPACEX WAS CREATED AND IS HEADED BY AN OLIGARCH WHO'S SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, IN PARTICULAR TRANSGENDER RESIDENTS.

HIS SPEECH AND WORK, EVEN BEFORE JOINING THE CURRENT AU AUTHOR, AUTHORITARIAN REGIME WAS ANTI-TRANS.

AND DUE TO HIS IMMENSE PLATFORM, HIS ACTIONS HAVE REAL WORLD IMPACTS ON MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY.

HIS CURRENT WORK IS ACTIVELY HARMING NOT ONLY TRANS FOLKS, BUT LOCAL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER LONG BEACH RESIDENTS.

IT IS NOT HYPERBOLE TO SAY HE IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, BOTH IN HIS ROLE IN GOVERNMENT AND IN REGARD TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SPACEX, WHO WE DO BUSINESS WITH MATTERS.

MUSK IS ABLE TO HARM US BECAUSE OF HIS WEALTH, BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF TESLA AND SPACEX.

LONG BEACH SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO MAKE ITSELF COMPLICIT WITH A TITAN OF INDUSTRY WHO IS DISMANTLING OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HIS OWN ENRICHMENT AND TO HAVE POWER FOR POWER'S SAKE.

I URGE YOU TO NOT APPROVE EXPANSION OF LONG BEACH CONTRACTS WITH SPACEX TO WORK WITH THE PORT TO ENSURE THERE IS NO EXPANSION OF THESE CONTRACTS, AND TO GET OUT OF CURRENT CONTRACTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO WORK WITH OTHER CITY AGENCIES TO DO THAT.

LONG BEACH SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER A SYMBOLIC RESOLUTION BARRING TESLA FROM DOING BUSINESS WITHIN CITY LIMITS.

WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSGENDER, YOU'RE, IF YOU ARE UNWILLING, I'M BACK TO IT.

THANK

[04:05:01]

YOU SO MUCH, VICE MAYOR.

IF YOU'RE UNWILLING TO TAKE REAL ACTION FOR MY COMMUNITY, YOU DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO SIGN ON TO WHAT WOULD BECOME ONLY A PERFORMATIVE RESOLUTION.

YOU CANNOT SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION AND PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY IN THE TERRORISM THAT MUSK IS COMMITTING.

MY COMMUNITY IS TERRIFIED.

IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO WORK TOWARD DIVESTMENT FROM MUSK'S COMPANIES, THEN SHOW US WHO YOU ARE BY VOTING NO ON THE TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY RESOLUTION.

YOUR TIME IS CONCLUDED.

THANK YOU NANCY.

WOO.

WILL ELISE, NANCY, NANCY ELISE.

I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT AS I HOPE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION AND UPLIFT THE DEMAND THAT LONG BEACH ACT AS A SANCTUARY CITY FOR TRANS AND QUEER PEOPLE.

WHILE IT'S GREAT THAT THE CITY WANTS TO RECOGNIZE ITSELF AS A SAFE CITY FOR TRANS PEOPLE, IT DOES BEAR NOTING THAT SAYING SOMETHING DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE.

SYMBOLIC RESOLUTIONS DO NOT PUT ROOFS OVER TRANS PEOPLE'S HEADS AND SYMBOLIC RESOLUTIONS.

DO NOT PUT FOOD IN TRANS PEOPLE'S MOUTHS.

SYMBOLIC RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CHANGE THE DAY-TO-DAY REALITY OF TRANS PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH IN ORDER TO TRULY BE A SANCTUARY CITY.

FOR TRANS FOLKS, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH MUST MAKE THE MATERIAL CONDITIONS THAT MAKE TRANS FOLKS SAFE.

THIS IS JUST A START.

IT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED UP WITH ACTION BECAUSE ONE IN FIVE TRANS INDIVIDUALS HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS IN THEIR LIVES.

I DO URGE YOU TO DO SOMETHING TO KEEP TRANS PEOPLE HOUSED IN LONG BEACH, WHERE WE FACE AN OVERWHELMING HOMELESSNESS, UH, ISSUE.

STRENGTHEN JUST CAUSE EVICTION PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING BY REMOVING SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL LOOPHOLE, PASS RENT CONTROL, AND LIMIT EVICTIONS BASED ON NON-PAYMENT OF RENT.

AND I WANT TO UPLIFT THE COMMENTS OF THE SPEAKER BEFORE ME WHOSE COMMENTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE OUR VALUES ARE NOT OUR WORDS.

OUR VALUES ARE ACTIONS ACT, CANCEL THE CONTRACT WITH SPACEX.

ELON MUSK IS LITERALLY THE NUMBER ONE TRANS PHOBE.

UM, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO PASS THIS, BUT I'LL LIE WITH HIM.

THAT COMPLETES OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

UH, THANK YOU.

BEHIND THE RAIL.

UH, COUNCILOR ALLEN, THANK YOU OF ICE MAYOR.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, COMING OUT TODAY AND STAYING WAS GETTING LATE, BUT STAYING TO, UH, TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY WAS TRANS, UH, DAY OF VISIBILITY, AND IT'S A DAY DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS, DEFINITELY THE RESILIENCE, UM, AND THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS WHILE RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE DISCRIMINATION AND THE CHALLENGES.

AND THE 351 DEATHS THAT YOU JUST REFERRED TO, IT'S REALLY TRAGIC.

UM, THIS IS A WONDERFUL, WE HAD A, A CELEBRATION, UH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION AT BIXBY PARK ON SUNDAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WERE THERE, BUT, UM, A LOT OF, UH, OUR COMMUNITY, UH, UH, CAME TOGETHER.

UH, LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AND UPLIFT, UM, MANY OF THE LOCAL, UH, VOICES.

AND, UM, THEY ALSO HAD ACCESS TO A LOT OF VALUABLE RESOURCES, UM, THAT, UM, THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.

UM, I AM PROUD THAT OUR CITY REMAINS AN INCLUSIVE AND, UM, A SAFE PLACE FOR, FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY OUR, UH, TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY WHO, UM, LIKE MANY OF YOU TALKED ABOUT, WHO HAVE JUST BEEN, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A HEIGHTENED AMOUNT OF, UH, CRITICISM AND ATTACKS AND, UM, AND THERE IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST BEEN HORRIBLE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

SO WE HEAR YOU.

UM, LONG BEACH IS A PLACE WHERE ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR GENDER IDENTITY ARE VALUED AND ARE PROTECTED.

SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, VICE MAYOR YANKA FOR SIGNING ONTO THIS AND ALSO COUNCILWOMAN, UM, KERR COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.

NOTHING.

I'M GOOD.

THANK COMPLETES COMMENTS.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? NONE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM,

[04:10:01]

VISIBILITY IS POWER.

IT CHALLENGES DISCRIMINATION, FOSTERS UNDERSTANDING AND REMINDS US THAT EVERY PERSON DESERVES TO BE SEEN, HEARD, AND VALUED FOR WHO THEY ARE.

HOWEVER, THIS YEAR'S OBSERVANCE COMES AT A TIME WHEN TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONTINUE TO FACE INCREASING ATTACKS ON THEIR RIGHTS, DIGNITY, AND SAFETY.

POLICIES THAT SEEK TO ERASE OR HARM THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY.

WE MUST STAND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, AND ENSURE THAT OUR LAWS REFLECT THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH THAT EVERYONE DESERVES TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY AND WITHOUT FEAR TO OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE VALUED.

YOUR EXISTENCE IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE.

I REMAIN COMMITTED TO CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE, JUST AFFIRMING SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF GENDER IDENTITY CAN THRIVE.

THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN FOR BRINGING THIS UP AND FOR CELEBRATING.

AGAIN, NO OTHER COMMENTS.

AHMA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI.

MOTION CARRIES.

YOU WANT ITEM 21? YEAH.

ITEM 21, PLEASE.

ITEM 21, RECOMMENDATION FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE APPLICATION OF KIT HONG D-B-A-L-B-C MARKETS FOR AN ORIGINAL APPLICATION OF AN A B, C LICENSE AT 3,200 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY AND DETERMINE THAT THE APPLICATION SERVES THE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NEC NECESSITY.

SUBMIT A PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROTEST TO A, B, C AND DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO WITHDRAW THE PROTEST IF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS GRANTED.

DISTRICT TWO.

UH, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON THIS? NO PUBLIC COMMENT, NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE CAN'T GET, HAVE A OKAY.

HAVE A VOTE AND, UH, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER MORALE? NO.

COUNCIL.

? NONE.

HE CAN'T TAKE IT TO A VOTE.

OH, YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT ON MY LIST IS, UH, ITEM 46.

ITEM 26, REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2025.

FIRST DEPARTMENTAL AND FUND BUDGET APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING CITY COUNCIL POLICY.

CITYWIDE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SECOND, PLEASE.

[26. 25-54765 Recommendation to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 first departmental and fund budget appropriation adjustments in accordance with existing City Council policy. (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

MOTION AND SECONDED.

UH, ANY POLICY COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

26, WHY DON'T WE, GOING AHEAD, JUST WHEN WE DO A, A SEPARATE POINT, MAYBE, MAYBE YOUR QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED.

UH, CUSTOMER, NO COMMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI, NO COMMENTS FROM ME.

NO COMMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS? NONE.

I AM.

UM, OKAY.

WE HAVE A VICE MAYOR.

I JUST, VICE MAYOR, I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN DIDN'T NEED TO HAVE SOME OF THE ITEMS REMOVED ON THIS OR THE COLORADO LAGOON AND MARINE STADIUM ITEMS. DOES IT SPECIFICALLY, IF IT HAS MARINE STADIUM IN IT, DOES IT?

[04:15:10]

REC IS 1 21.

NUMBER 1 21 OF THE APPROPRIATIONS CHANGES IS RELATED TO MARINE STADIUM.

I'LL RECUSE MYSELF, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM NOT IN CONFLICT WITH ITEM.

WHAT WAS IT? NUMBER 121 OF THE STAFF REPORT.

121 OF ITEM 26.

LET'S CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION.

LET'S GIVE HER A FEW MOMENTS.

FINE WITH COLORADO LAG.

WE CAN GIVE A QUICK STAT REPORT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS THE FIRST DEPARTMENT AND FUND BUDGET APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENT ADJUSTMENT REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

PERIODIC BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS ARE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL TO REFLECT TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND CHANGES IN REVENUE OR OPERATING CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENTS.

THIS FIRST LETTER IS FOCUSED LARGELY ON CITYWIDE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE DONE AND ALIGN, UH, BUDGETS WITH COUNCIL APPROVED DIRECTION.

THESE CITYWIDE ITEMS INCLUDE REAPPROPRIATION FOR ONE-TIME PROJECTS, AS WELL AS MEASURE A USES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED IN AN EARLIER FISCAL YEAR, BUT NOT YET FULLY EXPENDED.

AND APPROPRIATION INCREASE IS REQUIRED TO REFLECT THE CARRYOVER OF REMAINING FUNDS IN FISCAL YEAR 25 TO COMPLETE THE APPROVED PROJECTS APPROPRIATION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24 GENERAL FUND ONE-TIME FUNDS USES, WHICH WERE REVIEWED BY THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE FISCAL YEAR 24 YEAR-END PERFORMANCE REPORT ON MARCH 4TH, 2025.

AND ALSO ON MARCH 4TH, 2025.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE FISCAL YEAR 24 YEAR END BUDGET PERFORMANCE REPORT WITH AN AMENDED MOTION TO REQUEST THE CITY MANAGER TO RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON FUNDING OPTIONS TO CONTINUE THE RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT.

THIS AGENDA ITEM ALSO INCLUDES A RECOMMENDATION TO REALLOCATE CURRENT PROGRAM FUNDING IDENTIFIED DUE TO EXTERNAL CHALLENGES TO EXECUTE THE PROGRAM AND MAY HAVE ALTERNATIVE FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF 419,840 TO EXTEND RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD UNIT FOR THE REMAINDER OF FISCAL YEAR 25.

THIS CONCLUDES OUR STAFF REPORT AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

UH, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL THAT CUSTOMER OCCUR? YES.

UH, I JUST WANNA THANK STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, RESCUE TO PEAK LOAD PILOT HAS PROVEN, UH, TO BE AN IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY PART OF OUR, UH, EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK.

AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO CAME TO COUNCIL TO SPEAK TO THAT ITEM A FEW WEEKS AGO TO SHARE THEIR PASSION FOR THE WORK.

AND I WANNA THANK CITY STAFF FOR WORKING HARD TO IDENTIFY FUNDS FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE.

MAYOR COUNCILMAN ROWLAND.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES.

UM, I, OH, UH, THANKS.

COUNCILMAN ROWLAND.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO TOM AND KEVIN AND EVERYONE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR WORK, UM, ON THESE ADJUSTMENTS.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.

UM, ESPECIALLY THE REALLOCATION, UH, PRESENTED TO FUND ARE VALUABLE.

UM, RESCUE TWO UNITS SEVEN DAYS, UM, A WEEK.

AND I KNOW THESE ARE VERY CHALLENGING DECISIONS AND I KNOW A LOT OF, UH, THOUGHT GOES INTO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO, UH, BALANCE THIS.

SO I REALLY DO SINCERELY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK, UH, THAT YOU GUYS DID ON, ON THIS.

UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST AS A CITY WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO I DO SINCERELY APPRECIATE IT.

I JUST FEEL LIKE I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, WE SHOULD ALSO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, UM, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL OPERATE AND, UM, FY 25 AS A PERMANENT PART OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE, UH, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE, UH, THE COMMENTS OF MY, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, UH, CINDY ALLEN AROUND, UH, I KNOW WE TASKED, UH, CITY STAFF WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT ISSUE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, DETERMINE WHERE FUNDING IS GONNA COME FROM FOR THINGS THAT SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS EXPECT.

AND SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM THERE, UM, AND IDENTIFYING FUNDING THAT WE COULD DO TO, UM, THAT WE COULD APPLY TO SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH CITY STAFF FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN THE INTERIM, UM, TO BRING US BACK SOME REASONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? NONE.

LET'S GO TO VOTE.

[04:20:01]

AND YOUR NEXT ITEM IS, UH, ITEM 47.

I'M SORRY, UM, BEFORE WE CONTINUE COUNCILWOMAN SORROW.

OH, YES.

NOW THE ITEM IS CARRIED.

THANK YOU, .

I WAS ZONING INTO NUMBERS ITEM 27.

ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE NECESSARY TO ALLOW ELECTRIC SCOOTERS TO USE THE BEACH PATH AND ESTABLISH SPEED LIMITS ON THE BEACH PATH DISTRICTS ONE, TWO, AND THREE.

REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE ON THE 12 MONTH ELECTRIC SCOOTER ON BEACH PATH PILOT PROGRAM AND DREX CITY

[27. 25-54766 Recommendation to receive and file an update on a 12-month Electric Scooters on Beach Path Pilot Program (Program); and Direct City Attorney to prepare ordinance amending certain sections of the Long Beach Municipal Code necessary to allow electric scooters to use the beach path and establish speed limits on the beach path. (Districts 1, 2, 3) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UH, ANY POINT A COMMENT ON THIS, TWO PEOPLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

KYLIE FLOOD AND SAMANTHA MARTINEZ, IF YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM.

LISA, STEP FORWARD.

GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS KYLIE FLOOD MEN.

I AM A SENIOR GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER WITH BIRD, ONE OF THE CITY'S TWO SHARED MICRO MOBILITY OPERATORS.

I'M ALSO HERE ALONGSIDE OUR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OPERATIONS MANAGER, JAYLEN DAVIS.

UM, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE AND SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

AS YOU MY GUEST, WE ARE CLEARLY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 27 TO OPEN UP THE BEACH PATH, UM, OR RATHER AMEND THE CODE TO ALLOW FOR MICRO MOBILITY DEVICES AS A WHOLE, UM, TO BE ENJOYED ON THE BEACH PATH.

I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE TO SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT THE COUNCIL APPROVED BEACH PATH PILOT AND IN GENERAL, THEIR RECENT COLLABORATION AND CLEAR COMMITMENT FOR MAKING THE SHARED PROGRAM SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN REALLY BE PROUD OF.

WE'RE ALSO TRULY GRATEFUL TO THIS COUNCIL'S CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ALTERNATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION.

UH, JUST BEING HERE TODAY AND LISTENING TO THE VARIOUS ITEMS AND DISCUSSIONS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS COUNCIL REALLY SUPPORTS FORWARD THINKING INITIATIVES, SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE ACTION GOALS, AND, UH, JUST, JUST PROGRESS OVERALL.

SO IT'S REALLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE A CITY EMBRACE THE IDEA THAT TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER FOR COMMUTING OR FOR FUN, UH, CAN ALSO BE A VESSEL TO ENJOY ALL THE BEAUTY THAT LONG BEACH HAS TO OFFER.

AS ONE OF THE CITY'S TWO SHARED MICRO MOBILITY PROVIDERS, BIRD LOOKS FORWARD TO MAKING THIS PILOT A SUCCESS AND TO BEING COLLABORATIVE SOLUTION ORIENTED PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

SO THAT MEANS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY TO ENSURE THIS IS ROLLED OUT THOUGHTFULLY, MANAGED SAFELY, UH, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY ADAPTED TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ADAPT AS WE GO.

THAT'S THE POINT OF THE PILOT AND WE'RE READY AND WILLING TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, DELIVERING ON OUR PROMISE THERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THANKS FOR THE CONSIDERATION.

HELLO, SAMANTHA MARTINEZ.

NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF LYME, ALSO TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S 12 MONTH BEACH PATH, BEACH BIKE PATH PILOT PROGRAM.

I'M ALSO HERE WITH SCOTT JACKSON, UH, WHO'S OPERATION MANAGER FOR LYME.

LYME HAS BEEN THE LEADING SCOTER PROVIDER IN THE REGION WITH A FLEET OF OVER 9,000 SCOTERS AND E-BIKES IN LONG BEACH LA AND WEST HOLLYWOOD.

WE'VE HAD OVER 450,000 RIDERS IN LONG BEACH WHO HAVE TAKEN OVER 1.7 MILLION TRIPS IN LONG BEACH SINCE OUR LAUNCH IN 2018.

THE CITY OF LONG BEACH'S SHARED MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAM HAS QUICKLY BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE NATION, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE.

THAT'S WHY LYME IS EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE 12 MONTH PILOT STUDY OF E SCOOTERS ON THE BEACH BIKE PATH.

WE BELIEVE THIS WILL FOSTER A MORE VIBRANT AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY WITH MORE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT OPTIONS FOR RESOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE.

LYME HAS EXPERIENCED GLOBALLY OPERATING ALONG SIMILAR WATERFRONT TRAILS AND PATHS, INCLUDING IN SEATTLE AND DENVER.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE COLLABORATION.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND THANK YOU.

DO YOU OR CUSTOMER ALLEN? UH, THANK YOU, UH, VICE MAYOR.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS, UM, FOR GETTING THIS HERE.

YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND ALSO I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE, UH, THE, THE VENDORS WERE HERE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SITTING THROUGH THIS AND BEING HERE AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR TESTIMONY AS WELL.

UM, SO HERE IN LONG BEACH, WE WANNA GET THINGS RIGHT AND WE WANNA BE SUCCESSFUL.

UM, AND I PERSONALLY REALLY DO, I LOVE THE MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAM.

UM, I LIVE

[04:25:01]

IN DISTRICT TWO.

FOR THOSE THAT YOU DON'T, NO MATTER WEAR A DISTRICT TWO, IT IS IMPACTED.

UM, IT'S HARD TO FIND A PARKING SPOT AND PEOPLE LITERALLY TELL ME THEY'LL LIKE, THEY'LL TAKE AN UBER BACK TO THEIR HOUSE, YOU KNOW.

AND SO THE MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAM AND MY DISTRICT AND, AND PROBABLY IN IN DISTRICT ONE AS WELL, IT'S REALLY, REALLY, UH, IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE, 'CAUSE PEOPLE HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME GETTING AROUND.

UM, IN FACT, I WAS JUST SPEAKING WITH TWO, UH, WILSON, UH, STUDENTS WHO, WHO SAID THEY'RE WORKING DOWNTOWN AND THIS IS GONNA GIVE THEM AN OPTION TO TAKE THAT BIKE PATH DOWN HERE 'CAUSE THEY'RE WORKING AT THE ICE CREAM AND, AND AT THE PIKE.

AND SO THESE ARE JUST, THESE ARE REAL OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE AROUND IN OUR CITY, UH, A SAFE WAY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET INJURED ON THAT, UH, THAT PATH.

UM, SO, UM, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF REASONS I, I SUPPORT IT.

UM, UH, I, I USED TO USE THE, THE, UM, THE BIRD AND LIME AND ALL THAT NOW I PURCHASED MY OWN SCOOTER.

UM, SO I'M EXCITED THAT I CAN NOW USE IT ON, ON THE BIKE PASS SO THAT I WOULD EVEN OPENED UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME.

UM, I ALSO, UH, WANT TO, UM, THANK, UM, YOU GUYS TOO.

I KNOW I'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY AND I APPRECIATE STAFF AND THE VEN VENDORS THAT ARE HERE FOR ANSWERING A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I'VE HAD ALONG THE WAY, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO, UH, SAFETY.

UM, AND THEN HOW EXACTLY THIS PILOT PROGRAM'S GONNA BE INITIATED.

UM, UH, I'M, I'M GLAD TO SEE.

UM, AND I GUESS, ARE WE GONNA HAVE A SHORT A STAFF PRESENTATION ON THIS? UM, NO, WE ARE.

SO MAYBE BEFORE I GET TOO MUCH INTO MY COMMENTS, IS THAT OKAY WITH THE SECOND MOTION? CAN WE GO, CAN WE GO PRESENTATION FIRST? YES.

ALRIGHT.

SO ME AND MY COLLEAGUE, WE WOULD BOTH LIKE THE PRESENTATION, SO THANK YOU.

YES, WE'RE AVAILABLE AND READY FOR THAT.

SO, UM, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ERIC LOPEZ AND HIS TEAM.

LIKE THE PIER OR, OR ONE OF OUR CONCESSION AREAS.

UH, CITY MANAGER, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH, UH, THE, THE POWERPOINT THAT WE HAVE.

UM, WE'LL, WE'LL START WITH, UM, GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE, UM, OVERSIGHT OF THE PROGRAM AND HOW, HOW, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE MANAGING THIS.

SO WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT, UH, PAT SPEED LIMITS, UH, THE MORE ON THE PILOT OPERATIONS AND, AND KIND OF THE TIMING, THE SCHEDULE THAT WE'RE TARGETING HERE.

UM, SO, UH, THE, THE MAIN ITEM THAT WE NEED, OBVIOUSLY IS THE, THE, UH, DIRECTION SO THAT, UH, WE CAN, UH, BRING BACK AN ORDINANCE ON THAT WILL ALLOW THESE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS ON THE BEACH PATH.

UM, WE'VE, UH, I'LL GO THROUGH THE SCHEDULE, BUT, UH, IF, IF APPROVED TONIGHT, UH, WE WILL COME BACK IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, UH, FOR THE FIRST READING AND THEN THE WEEK AFTER THAT FOR THE SECOND READING, UH, WHICH WILL ALLOW US AN OPPORTUNITY TO KICK OFF THIS PILOT, UH, BY SUMMER.

BY THIS SUMMER.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD NEED TO DO, UM, UH, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IS ESTABLISH SOME SPEED LIMITS.

UH, SO, UH, SO WE'RE, I'M GONNA SHOW SOME, UM, SOME EXHIBITS THAT, THAT ARE GONNA GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO.

UM, WE HAVE, UH, TWO TEAMS WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS THAT ARE HELPING WITH THIS.

UH, MY, OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING TEAM AND OUR ENGINEERING BUREAU.

UH, THEY'RE HELPING, UH, MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE POLICIES, UH, SETTING SPECIFIC SPEED LIMITS.

UH, THEY'RE GONNA HELP DETERMINE WHERE WE'RE GONNA POST THE SIGNAGE, AND THEY'RE GONNA HELP US, UH, COLLECT THE DATA AND EVALUATE THAT DATA.

UH, THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE PILOT, UH, WE HAVE OUR SECOND TEAM, OUR MICRO MOBILITY ON THE, ON THE GROUND, UH, TEAMS THAT ARE GONNA HELP WITH, UH, THE, THE PERMITS AND THE VENDOR COORDINATION.

AND, UH, A LOT OF THE, UH, EDUCATION EFFORTS OUT THERE WITH OUR PARTNERS IN, IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, TO ENSURE A, UH, SMOOTH, UH, IMPLEMENTATION OF, OF THE PILOT.

UM, THERE IS A CURRENT STATEWIDE LIMIT, UH, FOR, UH, ELECTRIC SCOOTERS OF 15 MILES, UH, PER HOUR.

UM, AND THEN THERE'S, UH, BIKE LIMITS AND, AND, UH, FOR OTHER USES OF THE, OF THE BIKE PATH AT 20 MILES PER HOUR.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT THE SAME, UH, 15 MILES PER HOUR, UH, FOR SCOOTERS, AND THEN 20 MILES PER HOUR FOR OUR ALL OTHER USERS, INCLUDING, UH, UH, BICYCLE USERS.

UM, WHEN THERE IS, UH, WHEN THERE ARE PEDESTRIANS CROSSING, UH, THE PATHWAYS LIKE AT THE PIER AND SOME OF THE CONCESSIONS, UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO LIMIT THESE BID THESE LIMIT TO FIVE MILES PER HOUR, UH, TO, UH, MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT USERS OF OUR, UH, BEACH PATHS.

UH, HERE'S, UH, AN EXAMPLE AROUND THE, UH, BELMONT PIER, UH, WHERE WE WOULD HAVE SIGNAGE.

UH, HERE, YOU, YOU SEE THE, UH, SPEED LIMITS, UH, UH, AT 20 FOR MOST USERS AND 15 FOR SCOOTERS.

AGAIN, THAT IS PER STATE LAW, PER THE CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE.

UH, THEN WE'LL HAVE THE FIVE MILES PER HOUR, UH, LIMITS WHEN PEOPLE ARE PRESENT.

UH, YOU HAVE A, A VERSION OF THAT SIGN, UH, HERE AND THEN, UH, REMINDING PEOPLE TO RING THEIR BELL, UH, TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, UH, WHEN THEY'RE, UH, CROSSING A HEAVY PEDESTRIAN AREA

[04:30:01]

SO THERE'S GONNA BE SIGNAGE, UH, TO HELP, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, MINIMIZE, UH, POTENTIAL CONFLICTS BETWEEN, UH, THE DIFFERENT USES OF OUR PATHWAYS.

UM, WE ARE, UH, STILL WORKING WITH THE, UH, WITH THE VENDORS ON THE DROP ZONES, UM, SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.

WE ARE FOCUSING AROUND PAVED AREAS, UH, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE, UH, THE EXISTING, UH, PARKING LOTS.

UM, AND, UH, AND SO WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IDENTIFYING DROP ZONES.

SO, UH, WE, WE, WE DON'T HAVE CONCERNS IN, IN OUR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY THEM AND WORK WITH OUR, UH, OUR PARTNERS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE CLEARLY MARKED, UH, FOR, FOR FOLKS.

UM, WE'RE ALSO, UH, LOOKING AT CREATIVE WAYS FOR, UH, COLLECTING, UH, ABANDONED SCOOTERS OR SCOOTERS THAT, THAT STOP WORKING.

AND THIS WILL FALL UNDER OUR, OUR EXISTING REQUIREMENTS THAT ANY REPORTED, UH, SCOOTERS THAT NEED TO BE PICKED UP, THEY NEED TO BE PICKED UP WITHIN A TWO, THE TWO HOUR, UH, PERIOD.

SO THAT'S A CURRENT REQUIREMENT.

UH, WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY VENDOR THAT HELPS US WITH THAT, AND WE EXPECT THIS TO BE THE SAME AS AS WE DO IT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

UM, BUT AGAIN, IN THE PA IN THE BIKE PATH, THERE'LL BE CREATIVE WAYS, UH, TO PICK UP, UH, THE, THE SCOOTERS.

UM, SO WE'RE GONNA NEED TO, UM, TO FINALIZE OUR, THE DROP ZONES AND FORMALLY APPROVE THOSE, UH, FOR, FOR THE DIFFERENT, UH, VENDORS.

UM, WE ARE GONNA BE, UH, THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THIS PILOT, UM, UH, TRACKING, UH, TRENDS AND, AND, UH, AND, AND WORKING ON EDUCATION EFFORTS, UH, WE ARE TAKING A VERY STRONG EDUCATION FIRST APPROACH, UH, TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PILOT.

YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'LL BE, UH, WARNINGS AND THERE'LL BE, UH, UH, FLYERS AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT WILL PA BE PASSING OUT, UH, EXPLAINING THE RULES OF THE BEACH PATH, AND REALLY JUST HELPING REMIND PEOPLE, UH, TO, UH, TO BE SAFE OUT THERE AND TO SHARE THESE RECREATIONAL PATHWAYS.

UH, WE HAVE STARTED, UH, COORDINATION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO HELP US WITH SOME OF THE EDUCATION, UH, INITIATIVES, EFFORTS, UH, ESPECIALLY DURING THE BUSY SEASON.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED, UH, TO COORDINATE WITH, COORDINATE WITH US ON, UH, PERIODIC ENFORCEMENTS.

UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, PROBABLY MAINLY DURING THE BUSY SUMMER SEASON, UH, AND AFTER WE'VE TAKEN A HEAVY EDUCATION FIRST APPROACH, UH, WHILE WE WILL BE LOOKING AT, UH, AT SOME ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY, UM, UH, UH, ALONG THE PATH.

UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, IN PERIODIC, UH, TIMEFRAMES, UH, THE TIMING, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.

SO, UH, WE ARE, UH, TARGETING A, UH, MEMORIAL DAY, UH, UM, KICKOFF, UH, TO THIS PILOT.

AND, UH, IF THE, IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET THESE, UH, UH, MILESTONES ACCOMPLISHED, UH, WE SEE US, UH, BEING READY, UH, FOR, FOR DOING JUST THAT.

UM, WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, UH, AS WE WERE EVALUATING THE PROGRAM AND, AND, UH, AND THE, AND THE PILOT.

UH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE PUT, UH, THOSE QUESTIONS ON THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST.

SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THESE BRIEFLY.

UH, FIRST QUESTION IS HOW, HOW THE PUBLIC, HOW THIS PILOT WOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC.

UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH OUR, WITH THE OPERATORS, PERMITTED OPERATORS.

THEY HAVE AGREED TO HELP WITH THE EDUCATION OUTREACH, UH, ON OUT THERE, ON THE SITE.

SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP.

UH, AND AGAIN, UH, THE, OUR PARTNERS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE ALSO HEL, UH, AGREED TO, UH, HELP US GET THE WORD OUT ON, ON SOME OF THESE CHANGES AND, UH, AND HELP, UM, WITH THE EDUCATION EFFORTS.

UM, THE SECOND QUESTION WAS, WHERE WILL THE SIGNS BE PLACED? UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGH VOLUME PEDESTRIAN AREAS AT PATH ENTRANCE, UH, ENTRANCES AT MID SEGMENT LOCATIONS EVERYWHERE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE POTENTIAL, UM, UM, CONFLICTS WITHIN THE PATHS.

WE DO HAVE TWO SEPARATED PATHWAYS THAT MAKES THIS SO MUCH, UH, MORE EFFECTIVE AND EASIER FOR US TO IMPLEMENT, HAVING A BIKE PATH AND A SEPARATE PEDESTRIAN PATH, UM, THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

UM, THE NEXT QUESTION WAS, HOW WILL ABANDONED SCOOTERS BE PICKED UP? UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT CARGO, E-BIKES OR, OR E-BIKES WITH TRAILERS.

THERE ARE CREATIVE WAYS THAT ARE USED IN OTHER BEACH CITIES.

UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO BRING THOSE SAME, UH, TECHNIQUES HERE TO HELP US WITH ANY, UH, PICKING UP ANY ABANDONED SCOOTERS OR, UM, OR, OR GETTING THEM BACK TO, UH, SOME OF THE APPROVED, UH, DROP ZONES.

UH, NEXT QUESTION WAS, WILL THERE BE TIME RESTRICTIONS FOR OPERATIONS? OPERATIONS WILL BE LIMITED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6:00 AM AND 11:00 PM ON THE PATH.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT? UH, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC WORKS AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A AUTHORITY,

[04:35:01]

UM, AND, UH, WE ARE PROPOSING A EDUCATION FIRST APPROACH AND, UH, PERIODIC ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, UH, TO, UH, TO HELP WITH THIS.

HOW WILL VIOLATIONS WORKS? UH, NORMALLY FINDS ARE LEVIED ON, ON OPERATIONS, ON OPERATORS.

IF DEVICES ARE NOT COLLECTED OR RELOCATED WITHIN, WITHIN TWO HOURS OF, OF, UH, RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NON-COMPLIANCE, WE ACTUALLY DO REALLY GOOD.

THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE'VE IMPROVED, UH, QUITE A BIT SINCE THE BEGINNING DAYS OF THE, UH, OF ALLOWING EESS SCOOTERS ON OUR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

SO WE EXPECT THIS TO CONTINUE TO BE AN AREA WHERE WE PERFORM WELL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WITH APPROVED VENDORS.

OUR PRIVATE SCOOTERS SUBJECT TO THESE RULES, ALL SCOOTERS, INCLUDING PRIVATELY OWNED SCOOTERS, WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE, UH, TO THE 50 MILES PER HOUR LIMIT.

AGAIN, THAT IS, THAT IS STATE LAW.

AND THAT IS, THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION I HAVE HERE, OUR CITY ENGINEER AND OUR CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER, UH, TO HELP ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, ANY OTHER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

AND THANK YOU CUSTOMER.

DUN.

I'LL GO BACK BECAUSE I OH, YEAH.

YOU WANT, YOU WANT FINISH , UM, VICE MAYOR.

THAT'S OKAY.

'CAUSE I KINDA, UM, I WANNA, I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS I STILL WANNA SAY.

UM, LET ME GET BACK WHERE MY QUESTIONS ARE.

OUT, YOU KNOW, I'M SCOOTERING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THERE WAS NO A PLACE FOR ME TO LEAVE MY SCOOTER.

YOU KNOW, JUST AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, MICRO MOBILITY IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

'CAUSE NOT EVERYBODY OWNS A CAR OR IS PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO OWN A CAR.

AND, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL NEED TO WORK AND GET AROUND THE CITY OR DON'T WANNA MOVE THEIR CAR OR WHATEVER.

SO, I JUST, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT STEP, UM, BUT I ALSO LIKE HOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, HOW WE'RE ENSURING, UH, THE, THE, UH, SAFETY AND THE PATH OF ALL THE USERS, INCLUDING THE SIGNAGE, SPEED REGULATIONS, AND THE GEOFENCE FENCING.

UM, BECAUSE ESTABLISHING A 20 MILE, A 20 MILE PER HOUR SPEED LIMIT FOR BICYCLES AND MAINTAINING THE 15 MILE AN HOUR LIMIT FOR SCOOTERS, UM, AND BY ADDING SPEED REDUCTIONS TO FIVE, UH, MILES AN HOUR IN HIGH PEDESTRIAN AREAS LIKE JUAN APPAREL BEACH AND ALAMEDA BEACH AND BY BELMONT PIERRE, UM, ALL OF THESE ARE HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AREAS.

AND SLOWING SCOOTER TRAFFIC DOWN IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY.

UM, THE SIGNAGE PROGRAM, UH, THE PUBLIC WORKS IS ROLLING OUT WILL HELP, UM, WITH THIS.

UM, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE.

UM, AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, AND IT'S, AND I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE SCOOTER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, UM, AND CITY MANAGER I DID TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS IS THERE'S SO MUCH OTHER STUFF HAPPENING ON THE BIKE PATH THAT I THINK WHY THERE MAY BE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM THAT 'CAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED.

UM, YOU HAVE THOSE LITTLE, UH, UH, UM, MOTORCYCLES AND THEY'RE DANGEROUS AND THEY'RE OUT ON THOSE BIKE PATHS REGULARLY AND THEY'RE LOUD.

UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT A SCOOTER, THEY'RE LIKE, OH, THESE, THIS IS JUST DANGEROUS.

UM, AND ALSO THOSE, THE E-BIKES THAT ARE GOING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME, THEY'RE GOING LIKE 30, 35 MILES AN HOUR.

AND SO I THINK BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT ON THESE OTHER AREAS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SPEAK WITH, UM, DIRECTOR LOPEZ, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ENFORCEMENT, UM, BECAUSE WE CAN DO ALL THIS STUFF WITH SCOOTERS.

AND HONESTLY, I, I, I'M A SCOOTER RIDER.

I RIDE A SCOOTER THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK.

IT'S NOT WHERE I'M ALREADY ON THE BIKE PATH RIDING MY SCOOTER.

UM, IT, AND MY, AND BY THE MINE ONLY GOES 12 MILES AN HOUR, SO I'M WAY UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT .

BUT, UM, BUT I JUST, I THINK THAT, UM, I THINK THAT IT'S THE OTHER, THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE REALLY CONCERNING TO OUR RESIDENTS.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, AND I DON'T NEED AN ANSWER, BUT JUST THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HERE AND COMMANDER, I MEAN, IT, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE HAD SOME ENFORCEMENT ON THE BIKE PATH WITH REGARDS TO THOSE ELEMENTS.

I THINK THAT WOULD REALLY HELP, UH, THIS PROGRAM, UM, BE MORE, UH, SUCCESSFUL.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, PARTNERING WITH THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS IS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THE PATH, UM, AND, AND THE RIGHT OF WAY.

UM, I LOOK FORWARD, LIKE I SAID, TO ANY UPDATES ON HOW THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, UM, FROM POLICE, YOU KNOW, AND FIRE.

UM, I'M ALSO HOPEFUL THROUGH MANAGING AND REGULATING SCOOTERS ON OUR BIKE PATH THAT WE CAN BETTER MANAGE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT WERE BROUGHT UP.

UM, ANOTHER THING I NOTICED WHEN I FIRST, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO THE, UH, WHEN I, WHEN THE, OUR MICRO MOBILITY OR, AND WE HAD OUR DESIGNATED STATIONS WHERE YOU LEAVE OUR SCOOTERS, WHEN THAT FIRST CAME

[04:40:01]

IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE MY SCOOTER A BLOCK AWAY AND GO TO GET GROCERY SHOPPING AND, OR I WANTED TO GO HAVE A DRINK AT THE BAR AND LEAVE MY SCOOTER.

SO I THINK WE DID A LOT TO KIND OF FIX WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE THOSE DROP SPOTS.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY, UH, CAREFUL, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL OUR CONCESSION STANDS JUST TO MAKE SURE IT MAKES SENSE WHERE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THEIR SCOOTER TOO.

SO I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

UM, BUT I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT THIS, UH, 12 MONTH PILOT STUDY AND PUBLIC WORKS, UM, WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE, UM, THIS, THIS, THIS PILOT.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

UM, IF THERE ARE ANY, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY OR VENDOR, UH, COMPLIANCE CONCERNS, WE CAN YOU TERMINATE THE CONTRACT? THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

UM, ALRIGHT, WELL THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE MOST OF MY QUESTIONS.

IF I HAVE ANY MORE QUEUE BACK UP, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR TOURISM, UM, FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

UM, AND, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE SAFELY DOWN OCEAN BO I MEAN, SAFELY DOWN THAT BIKE PATH, IT'S THE SAFEST WAY FOR PEOPLE, UM, TO GET FROM THE EAST SIDE, UH, TO DOWNTOWN.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PILOT STUDY.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

I FEEL LIKE THIS GOT PRETTY MUCH PUSHED THROUGH WITHOUT THAT.

THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS BACK.

AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I STAND ON THIS ITEM.

I'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DISTRICT THREE THAT OPPOSE ALLOWING E SCOOTER COMPANIES TO OPERATE ON THE BEACH BIKE PATH, UH, WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ALL THE ISSUES THAT I'VE HEARD, BECAUSE I THINK I'VE, I THINK THAT THEY'RE APPARENT TO MANY PEOPLE.

UM, I WANNA FOCUS ON TWO THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, COMMUNITY OUTREACH ON THIS ITEM.

I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

WHEN THIS ITEM CAME OUT, I HAD 48 HOURS.

I SENT OUT A SURVEY.

I GOT MORE RESPONSE FROM THAT SURVEY THAN PRETTY MUCH ANY SURVEY THAT WE HAVE SENT OUT, ESPECIALLY WITHIN 24 HOURS.

I HAD 600 PEOPLE RESPOND IN OPPOSITION TO THIS PILOT PROGRAM.

THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TO MOVE FORWARD.

UM, I DON'T THINK WHAT OTHER COMMUNITY OUTREACH HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS ITEM.

SO I, I KNOW THIS IS AN ITEM THAT'S IS BEING DISCUSSED PUBLICLY.

THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF PRESS COVERAGE, UH, AROUND IT.

UH, WE HAVE NOT HELD ANY SPECIFIC COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UH, ON THIS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON PROVIDING YOU THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT A PILOT PROJECT CAN LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IT WOULD ENTAIL.

UM, UH, A LOT OF OUR EFFORTS WITH STAFF WILL BE DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND THE EDUCATION EFFORTS AND GETTING PEOPLE TO USE OUR, UH, THESE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN A, IN A SAFE WAY.

SO THAT'S WHERE OUR RESOURCES, UH, ARE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE PROPOSING TO FOCUS OUR RESOURCES DURING, UH, PILOT IMPLEMENTATION.

UH, BUT UP TO NOW, I, I KNOW THIS IS, HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S BEEN COVERED IN THE PRESS.

UH, BUT NO STAFF.

UH, MY STAFF HERE HAS NOT HAD ANY SPECIFIC COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UM, UM, MEETINGS, UH, RELATED TO THIS, UM, TO THIS ITEM THAT'S, IT'S CONCERNING TO ME.

WE'VE HAD TWO COUNCIL MEETINGS AND YOU'VE SAID PRESS TWICE.

THAT'S OUR COVERAGE ON THIS ITEM.

UM, I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN HOLDING COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEN I HAVE RESULTS THAT SO CLEARLY SHOW THAT IN MY DISTRICT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, UM, WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

AND I DON'T THINK ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD BE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM IN THEIR DISTRICT WITH NO ATTEMPT TO TALK WITH THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS.

YOU'RE SAYING IT'S IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN FORMAL TALK ABOUT THIS.

AND THIS REALLY ISN'T THE TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT THAT I THINK LONG BEACH ACTUALLY USES TO MOVE PROGRAMS FORWARD.

UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHOOSE WHEN WE USE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO MOVE A PROJECT FORWARD.

AND WHEN WE DON'T.

[04:45:02]

AND THE INPUT THAT I GOT FROM MY RESIDENTS, AND HONESTLY, I'VE TALKED WITH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN ABOUT THIS AND SHE KNOWS WHERE I STAND.

WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE COMMUNITIES USING THE SAME PATH, AND MY RESIDENTS HAVE TO CROSS THE PATH TO GET TO ROSIE'S DOG BEACH OR JGS OR IT, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY.

BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT WE PUSH THIS THROUGH WITHOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

UM, SO I'M GONNA STAND WITH MY 600 RESPONSES OF OPPOSITION, UM, THAT HAVE CONTACTED MY OFFICE EITHER THROUGH THE SURVEY, THROUGH EMAILS, THROUGH PHONE CALLS THAT, AND I WANT, I WANNA SPEAK FOR THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVEN'T HAD THE PLATFORM TO SAY, I'M INTERESTED IN THIS, OR I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THIS.

I THINK IT'S A CONCERN.

UM, SO I WANTED TO START WITH THAT.

UM, MY SECOND ITEM I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS, UM, WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM USING EXISTING RESOURCES FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, CAN I, YOU KNOW, WE, I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH A PRINCIPAL THREE DAYS AGO, TWO DAYS AGO ABOUT E-BIKES BECAUSE E-BIKES ARE ONE OF THOSE HOT, HOT TOPICS.

I GET PERSONALLY TEXT, I GET CALLS FROM THE PRINCIPAL SAID HE GETS TEXTS, HE GETS PERSONAL CALLS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT.

SO, UM, IT'S ISSUES THAT BIKES AND SCOOTERS AREN'T FOLLOWING OUR LAWS.

WE'RE NOT SEEING EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT FOR EXISTING ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS RIGHT NOW.

SO IF I COULD ASK, UM, CHIEF BUCHANAN, AND I KNOW COMMANDER BENSON IS HERE TO SPEAK ON WHAT THE OUTREACH AND ENFORCEMENT WILL LOOK LIKE FOR E-BIKES AND E SCOOTERS FOR THE BIKE PATH, AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE GOING TO BE REDIRECTED TO THIS EFFORT AS, AS THEY COME UP, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO I'VE, UH, ENGAGED, UH, BOTH THE, UH, FIRE CHIEF AND THE POLICE CHIEF.

UH, WE STARTED THE CONVERSATIONS ON WHAT ENFORCEMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH EXISTING RESOURCES.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A DESIRE TO DEDICATE MORE RESOURCES, THAT'S A BUDGET QUESTION.

THAT'S A, THAT'S AN ITEM THAT WE WOULD NEED TO, UH, TO, UH, ADDRESS IN GREATER DE UH, DETAIL.

YOU KNOW, I DID RECEIVE COMMITMENTS, UH, FROM THE POLICE CHIEF AND FROM THE FIRE CHIEFS TO HELP WITH DIFFERENT ITEMS, UH, EDUCATION, EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, UH, PARTNERING WITH OUR STAFF IN PUBLIC WORKS AND WITH OUR, UH, SCOOTER, UH, VENDORS ON, ON SOME OF THOSE EDUCATION EFFORTS.

IT'S IS A KEY PART OF THAT.

UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR POLICE, YOU KNOW, UH, WE, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME PERIODIC ENFORCEMENT AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, UM, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WORKING ON AND, UH, AND FIGURING OUT, UH, WITH, WITH EXISTING BUDGETS, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, I, IF THERE'S AN EXPECTATION TO DO DAILY ENFORCEMENT, THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT.

AND I WOULD SAY WE ARE NOT STAFFED TO DO DAILY ENFORCEMENT ON THE BEACH PATH, BUT WE CAN HEAR FROM OUR PARTNERS AT FIRE AND PD AS WELL.

UM, I, LET ME JUST CLARIFY ONE, ONE OTHER QUESTION.

YOU SAID HEAVY EDUCATION FIRST.

IS THAT GONNA LAST THE WHOLE SUMMER? THAT'S NOT, UH, WELL, WELL LAST AS LONG AS IT NEEDS TO LAST, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF REPEAT USERS, UH, DURING THE SUMMER, BUT DURING THE SUMMERS WHEN, WHEN FOLKS ARE GETTING BACK OUT THERE AND USING THE PATH, I, I SEE US HAVING A, A SET NUMBER OF, UH, OF CAMPAIGNS DURING THE WEEK, DURING THE WEEKENDS, UH, WHERE WE HAVE STAFF OUT THERE, UH, HELPING EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THIS, ON THE NEW RULES AND THE REQUIREMENTS.

UM, SO I SEE, I SEE SOME, UH, CAMPAIGN, UM, PROBABLY LAST A COUPLE MONTHS.

I DON'T DUNNO IF IT'S GONNA BE THE WHOLE SUMMER.

I, I CAN'T SAY TO THAT.

SOME OF THE, THE ISSUE WITH SOME PILOT WITH THE PILOTS IS YOU ARE RESPONDING TO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING OUT IN THE FIELD.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE A PLAN TO DO EDUCATION THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE PILOT, BUT THEN WE SEE THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO KEEP GOING, THEN THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT, UH, WE WILL NEED TO MAKE IN THE FIELD.

THANK YOU .

UM, EXCUSE ME.

I THINK WE WERE, CAN WE HEAR FROM CHIEF AND COMMANDER OR HOW, HOW DOES THAT GO? SURE, SURE.

IS FIRE CHIEF DENNIS BUCHA.

COUNCILMAN DOUG.

[04:50:01]

AND, AND YEAH, WE'RE GONNA BE ASSISTING PUBLIC WORKS AND HELPING THEM WITH THAT EDUCATION.

UM, WE WILL ALL ASSIGN SOME STAFF TO HELP OUR PARTNERS THERE AT PUBLIC WORKS AND PROVIDING THAT EDUCATION, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THEY OPERATE THEIR SCOOTERS SAFELY, UM, FOCUSING ON THE RIGHT SMART AND RIDE SAFE.

UM, AND THEN DEPENDING ON THE TIMES THEY'RE BUSY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER, UH, I WILL ASSIGN SOME ADDITIONAL LIFEGUARDS TO ASSIST IN THIS OPERATION.

SO THE EDUCATION'S GOING TO BE BASICALLY ON THE BIKE PATH WITH LIFEGUARDS.

IS THAT KIND OF WHERE YOU'RE AT OR ARE YOU THINKING AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN? UH, OFF OF THE BIKE PATH, ON THE BIKE PATH WITH, UH, LIFEGUARD STAFF, PUBLIC WORK STAFF, AND THEN THE, UH, SCOOTER COMPANIES HAVE AGREED TO HELP OUT WITH THOSE, UH, WITH SOME OF, UH, WITH THAT CAMPAIGN AS WELL.

SO MULTIPLE TEAMS COMING TOGETHER, WORKING TOGETHER.

THANK YOU MORE.

I THINK COMMANDER BENSON WAS COMMANDER.

COUNCILWOMAN AND STAFF.

UM, SO THE PD HAS ALSO COMMITTED AS DIRECTOR.

UM, ERIC LOPEZ SAID, WE'VE ALSO COMMITTED TO WORK WITH THE EDUCATION COMPONENT.

SO THE EDUCATION COMPONENT WOULD BE, UM, EDUCATING WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE IN PERSON EDUCATING, BUT ALSO THROUGH OUR USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A WIDE GRASP OR A WIDE REACH WITH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNING.

SO WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TALKING ABOUT E-BIKES, UM, SPECIFICALLY FOR EDUCATION BECAUSE THERE ARE CONCERNS AROUND E-BIKES.

AND PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH E-BIKES AND ALSO WITH SCOOTERS, OUR PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT THE VEHICLE CODE ACTUALLY SAYS AND WHAT OUR MUNICIPAL CODE SAYS.

SO, OR, OR IS GOING TO SAY IN THIS CASE.

SO WE WOULD DO A HEAVY, UM, EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, NOT ONLY WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER AVENUES OF POTENTIALLY, UM, GETTING INTO SCHOOLS OR GETTING INTO THE PARKS AND GETTING OUT THE INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE COMING DOWN AS THE, UH, FAR THE ENFORCEMENT GOES.

UM, WE WILL WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO DO, UM, ENFORCEMENT DAYS AS THEY REQUEST US TO DO SO, AND WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW WE NEED TO BUDGET THAT AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND CITATIONS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT AT, UH, ENFORCEMENT, UM, THAT WE DO TAKE.

BUT AS DIRECTOR LOPEZ SAID, WE'RE NOT GONNA COME OUT AND ENFORCE SOMEBODY IF WE'RE DOING AN EDUCATION FIRST CAMPAIGN.

UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS YOU KNOW, IN WITH ANY LAW WE CHANGE, UM, IF WE CHANGE THE SPEED LIMITS, LIKE PUBLIC WORKS LAST YEAR CHANGED A BUNCH OF SPEED LIMITS FROM 25 MILES AN HOUR TO 20.

WE DID A 30 DAY EDUCATION SO THAT EVERYBODY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO BEFORE WE ISSUED CITATIONS.

UM, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ISSUE CITATIONS RIGHT NOW BASED ON VEHICLE CODE IF THEY'RE VIOLATING THE PARAMETERS OF THE VEHICLE CODE.

SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING WE HAD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE DO OPERATIONS WITH THEM ENFORCEMENT DOWN THERE.

SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VEHICLE CODE AND A ORDINANCE CODE, THERE'S DIFFERENT CITATIONS, AND I KNOW THAT'S BASED ON SPEED AND ACTUALLY TYPES OF, TYPES OF SCOOTERS, ET CETERA.

RIGHT.

WHAT WOULD BE A CITATION THAT, UM, WAS A VIOLATION AGAINST OUR ORDINANCE? WHAT, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DID CITE? SO JUST OFF THE, OFF THE TOP OF OF MY HEAD, THE VEHICLE CODE, WHEN IT PERTAINS TO SCOOTERS, A SCOOTER CANNOT DO MORE THAN 15 MILES AN HOUR, OR I'M SORRY, 20 MILES AN HOUR IS THE, IS THE TOTAL LIMIT.

SO IF A SCOOTER LIKE BIRD AND, UH, LIME AND ALL OF THOSE, THOSE ARE REGULATED, NOT A PROBLEM.

BUT WHEN YOU PURCHASE YOUR OWN SCOOTER, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO, UM, TAMPER WITH A REGULATOR ON THAT AND OR THE GOVERNOR ON THAT AND MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT SCOOTER GO FASTER.

THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY A VIOLATION OF THE VEHICLE CODE AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CITE FOR THAT.

UM, SAME THING WITH LIKE A CLASS THREE E-BIKE.

A CLASS THREE E-BIKE CANNOT BE ON A, ON A TRAILWAY.

SO IF WE FOUND SOMEBODY RIDING A CLASS THREE E-BIKE ON THE PATHWAY, WE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE ABLE TO CITE FOR THE VEHICLE CODE AS OPPOSED TO JUST CITING FOR OUR ENACTED MUNICIPAL CODE.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE ENFORCEMENT COMES IN.

SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, TO, UM, LOOK AT BOTH ASPECTS AND SEE WHAT IS NEEDED AT THE TIME.

AND AGAIN, IT'S GONNA BE OFFICER DISCRETION BASED ON WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE DOWN THERE AND WE ENCOUNTER THESE ISSUES.

COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, THANK YOU.

YOU CAN RE CUE IF YOU'D LIKE AFTERWARDS.

UH, COME HERE, COME HERE.

THIS.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, UH, TO COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS UP AND FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM ABOUT, UM, HAVING, HAVING OUR SCOOTERS IN OUR BIKE PATH AREA.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE HAVING A PILOT PROGRAM.

SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR LOPEZ FOR ALL THE WORK YOU AND YOUR

[04:55:01]

TEAM HAVE DONE.

UM, AND WORKING WITH BOTH OUR CHIEF, UM, OUR CHIEF BUCHANAN AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN, UM, IN COMING TOGETHER AND FIGURING IT OUT.

UM, I THINK THAT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE I REPRESENT THIS WILL BE VERY, VERY MUCH WELCOME.

AS WE ALL KNOW, PARKING IS CRAZY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SO THIS WILL REALLY BRING A LOT OF RELIEF, UM, AND, AND BRING EXCITEMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE BIKE PATH.

UM, I, I DO THINK THAT, UM, THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED WERE IMPORTANT AND ALSO THE FACT THAT IF SOMETHING IS NOT GOING TO, HOW WE EXPECT IT TO GO, THAT WE CAN PULL BACK AND REEVALUATE AND SEE WHAT WHAT IS GOING TO BE BEST FOR, FOR THAT AREA.

UM, I'M EXCITED 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN, IN THE COMING, UM, TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE BIKE PATH THAT DOES, UM, CONNECT US FROM DOWNTOWN AREA TO THE EAST SIDE OF LONG BEACH.

AND I THINK THAT'S JUST GONNA BE GREAT, UM, FOR OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUMMER COMING UP AND BEING ABLE TO ACCESS BOTH IN, IN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IS GONNA BE GREAT.

SO I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE, BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOOK FORWARD TO THE, TO WHEN WE ARE READY TO SHOW WHAT THIS PILOT PROGRAM, UM, IF IT WAS SUCCESSFUL, WHAT WE LEARNED FROM IT AND IF WE COULD MOVE FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.

YOU GONNA QUEUE MAKEUP UP? YES, SIR, I DID.

HAVEN'T PUT THOSE RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE AND I'M NOT LOOKING TO DO THAT.

THERE WE ARE.

SHE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING YET.

THANK YOU, UH, MR. VICE MAYOR.

UM, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS BACK.

UM, I APPRECIATE AGAIN, THE USE OF A PILOT PROGRAM.

IT'S HOW WE FIGURE OUT HOW THINGS WORK.

IT'S WHERE WE WORK OUT THE KINKS OR WE DECIDE THAT IT WASN'T HELPFUL AT ALL AND WE MOVE ON TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO SEE ABOUT THIS.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE BEACH PATH, MUCH LIKE THE PATHS THROUGH OUR PARKS, I KNOW HARTWELL PARK HAS A 2.4 MILE PATH THROUGH IT.

UM, OUR PUBLIC USE, OUR GENERAL PUBLIC USE.

I AM ON THE BEACH PATH ON AVERAGE ONCE A WEEK WALKING, IF NOT MORE THAN THAT, DEPENDING, UH, ON THE WEEK.

AND SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE DIRECTLY ADJACENT, THERE ARE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ADJACENT TO SOME OF OUR OTHER PATHS AS WELL.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER.

UM, AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN'S AND DAY HOUSES, UH, POINT ABOUT SCOOTERS AS A MODES OF TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK, UH, FOR EVERYONE WHO'S ON A SCOOTER OR A BIKE OR AN E-BIKE ON THAT PATH.

IT'S ONE LESS CAR ON OCEAN.

UM, SO THIS IS A GIVE AND TAKE OF, OF GIVING PEOPLE MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION.

AND I REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

UH, COMMANDER, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND, AND PUT OUR BRAINS AROUND HOW DO WE DO THIS.

WE KNOW THAT LOTS OF FAMILIES ARE BUYING E-BIKES FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

UM, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I PUT A LOT AS A PARENT, I PUT A LOT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE EDUCATION PIECE ON FAMILIES THAT WHEN YOU'RE PURCHASING THAT E-BIKE, FAMILIES SHOULD HAVE VERY ROBUST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS AND ISN'T ACCEPTABLE.

WHAT MAKES YOU A POLITE SCOOTER GOER, WHAT MAKES YOU A POLITE E-BIKE RIDER.

UM, AND ADHERING TO, TO THE CODES IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

UM, AND SO HAVING PATHS LIKE THIS, UM, I WILL USE HARTWELL AS AN EXAMPLE, IS 2.4 MILES THAT GETS SOMEONE FROM, YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH EXCHANGE ALL THE WAY TO THE BIKE PATH OR THE EAST MOST EASTERN PARTS OF LONG BEACH IN A SAFE WAY OFF THE ROAD.

SO IF THEY'RE RIDING THEIR BIKES, THEY'RE NOT WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC.

UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT LIFEGUARDS AND OTHER OF OUR PROFESSIONAL PAID PROFESSIONALS ARE WILLING TO PUT THE EDUCATION PIECE IN AND TO USE ALL OF THE AVENUES WE HAVE FOR COMMUNICATION.

BUT I REALLY IMPLORE FOLKS WHO ARE USING SCOOTERS, BUYING SCOOTERS, BUYING E-BIKES TO TO KNOW, TO KNOW THE RULES AND DO THE WORK.

THAT'S THE WHOLE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE THAT I THINK, UM, WE NEED TO STRESS WITH FOLKS.

AND IF, UM, STUDENTS ARE ACTING UP, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, HOW IS THERE A WAY TO SAY, HEY MOM, DAD, AUNTIE, DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR STUDENT DOESN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF E-BIKE? CAN YOU HAVE A BIG CONVERSATION? WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE MORE EFFECTIVE AT THAT THAN WE ARE.

UM, SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE PILOT PROGRAM AS FAR AS I KNOW, AND I THINK, UM, OUR PARKS DIRECTOR WOULD BE ABLE TO CONFIRM OUR CURRENT SCOOTER CONTRACT.

SO BIRD AND LIME CAN OPERATE ON THE HARTWELL PARK PATH AND PROBABLY ON THE EL DORADO PARK PATH AS WELL.

SO WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE BIG PUBLIC ENTITIES USED BY LOTS OF PEOPLE.

UM, THERE'S MULTIPLE BALL FIELDS ON ALL OF THOSE SIDES.

SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SPEED AND SAFETY IN THOSE SPACES AS WELL.

BUT WE

[05:00:01]

I THINK, UM, THE MORE ACCESS, THE BETTER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THERE, THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF TOWN THAT EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF NEED FOR A PATH.

AND IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WITH A PILOT, MAYBE WE CAN WORK OUT SOME OF THE KINKS.

CUSTOMER.

CUSTOMER, RICK .

UH, I WAS JUST HOPING STAFF COULD MAYBE KINDA WALK ME THROUGH.

SO I, I SAW IN THE, UM, IN, UH, IN THE REPORT YOU TALK ABOUT LIKE BI PACK ACTIVITY SPEEDS, UM, MONITORING, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT DROP ZONES, ET CETERA.

COULD YOU KIND OF JUST WALK ME THROUGH, UM, DIRECTOR LOPEZ, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LIKE THE FIVE TO 10 LIKE MAJOR METRICS THAT YOU'RE GONNA USE TO ASSESS, UM, THE PILOTS.

LIKE WHAT ARE WE MEASURING, LIKE HOW ARE WE ASSESSING IT, HOW WE'RE MEASURING IT? CAN YOU KINDA WALK US THROUGH THAT? YES, I'M GONNA ASK OUR, UH, TRAFFIC ENGINEER TO, UH, HELP THE QUESTION.

HE IS THE EXPERT ON SPEEDS AND BIKES AND CRITERIA.

SO I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE PILOT AS WE DO THE SUCCESS OF THE LARGER, UH, PERMIT PROGRAM FOR OUR MICRO MOBILITY SYSTEM.

AS THE RANKING EXPERT ON CRITERIA, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, SPEAK ABOUT THIS.

UM, YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY COLLECTING THIS INFORMATION ON THE BEACH PATH SINCE 2008.

UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING ANNUAL SURVEYS OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACTIVITY.

AND SINCE THE ADVENT OF THE SCOOTER AGE, WE'VE ALSO BEEN COUNTING SCOOTERS ON THE PATH, UH, REPEATEDLY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

AND SO, UM, MY STAFF HAVE BEEN USING THAT AS A BASELINE, BOTH THE MODE SHARE ON THE PATH.

AND NOW AS PART OF OUR PRELIMINARY RESEARCH INTO THIS PILOT, HAVE ALSO COLLECTED SPEED DATA FOR THOSE DIFFERENT MODES.

UM, SO THOSE ARE, UH, A FEW OF THE CRITERIA THAT WE WILL BE, UH, EVALUATING, UH, ACROSS THE PILOT TO SEE HOW THIS AFFECTS, UH, USE PATTERNS ON THE BEACH PATH.

UM, WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING, UH, CLOSELY AT ANY REPORTED CRASHES, UH, THAT OCCUR.

UH, AND WE'LL ALSO BE, UH, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, UM, ACROSS THE BUREAUS OF PUBLIC WORKS TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE DROP ZONES WHERE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THEIR SCOOTERS.

UH, WE ALSO ANTICIPATE THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL DEMAND FOR BIKE RACKS, UH, ALONG THE PATH.

UM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE NOTICED ON, ON SLIDE NUMBER THREE, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS BRINGING THEIR SCOOTERS TO THE BEACH PATH ALREADY.

UM, AND THEY WILL OFTEN LOCK THOSE TO BIKE RACKS.

SO THERE WILL BE MONITORING THE DEMAND FOR THOSE DEVICES AS WELL TO SEE IF WE NEED TO PROVIDE ANY MORE BIKE RACKS, ET CETERA.

BUT, UM, WE WILL BE MONITORING ALL OF THE BEHAVIORS ALONG THE PATH.

LIKE THE DIRECTOR SAID, THIS IS A PILOT.

AND SO WE DON'T, WE CAN'T PREDICT ALL OF THE POTENTIAL, UM, THINGS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE, BUT WE WILL BE MONITORING THIS CLOSELY WHEN IT COMES TO THE CRASHES.

HOW DO WE ASSESS, LIKE HOW DO WE MEASURE THE CRASHES? YES.

UM, SO, UH, WITHIN TRAFFIC ENGINEERING WE DO, UM, KEEP A RECORD OF ALL OF THE CRASHES THAT ARE REPORTED TO THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE KEEP A DATABASE THERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING APPLIES ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FIELDS, RIGHT? AND SO IF SOMEONE OBSERVES A CRASH OR IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, UM, CALLING TO HAVE THAT BE REPORTED, UM, ALLOWS THAT TO BE PRESENTED, UM, TO OUR AWARENESS AND WE TRACK THEM THAT WAY.

IS THAT SOMETHING, DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE ALSO DOING LIKE EMS CALLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL? OR MEASURING ALL OF THOSE THINGS? UM, SO THE, THE DATA THAT WE USE ARE, ARE PRIMARILY THE POLICE REPORTS, BUT, UM, YEAH, IF WE, UH, WERE TO LOOK INTO THOSE CALLS, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON TOO.

I WAS JUST WONDER, I MEAN, I ASKED THE QUESTION SINCE WE'RE GONNA GET BOTH PD AND FIRE INVOLVED, RIGHT? WITH THE EDUCATION PIECES, I IMAGINE LIFEGUARDS ARE OUT THERE, THEY'RE GONNA BE NOTICING THINGS.

SO I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT SHOULD BE THE SAME WAY WE, WE TREAT, LIKE WE TELL PEOPLE LIKE, HEY, THERE'S NO WRONG LIKE, CALL, RIGHT? LIKE IF SOMEBODY CALLS THE CITY, LIKE WE HELP THEM NAVIGATE TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

TO ME, WE SHOULD BE SAYING IF WE'RE DOING A PILOT, THEN WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DATA GATHERING, RIGHT? SO THAT WE CAN BE MAKING THE BEST ASSESSMENT, UM, POSSIBLE.

UM, TO THAT POINT, AND I'M GONNA PUT ON MY RESEARCHER HAT FOR A SECOND.

SO WE'RE DOING THIS PILOT, RIGHT? AND THEN IN MY MIND I'M THINKING, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, IF WE ARE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD OR A BAD, LIKE A BAD IDEA, RIGHT? LIKE WHAT IS THAT KIND OF GO NO GO ASSESSMENT IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

LIKE WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AS FLAGS? 'CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO SAY IN RESEARCH IS WE MIGHT SAY LIKE, SAY LIKE AFTER SIX MONTHS, THERE MIGHT BE LIKE AN INTERIM KIND OF ANALYSIS TO SAY LIKE, HEY, ARE WE SEEING LIKE SPIKES IN CERTAIN THINGS? AND WE MAY SAY, DECIDE LIKE, WE DON'T NEED TO CONTINUE THE 12 MONTH PILOT BECAUSE AT SIX MONTHS WE ALREADY KNOW LIKE WE'RE SEEING X, Y, OR Z HAPPENING ON THE PAST.

SO IN MY MIND I'M ASKING YOU ALL LIKE, WHAT, WHAT IS IT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT? WHICH IT WOULD SAY LIKE, IT'S, IT, WE SHOULD CONTINUE AND, AND DO THE ADDITIONAL SAY SIX MONTHS OR, HEY, AT SIX MONTHS WE'RE ACTUALLY ASSESSING THIS ACTUALLY DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A, A VERY GOOD IDEA FOR THESE, FOR THESE REASONS.

[05:05:04]

AND SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ARE INSTANCES WHERE DEVICES ARE LEFT BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK OR WE HAVE INTERRUPTED ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FACILITIES.

UH, AND THEN ALSO, UM, BEHAVIORAL COMPLIANCE BY THE ACTUAL USERS OF THE DEVICES.

IF WE START TO SEE, UH, TRENDS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR THOSE, I THINK THAT WOULD LEND US TOWARD, UM, MORE SCRUTINY ABOUT, UM, HOW LONG THE PILOT SHOULD ENDURE.

UM, BUT THAT IS THE PRIMARY, UH, CONCERN THAT WE HAVE WITH THE EXISTING PERMITS IS MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS PROVIDING ACCESS NOT ONLY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF CONVENTIONAL VEHICLE MODES, UM, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PRESERVING ACCESS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE USING THESE FACILITIES OUTSIDE OF THE SCOOTERS.

AND THEN ADDITIONAL QUESTION, I KNOW WE OKAY GUYS, WE'RE WE'RE GETTING IN A LANE.

OH, WE'RE, OKAY.

SO I'M JUST GONNA, I'M GONNA MAKE A FRIENDLY, UM, WOULD THE MAKERS OF THE MOTION BE AMENABLE? IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL, BUT WOULD YOU ALL BE AMENABLE TO LIKE AN INTERIM LIKE SIX MONTH WORK REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ON THE, THE STATE OF THE, THE PILOT? WHAT, WHAT'S BEFORE WE DO THAT, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR BEFORE WE DO THAT? SO BASICALLY THE, THE METRICS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, LIKE WOULD YOU BE LIKE, HOW MANY ACCIDENTS BEFORE WE DO THAT? OH, OKAY.

TELL OUT ON, OH, BEFORE WE DO THAT, SHE'S ASKING FOR MAKERS A MOTION.

WE A MAKER WHO SUPPORT AND THE OTHER ONE WHO DOES NOT.

DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? THE, THE, THE SECONDER DOES NOT, DOES NOT SENATOR CAN ELECT TO VOTE? NO, BUT THE SECONDER IS A SECONDER OF THE MOTION THAT'S BEFORE THE COUNCIL THEN.

SO THE SECONDER IS, IS ALLOWING THE MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT THE SECONDER VOTE FAVORABLY ON THE MOTION ITSELF.

ALRIGHT.

THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION.

UM, NO, I'M, I'M, I GUESS I'M JUST ASKING, UM, SPECIFICALLY ON, ON YOU WANNA KNOW THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED? WELL, BECAUSE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, 'CAUSE THERE ARE, UM, A LOT OF ACCIDENTS.

WE JUST HAD A ONE THAT WE REPORTED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, FROM PEOPLE FALLING.

UM, I'M POTHOLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE JUST, I KNOW I'M CONSTANTLY OUT THERE LOOKING AT, UM, THE PATHWAY.

'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE WALKING THEIR DOG AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND, AND, AND FALL.

SO WE JUST, WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, UM, DO OUR EFFORT AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO RIDE.

IT'S DEFINITELY SAFER THAN THE STREET.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE, UM, WITH FRIENDS THAT ALSO SCOOTER SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ON THE STREET, PEOPLE GET KILLED.

SO, UM, BUT, BUT AS FAR AS, I THINK THE ONLY THING I YES, I'M I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

WE CAN MAKE A DEFINITIVE DECISION LATER ON.

UM, IT JUST, BUT I WANNA BE SPECIFIC ON, UM, UH, IS IT, WHAT, WHAT SCOOTERS ARE? IS IT A PERSONAL SCOOTER? IS IT THE CITY RUN PROGRAM? I THINK WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW WITH THEIR OWN SCOOTERS, WHETHER THIS GOES FORWARD OR NOT.

PEOPLE ARE SCOOTING ON THE BIKE PATH.

PEOPLE ARE RIDING THEIR BIKES ON THE BIKE PATH.

SO, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA YOU'RE GETTING, 'CAUSE YOU'RE A IAN, YOU KNOW THAT IF IT'S GARBAGE IN, IT'S GARBAGE OUT.

SO MAKE SURE ABSOLUTELY.

THAT YOU'RE GETTING EXACTLY FROM THE CITY RUN PROGRAM, THESE ARE THE ACCIDENTS AND NOT FROM OTHER, WELL SEE, I THINK THAT'S, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE POINT, RIGHT? SO THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERS, WHICH I'M TRYING TO GET AT, WHICH IS WHAT ARE WE ASSESSING HERE? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT, WHAT, I DON'T WANT US TO GET AT THE END OF THE 12 MONTH PILOT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA THAT WE NEED MM-HMM .

RIGHT? AND SO PART OF THIS WOULD BE WHAT IS OUR, LIKE I SAID AGAIN, WHAT IS OUR GO NO GO.

LIKE WHAT ARE WE COLLECTING HERE? LIKE WHAT'S OUR END GOAL SO THAT AT THE END OF IT WE CAN SAY LIKE, YES, DEFINITIVELY THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

OR DEFINITIVELY IT'S A NOT LIKE, I DON'T WANT US TO END WITH THE AT END THE PILOT.

LIKE STILL HAVING A, LIKE A NEBULOUS IDEA OF THE, OF THE PROGRAM ITSELF, RIGHT? LIKE, I WANNA BE ABLE TO MAKE A DEFINITIVE DECISION.

SO THE QUESTION BECOMES WHAT ARE THOSE METRICS? AND THEN, AND THEN I WAS SAYING LIKE, HEY, SIX MONTH IN, LIKE, WE MAY SAY LIKE, OH, THIS IS REALLY GREAT.

LIKE WE'RE NOT SEEING THE INCREASES THAT WE THOUGHT WE'D SEE.

WE CAN CONTINUE THE PILOT FOR THE FULL 12 MONTHS, OR MAYBE AT SIX MONTHS WE SEE LIKE, HEY, THERE ARE INCREASES IN THE, YOU KNOW, LINEMAN, BIRD RIGHT.

RELATED ONES, RIGHT.

THE PROGRAM SPECIFIC ONES.

BUT I THINK THAT'S YOU GREAT.

YOU BRING UP A GREAT QUESTION COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN, WHICH IS LIKE, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE MEASURING? RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO, TO, TO GET OUT OF OUR STAFF AND THEN SAY, OKAY, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IF WE BROUGHT THAT BACK, SAY IN SIX MONTHS? AND AGAIN, I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT A REPORT BACK TO LIKE, I DON'T WANT A, A COUNCIL AGENDA.

I WAS THINKING THIS COULD BE A MEMO TO SAY LIKE, HEY, THIS IS HOW THE PILOT IS GOING THUS FAR.

GOT, AND THEN THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERS MAKE THE DETERMINATION LIKE, YES, IT'S FEASIBLE FOR US, IT REASONABLE FOR US TO CONTINUE IT, OR THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS HERE, RIGHT? BECAUSE I, I HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN'S LIKE, UM, CONCERNS AROUND SOME OF THIS.

I HEAR SOME OF THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING AROUND PD AND FIRE.

SO I JUST SAID, WHY DON'T WE PREEMPTIVELY RIGHT.

ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE THINGS NOW SO THAT

[05:10:01]

OH, UM, ABSOLUTELY.

I'M SURE.

I JUST WANNA MAKE, SURELY I DO REMEMBER MY STATS CLASS FROM MY MASTER'S DEGREE, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COLLECTING THE RIGHT INFORMATION.

SO, UM, AS LONG AS THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WE'RE DOING AND NOT FROM OTHER STUFF, THEN YEAH, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FAIR TO, UH, HAVE SOME TYPE OF REPORT BACK.

YOU HAVE TO JUST, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER.

SHE'S BETTER PROVE THE FRIENDLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUG.

ARE YOU OKAY? THE FRIENDLY? YES.

YEAH, SORRY.

UM, CAN WE GET CLARIFICATION ON THE FRIENDLY, SO THE, THE FRIENDLY IS ASKING FOR, UM, A MEMO, BASICALLY A REPORT BACK IN A MEMO FORMAT TO COUNCIL SIX MONTHS INTO THE PILOT PROGRAM, UM, THAT ASSESSES THE METRICS THAT THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER HAS DETERMINED THEY'RE GOING TO USE TO, UM, BA BASICALLY TO EVALUATE THE, UM, THE FEASIBILITY OF HAVING SCOOTERS ON THE BIKE PATH.

IS THAT CLEAR? YES.

J JUST ONE THING, JUST ONE THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO WHAT, HOW ARE WE, HOW ARE WE EVALUATING THAT? LIKE WHAT'S THE CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THAT? IS IT THEY WEREN'T LEFT ON THE RIGHT SPOT, THEY'RE LEFT BEHIND, THEY'RE AN ACCIDENT.

I THINK THAT'S OUR WONDERFUL TRAFFIC ENGINEERS AND OUR DIRECTOR ARE GOING TO TELL US THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS, AREN'T THEY? YEAH.

CAN YOU, WELL, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU'RE GONNA EVALUATE THAT? OKAY, SO, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE, RIGHT? SO WE'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP, UH, THE, THE CRITERIA.

SO I KNOW RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA, WE DO KEEP TRACK OF, UM, OF THE, THE NUMBER OF SCOOTERS THAT ARE GONNA BE THERE.

UH, WE'RE GONNA KEEP TRACK OF THE, UH, NUMBER OF, UH, COMPLAINTS AND VIOLATIONS THAT THE SCOOTERS WERE NOT LEFT ON THE DROP ZONES OR WERE NOT PICKED UP WITHIN THE TWO HOUR PERIOD.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE AN IMPORTANT ONE.

WE'RE GONNA KEEP TRACK OF, UH, COMPLAINTS ON SAY, A DA ACCESSIBILITY OR, OR OTHER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO, UH, TO, UH, TO THE SCOOTERS.

UM, AND THEN WE KNOW THAT OUR PARTNERS IN BIRD LIME HAVE A LOT OF DATA AND ANALYTICS.

SO WE'RE GONNA ASK THEM TO, UH, TO HELP US, UH, PROVIDE, UH, KIND OF THE, SOME OF THE DATA THEY COLLECT THAT CAN HELP, UH, INFORM THIS QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU, UH, EVALUATE SUCCESS.

UH, UH, THE SIX MONTH PERIOD IS, UH, A NICE, UH, UH, POINT BECAUSE IT WOULD GET US TO THE BUSY SUMMER SEASON AND THE FALL THAT IS SOME OF THE HEAVIEST USE, UH, FOR THESE DEVICES.

SO THAT WILL GIVE US A REALLY NICE SNAPSHOT OF HOW, HOW THIS, UH, THIS PILOT IS GOING.

BUT, UH, PAUL, DO YOU WANNA ELABORATE? WAIT MINUTE BEFORE YOU DO THAT.

THANK YOU, GOD DIRECTOR, UH, LOPEZ FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR RESPONSE, BUT WE'RE GETTING INTO THE MINUTIA OF THESE THING HERE.

LET'S KEEP IT GOING.

WAIT FOR THE REPORT.

THERE'S GONNA BE A SIX MONTH REPORT COMING UP.

WE EVALUATED IT AND WE WOULD DISCUSS IT AT THAT POINT.

IS THAT OKAY? UM, YES.

YES, SIR.

UM, VICE MAYOR, THAT'S FINE, BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ESTABLISH WHAT THAT CRITERIA IS NOW BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANNA HAPPEN IS SIX MONTHS FROM NOW THERE'S SOME CRITERIA ESTABLISHED THAT IF WE HAVE A HUNDRED LEFT, UM, THAT WE'RE GONNA KILL A PROGRAM.

SO I JUST, THAT'S WHAT I, IF THERE, IF, IF I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME IS TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THE PROGRAM SHOULD GO ON OR NOT IN SIX MONTHS, THEN WE NEED TO ESTABLISH WHAT THE CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THAT IS GOING TO BE.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL WE ESTABLISH WHAT THE CRITERIA IS.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

IF WE'RE GONNA STOP THE PROGRAM IN SIX MONTHS, IF THE CRITERIA COMES BACK THAT IT'S THE PROGRAM SHOULDN'T GO FORWARD ESSENTIALLY.

SO BASICALLY I'M SAYING LIKE, IT'S LIKE I SAID, I'M TREATING THIS LIKE A, LIKE A REAL PILOT, RIGHT? WHICH IS PILOTS HAVE GO NO GOS, RIGHT? SO IF SIX MONTHS, IF WE DETERMINE LIKE, HEY, WE'RE CREATING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, I DON'T WANNA CONTINUE A PILOT FOR 12 TO 12 MONTHS, IF THAT'S THE, IF THAT'S THE CASE, RIGHT? SO I'M THINKING TO MYSELF LIKE, HOW DO WE DETERMINE THAT? AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THAT.

AND IF WE'RE GONNA, IF WE'RE GONNA VOTE TO START A PILOT, WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE METRICS, WHETHER WE DO IT AT SIX MONTHS OR AT 12 MONTHS.

EITHER WAY, THOSE TYPES OF CRITERIA SHOULD BE DETERMINED AT THE OUTSET OF THE PILOT.

UM, SO WE SHOULD KNOW THOSE NOW BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND THE WAY WE'RE A MOTION IS IT'S A 12 MONTH PILOT, BUT WITH A CHECK IN AT SIX MONTHS, WE'LL PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT.

AND IF THINGS LOOK, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THEN IT THINGS CONTINUE LIKE NORMAL.

UM, IF, YOU KNOW THERE'S CONCERN ON THE COUNCIL AT SIX MONTHS, OH, WHOA, LOOK AT THOSE DATA, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WE COULD SCHEDULE IT FOR EITHER A DISCUSSION TO MODIFY OR A DISCUSSION TO END.

UM, SO, BUT IT WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO EFFECT.

I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

GOOD.

UH, COUNCILOR EZ, I JUST, UM, HAD A QUICK COMMENT.

I KNOW THAT, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN BROUGHT THIS UP, UM, IN REGARDS TO ENFORCEMENT, UH, NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE SCOOTERS, BUT UH, THE ILLEGAL BIKES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT MAKE THE, YOU KNOW,

[05:15:01]

HORRIBLE NOISES.

HOW, HOW ARE WE, UM, ADDRESSING THOSE ON THE BIKE PATH? I I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT.

AND I KNOW I'M, I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE, THE ONES THAT I'M REFERRING TO, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT MY, I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT FROM MY RESIDENTS.

YES, MA'AM.

AS COMMANDER BENSON, I BELIEVE YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT LIKE THE ILLEGAL POCKET BIKES.

UM, THOSE ARE COMPLETELY ILLEGAL.

THERE IS NO VEHICLE CODE FOR THOSE , SO THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE RIDDEN AT ALL UNLESS IT'S ON YOUR OWN, UH, PRIVATE LAND.

SO OBVIOUSLY THE BIKE PATH AND THE BEACH PATH IS NOT PRIVATE LAND.

UM, WE, AS FAR AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GO FOR ENFORCEMENT, IF WE GET A CALL DOWN THERE, WE DO PUT IN A CALL FOR SERVICE.

UM, SO IT GOES THROUGH D PREP, THEY PUT IN A EITHER EMERGENCY OR NON-EMERGENCY DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SITUATION IS.

AND THEN OUR OFFICERS RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.

IF THEY'RE DOWN THERE, THEY CAN BE CITED, UM, UH, A VEHICLE CODE SITE, UH, VIOLATION.

BUT WE ALSO, UM, IF THEY'RE THERE, WE ALSO TAKE THE BIKE BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL AND IT CAN'T BE THERE.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, UM, IF YOU CALL, HOW FAST DO THOSE GO? HOW FAST ARE OUR OFFICERS GOING TO GET THERE? SO SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A MATTER, ARE WE ALREADY THERE AND WE CAN GET THEM STOPPED OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE USE? AND, AND I KNOW CHIEF ISH SPEAKS ABOUT THIS A LOT, UM, DATA DRIVEN, RIGHT? SO IF WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE POCKET BIKES, UM, AND PUBLIC WORKS IS LETTING US KNOW THAT THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POCKET BIKES, THEN THAT'S DATA DRIVEN WHERE WE, AND I SAY WE, BECAUSE IT'S UM, MY DISTRICT OR MY DIVISION AS WELL AS SOUTH DIVISION, WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTACTED BY CHIEF USH TO DO SOME KIND OF EXTRA ENFORCEMENT RELATED TO THE POCKET BIKES.

SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

YES, IT DOES.

YOU READY? ALRIGHT, I'LL CUT RECORD.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE THAT, UM, IN TALKING ABOUT THE PILOT, IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS IN SIX MONTHS, AND THEN AGAIN IN A YEAR OF THE PUBLIC PROGRAM, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INCREASE BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXIST THERE NOW.

SO ANY INCREASE BY ONE IS AN INCREASE.

AND SO I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT IF THERE'S A 86% INCREASE, IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS ZERO BEFORE AND WE HAVE TO BE, BE CAREFUL HOW WE REPORT THOSE NUMBERS OUT SO THEY AREN'T MISUSED, UM, IN THE MOMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE NO DATA RIGHT NOW.

SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.

AND I KNOW THAT WE DO REGULAR TRAFFIC STUDIES FOR CARS TO SEE WHAT EXISTS IN THAT AREA.

PAUL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A WHOLE STACK OF TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT WE'RE WAITING ON, UM, TO HEAR BACK.

AND IN THAT MOMENT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERSECTIONS FOR CARS, WE DON'T BAN CARS, WE CHANGE THE RULES, WE CHANGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO MODIFY SO THAT PEOPLE BEHAVE BETTER IN THEIR CARS.

AND SO, UM, I WOULD BE, I WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT IF WE CAME BACK IN SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR AND SAID THERE WAS THIS INCREASE, THERE'S BEEN ZERO, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS, UM, IN SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR TO LOOK AT WAYS TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARN IN THE NEXT YEAR AS OPPOSED TO JUST LOOKING AT A NUMBER AND, AND HAVING A, A PERCENTAGE OR LIKE, I THINK IT HAS TO BE MORE NUANCED THAN THAT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TOTALLY NEW.

SO I WOULD JUST ASK, UM, THAT TO BE KEPT IN MIND.

THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL, YOU WANNA CLOSE THIS UP? UM, YEAH, SO I, I AGREE WITH THAT.

SO, UH, THANK YOU.

AND THEN, UM, SO BACK TO THE, THE POCKET BIKES.

SO CAN THEY BE TOWED? CAN ANYTHING BE DONE? BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS IT'S THOSE, THOSE, UM, THOSE TYPE OF EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING, UM, IS WHERE WE, WHERE I GET THE MOST COMPLAINTS.

AND YOUR FRIEND, LIKE COMMANDER ALLEN, IT'S HIS BIGGEST COMPLAINT ABOUT LIVING DOWN THERE IS THOSE POCKET BIKES.

LIKE WHY ARE THE POLICE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? AND THEY'RE DANGEROUS AND LOUD.

SO DO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FROM A COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE TO ADDRESS THIS? LIKE HOW CAN WE, 'CAUSE THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR ALL THREE OF US, UM, ALONG THAT PATH.

AND HONESTLY, MA'AM, I I'LL HAVE TO TELL YOU IT IS, IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE EDUCATION ALSO.

UM, THIS GOES BACK AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN KERR ADDRESSED IT.

A LOT OF THE PARENTS ARE BUYING ITEMS FOR THEIR CHILDREN THAT, THAT THEY DON'T EVEN, AND EVEN THEMSELVES ACTUALLY NOT JUST THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS.

SO I CAN GO ONLINE TO AMAZON AND PICK UP A POCKET BIKE AND PUT IT OUT IN THE PARK OR PUT IT OUT ON MY ROADWAY.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT LEGAL.

SO THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS GONNA PUT OUT ON THEIR SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

PDS GONNA PUT OUT ON THEIR SIDE OF THE HOUSE AS FIRES PROBABLY GONNA PUT OUT ON THEIR SIDE OF THE HOUSE SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE EVERYBODY.

WHAT IS LEGAL? WHAT IS IT, WHAT IS AN E SCOOTER, WHAT IS AN E-BIKE? WHAT IS A REGULAR BICYCLE? UM, AND WHAT IS A POCKET BIKE, WHICH IS ILLEGAL? AND WHAT ARE THE LAWS THAT GO WITH EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE? AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE OUR BEST

[05:20:01]

APPROACH.

AND THEN ONE OTHER QUESTION.

SO YOU'RE ALREADY COUNTING THE SCOOTERS ON THE BIKE PATH, YOU SAID I'M THE ENGINEER, YOU'RE ALREADY COUNTING THE SCOOTERS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

UH, EVERY FALL ON THE THIRD THURSDAY OF OCTOBER, WE SOLICIT, UH, VOLUNTEERS TO COME OUT AND HELP US WITH OUR ANNUAL BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COUNT.

AND NOW IT'S, UH, WITH SCOOTERS.

SO FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE ALSO BEEN COUNTING SCOOTERS AT ALL OF THOSE COUNT LOCATIONS.

AND THE BEACH PATH, WE HAVE MULTIPLE COUNT SITES.

SO WE DO HAVE DATA GOING BACK, I BELIEVE, TO 2018, UH, WITH REGARDS TO SCOOTER USAGE ON THE BEACH PATH.

HOWEVER, IT'S A SIX MONTH SNAP OR SIX HOUR SNAPSHOT IN TIME EACH YEAR.

BUT WE DO HAVE SOME DATA ABOUT SCOOTERS.

AND THEN WITH THE SCOOTERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE BIKE PATH, DO WE HAVE ANY INFO ON THE AMOUNT OF ACCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING? UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO ANY REPORTED, UH, CRASHES INVOLVING SCOOTERS.

I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT NUMBER.

UM, I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ONE EVER, BUT I'M JUST ASKING FOR MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE I MEAN, SCOOTERS HAVE BEEN ON THE BIKE PATH FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT'S NOT ANYTHING NEW.

UM, WE'RE KIND OF TREATING IT LIKE A COUNCIL THAT THIS IS A NEW THING, BUT ANYONE THAT'S DOWN THERE, YOU CAN COUNT EVERY DAY HOW MANY SCOOTERS ARE ALREADY THERE.

UM, AND THEY KNOW HOW TO OPERATE ON THE BIKE PATH.

BUT, BUT I JUST THOUGHT, I JUST WANNA KNOW THAT FOR REFERENCE.

SO WE WE'RE STARTING WITH ZERO .

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

IN YOUR TIME.

SORRY.

CAN I, CAN I INTERJECT HERE JUST FOR A SECOND? I THOUGHT YOU ALL SAID THAT YOU HAD BASELINE DATA 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN MEASURING THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

SO ISN'T THAT SOMETHING, ISN'T THAT DATA THAT WE ALREADY HAVE? YES, WE HAVE DATA ON SCOTERS OR, UM, YEAH, JUST SCOOTERS ON THE BEACH PATH.

UM, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN LEGAL TO USE THE BEACH PATH, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENT ON THE BEACH PATH.

SO WE DO HAVE INFORMATION ON THE CONTRACT HOW MANY SCOOTERS HAVE USED THE PATH.

OKAY, SO YOU, SO THE DATA THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN IS ASKING FOR, WE DO HAVE, LET, LET ME CLARIFY.

'CAUSE WE, IT'S ONLY PRIVATE, UH, SCOOTERS, UH, SCOOTERS RIGHT NOW FROM LY AND BIRD AND OTHER, UH, VENDORS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

SO, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY'LL TRY TO MAKE IT, THEN THEY, IT GETS SHUT OFF BECAUSE WE DON'T ALLOW THEM.

UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THE DATA THAT I SEE AS BEING KEY.

UH, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE USE FOR, UH, OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE THE MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAM.

BUT, SO YES, WHILE WE HAVE DONE SOME COUNTS, IT'S FOCUSED ON PRIVATE.

I HATE TO ASK, BUT I WILL .

ANYBODY ELSE CAN COMMENTS? ANYBODY ELSE? NO.

BEFORE YOU JUMPED IN, WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE VOTE? UH, SIX ONE I BELIEVE.

MOTION.

FAIR ME? ARE WE AT THE END ORDINANCE? PARDON? SIX YES.

ONE NO.

TWO ABSENT.

OKAY, ITEM.

OKAY, NOW ITEM 28 IS A REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RESTATING CHAPTER 16.43 RELATED TO AIRPORT NOISE COMPATIBILITY.

READ THE FIRST TIME AND LATER THE NEXT, LET'S SEE WHAT THIS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING.

CITYWIDE,

[28. 25-54771 Recommendation to adopt ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending and restating Chapter 16.43 related to Airport Noise Compatibility, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

UH, EXCUSE ME.

VICE MAYOR, CAN I SPEAK TO THIS ITEM REAL QUICK? THANK YOU.

UH, WE NEED TO WITHDRAW THIS ITEM AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK AT A ANOTHER TIME.

MOVE TO WITHDRAW.

AYE.

CAN WE TAKE A VOTE ON THE WITHDRAWAL? WITHDRAWING? NO, CAN'T REMEMBER 20.

YOU WANT WITHDRAW YOUR, OKAY, THAT'S FINE.

ALRIGHT, ITEM.

UH, AND THERE ARE NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM SO WE CAN VOTE ON THE WITHDRAWAL VOTE.

ITEM 29, WE'RE NEED TO VOTING ON THE, WITH WITHDRAWAL OF THE ITEM.

BEYOND THE DOWNTOWN PLAN AND MIDTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN SUB-MARKETS.

SO WE VOTE, WE'RE VOTING ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE ITEM.

UM, FOR TECHNICAL PURPOSES, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, YOU NEEDED TO JUST CHANGE SOMETHING IN THE LANGUAGE.

UH, YEAH, THERE WAS A TWO SA DRAFT ATTACHED THAT HAD THE WRONG PRONOUNS, SO WE HAVE TO BRING IT BACK WITH THE CORRECT.

[05:25:01]

COUNCILWOMAN SORROW MOTION IS CARRIED.

ITEM 29, WONDERFUL REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY.

RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE ADOPTING ZONING CODE AMENDMENT TO AMEND ZONING REGULATIONS TO EXPAND THE EXISTING INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE, APPLICABILITY

[29. 25-54672 Recommendation to declare ordinance adopting Zoning Code Amendment and the proposed findings thereto, to amend Chapter 21.67 of the Zoning Regulations to expand the existing Inclusionary Housing Ordinance applicability beyond the Downtown Plan and Mid-Town Specific Plan submarkets and apply the ordinance citywide, including sites within the coastal zone; change the affordability requirements for Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, read and adopted as read. Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

APPLY THE ORDINANCE CITYWIDE AND CHANGE THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE.

READ AND ADOPTED IS RED.

IS A WHAT? SAND READING.

ALRIGHT, IN ONE, PLEASE.

THERE ARE NO, NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.

ALRIGHT, RULE.

BUT YES, MARY MOTION IS CARRIED.

I RAN HOME STRETCH JENNIFER, NUMBER TWO.

GREG, THERE ARE FIVE SPEAKERS FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT.

KAREN RE SIDE, JOSE, MAYA, MAYA.

AND IF ANY OF THOSE SPEAKERS ARE STILL IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM.

KAREN RE SIDE.

JOSE, MAYA, MAYA AND MARIA.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

HOMEOWNERS BY THE PARKING CITATION, NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, VICE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER.

MY NAME IS JOSEA AND AS THE VICE MAYOR SAYS, LESS IS MORE.

SO I'M GONNA DO VERY LESS.

UM, I NEED YOUR HELP.

I NEED YOUR WISDOM OF SOLOMON TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S AN ISSUE HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S TAKING A TREND.

35 YEARS AGO, THIS DIDN'T EXIST WHERE WE'RE HAVING AN UPTICK IN PARKING TICKETS.

AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A PARKING TICKET IF YOU DESERVE IT, BUT IT'S TAR PARKING TICKETS AGAINST

[ 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. ]

TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENING ON WEEKENDS.

WE PARK OUR CARS IN FRONT OF OUR DRIVEWAYS AND THEY COME BACK AND THEY TAG US AND TICKET US.

WE DIDN'T CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THE TICKET.

THERE WAS NO NEIGHBOR THAT SAID, HEY, MOVE YOUR CAR OUT OF YOUR, OUTTA YOUR DRIVEWAY.

AND YET WE'RE GETTING PARKING TICKETS FOR SIX $65.

I HAVE ONE HERE AND TWO FOR PARKING IN FRONT OF MY OWN DRIVEWAY.

AND THEN IF YOU TRY TO APPEAL CITY MANAGER, YOU CAN'T WIN BECAUSE THERE'S NO PROCESS OF APPEAL.

EVEN IF YOU SHOW THE PICTURE AND SAY, THIS IS MY HOUSE, WHY AM I GETTING A PARKING TICKET FOR PARKING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE? AND I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY WRONG.

THE SECOND THING IS, ON STREET SWEEPY DAYS BETWEEN ONE 30 AND THREE O'CLOCK, THERE'S A SCRAMBLE IN EVERYBODY'S NEIGHBORHOOD TO FIND A PARKING.

AND AS YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO AVOID THE PARKING, THE SWEEPER.

AND A LOT OF US BLOCK THE SIDEWALK AS THE SWEEPER GOES BY IN OUR DRIVEWAY BECAUSE OUR CARS ARE TOO BIG FOR THE DRIVEWAY.

WE'RE GETTING PARKING TICKETS FOR, FOR BLOCKING THE DRIVEWAY DURING PARKING SWEEPING TIMES.

IS THAT RIGHT? NO.

SO THAT'S WHY THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON IS HERE, BECAUSE THERE ARE CODES THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF YOU BLOCK YOUR DRIVEWAY, YOU'LL GET CITED, YOU KNOW, AND FOR THE SAME THING, PARKING IN FRONT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY.

BUT I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A METHOD OF APPEAL.

AND THIS IS WHY I'M APPEALING TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE PROCESS OF THERE HAS TO BE A PROCESS OTHER THAN WRITING AN APPEAL ON A TICKET CITATION TO A COMPANY THAT JUST SAYS, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE NO, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE TICKET.

I HAVE $120 WORTH OF TICKETS FOR PARKING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

NOT ONLY FOR ME, BUT FOR ALL MY NEIGHBORS.

SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE, IS HOW DO WE BEGIN THE APPEAL PROCESS FOR NEIGHBORS LIKE MYSELF SAYING, THIS ISN'T RIGHT, THIS IS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

AND SO I CHALLENGE YOU AS THE WISDOM OF SULLIVAN BECAUSE CITATION SAYS I CAN, I CAN TICKET YOU, BUT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, FRONT OF MY DRIVEWAY.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO APPEAL TO SEE IS THERE A PROCESS OR THE CREATION OF A PROCESS TO APPEAL THESE TYPES OF CITATIONS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S MORALLY WRONG.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE, THERE IS A PROCESS.

CITY CLERK I THINK HAVE THOSE COMPLAINTS FOR THAT.

SO YOU CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY.

WHILE WE CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THIS, WE DO HAVE A PROCESS WHERE YOU CAN APPLY, APPLY FOR A PERMIT IN A PARKING IMPACTED AREA TO PARK IN FRONT OF YOUR

[05:30:01]

DRIVEWAY SO WE CAN GET THE GENTLEMAN SOME INFORMATION ON, UH, THE COST OF THAT PERMIT AND WHETHER THAT'S AN ELIGIBLE AREA.

OKAY, THERE YOU GO.

SEE, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN STATED, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MOST NEIGHBORHOODS.

PEOPLE ARE JUST PAYING THE TICKET, RIGHT? BUT THERE COMES A POINT IN TIME, YOU KNOW, WE GET TOO MANY.

YOU SAY THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

SO THAT'S THE CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE PROCESS AS IT WORKS RIGHT NOW BY APPEALING THE CITATION ONLINE, SIR, IS IN THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY AND NOT OF THE HOMEOWNER, SIR.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THIS ISSUE'S BEING RAISED.

AND I WILL LOOK AT THE PARKING, UH, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED, SIR.

MAYA, OUR LAST SPEAKER, MARIA.

HI EVERYONE.

MAYA, UH, EARLIER TONIGHT REX SAID THAT IF WE WANT SOMETHING DONE, WE GOTTA COME HERE AND TALK TO YOU.

BUT OF COURSE, AT 10:30 PM HE IS GONE.

WHILE WORKING CLASS TENANTS WHO'VE WAITED HOURS TO BE HEARD BY HIM ARE STILL HERE.

I KNOW EVERYONE'S TIRED.

I HOPE YOU'LL SHAKE IT OFF AND REALLY GIVE US YOUR ATTENTION TO LISTEN AS WE BRING UP SOMETHING TENANTS HAVE BEEN BRINGING UP TO YOU ALL FOR YEARS.

ON FRIDAY, MARCH 7TH, SEVENTH OF THIS YEAR, LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PASS AN INTERIM ORDINANCE TEMPORARILY REMOVING RENOVATION WORK AS A BASIS FOR EVICTION.

THIS CHANGE WENT INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, AND IT REMAINS IN PLACE UNTIL AUGUST 1ST OR WHENEVER A PERMANENT ORDINANCE IS PASSED, LONG BEACH MUST FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THEIR LA CITY COLLEAGUES BY ELIMINATING THE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL EVICTION, ENSURING SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM FOR REPAIRS ON THE CITY'S AGING HOUSING STOCK.

THE CITY SHOULD ACT IMMEDIATELY AS IT ALREADY HAS FEASIBILITY STUDIES SUPPORTING THE REMOVAL OF THE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL DATING BACK TO DECEMBER, 2021.

AND FURTHERMORE, RENTER'S DAY AS DICTATED BY LONG BEACH, IS ON APRIL 16TH.

THE CITY MUST TAKE A STEP FORWARD FOR TENANTS BEFORE RENTER'S DAY, AND IT CAN DO SO BY REMOVING THIS EVICTION LOOPHOLE.

LANDLORDS IN CALIFORNIA HAVE A HISTORY OF ABUSING SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL EVICTIONS TO RAISE THE RENT RETALIATE AGAINST TENANTS, AND ACHIEVE OTHER MOTIVES UNRELATED TO THE NEED FOR REMODELS.

AND THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO UNSCRUPULOUS LANDLORDS AS A TENANT ATTORNEY PRACTICING FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, I WANNA SPEAK TO HOW THIS SHOWS UP ON THE ATTORNEY SIDES OF EVICTIONS.

THIS PRACTICE OF ABUSING THE REMODEL LOOPHOLE IS SO WIDESPREAD AND TECHNICALLY LEGAL.

THAT NOTORIOUS LA LANDLORD ATTORNEY DENNIS BLOCK, PUBLICLY DESCRIBED THE SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL LOOPHOLE AS A WAY TO BEAT RENT CONTROL.

IF A LANDLORD HAS NO LEGAL REASON TO EVICT A TENANT.

DENNIS BLOCK PUBLICLY ENCOURAGES LANDLORDS TO USE THE REMODEL LOOPHOLE TO REMOVE TENANTS PAYING BELOW MARKET RATE RENTS.

ANOTHER LARGE LANDLORD ATTORNEY FIRM, BORNSTEIN LAW STATES ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT IN ADVISING A LANDLORD WHO WANTED TO SELL HER PROPERTY, THEY QUOTE DETERMINED THAT THE ONLY CONVENIENT AND LEGAL MEANS TO TRANSITION HER TENANTS OUT IS THROUGH A SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL THAT WOULD NOT ONLY ENABLE THE OWNER TO SELL THE PROPERTY AS VACANT, BUT ALSO PROVIDE UPSIDE POTENTIAL BY RENOVATING THE KITCHEN OR BATHROOM IN EACH UNIT, IT WILL SELL FOR MORE FOR LANDLORDS.

SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL EVICTIONS ARE CONVENIENT AND PROFIT MOTIVATED, AND FOR TENANTS THERE ARE DEVASTATING ACTS OF DISPLACEMENT.

I ALSO WANNA NAME THAT NUMEROUS TENANTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY FACING EVICTION BY SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL IN LONG BEACH WERE HERE EARLIER TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF REMOVING THE LOOPHOLE THEY HAD TO LEAVE, BUT THOSE FAMILIES RECEIVED A SUB REMODEL EVICTION NOTICE SHORTLY AFTER FIRST COMBATING AN ILLEGAL RENT INCREASE.

IN OTHER WORDS, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF THIS WIDESPREAD PRACTICE THAT I JUST DESCRIBED.

OUR HOUSING UNITS ARE AGING AS LISTED BY THE CITY ON THE UH, CITY'S WEBSITE, AND IS GONNA REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THIS IS AN IMPENDING CRISIS AND THE CITY MUST REMOVE SUBSTANTIAL NOVATION EVICTIONS NOW.

UM, OUR FINAL SPEAKER, MARIA, WE'RE HERE PUSHING STRONG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

UM, MY NAME IS MARIA.

I'M AUTONOMOUS TENANT ORGANIZER, UH, WITH THE LONG BEACH TENANTS UNION FOR THE PAST ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW.

UM, HAPPY FIRST OF THE MONTH WHERE THE RENT EATS FIRST AND OUR FAMILY'S SECOND.

IT WOULD TAKE A, UH, FOUR FULL-TIME MINIMUM WAGE JOBS TO AFFORD RENT A TO RENT A TYPICAL TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

TODAY, MANY FAMILIES ARE CHOOSING BETWEEN UTILITIES OR RENT, FOOD, OR RENT, MEDICATION, OR RENT.

WE HAVE TO BEGIN EXPLORING STRONGER PERMANENT TENANT PROTECTIONS, LIKE LIMITATIONS ON EVICTIONS FOR FAILURE TO PAY.

SHOULD FAMILIES BE DISPLACED FOR BEING SHORT $10 ON RENT? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

TODAY, I'M HERE SAYING LOUD AND CLEAR THAT EVICTIONS ARE NOT SOLUTIONS AND RE EVICTIONS NOW AND PASS A RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE AT 3% OR 60% CPI.

IN 2017, THE CITY VOTED TO MAKE THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF APRIL A CITYWIDE

[05:35:01]

RENTERS DAY.

THAT IS APRIL 16TH THIS YEAR.

AND WE WANT THIS ONE TO BE ONE FILLED WITH HOPE AND CHANGE.

WE ASK YOU ALL TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD BEFORE THEN ON OUR JUST COST POLICY FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FAMILIES.

ERIC AND YOBE PARADE RESISTANCE TENANTS WHO WERE HERE AND HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY WORK AT FOUR IN THE MORNING, HAVE A 60 DAY NOTICE THAT EXPIRES APRIL 30TH FOR THEM AND AT LEAST SIX OTHER FAMILIES IN THE WEST SIDE.

AND THOSE OTHERS THROUGHOUT ALL OF LB, THIS YEAR'S RENTER'S DAY WILL SHOW THEM CLEARLY WHERE YOU ALL STAND READING ABOLISHED RENT.

I'VE GOTTEN CLARITY ON THE IMPACTS OF RENT AND EVICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

A $100 RENT INCREASE MEET, UH, IN MEDIAN RENT MEANS THAT 9% INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS.

THE FRAME OF HOUSING CRISIS TRAINS OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE FUNDAMENTAL POWER BALANCE BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

AND ACCORDING TO 2021, US CENSUS DATA, THE AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL LANDLORD SPENDS LESS THAN FOUR HOURS A MONTH MAINTAINING PROPERTY, WHILE THE AVERAGE REVENUE THEY CLAIM ON THAT PROPERTY IS OVER 25,000 A MONTH.

AND EVERY SEVEN MINUTES OF THE DAY, LANDLORDS ARE FILING SEVEN EVICTIONS TOTALING 3.6 MILLION EVICTIONS A YEAR.

NATIONWIDE TENANTS AND LB ARE ASKING YOU TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD, STEP UP TO ACCOUNTABILITY, AND UPHOLD THE RESPECT FOR OUR TENANT FAMILIES.

WE HAVE SENT OUT, UH, SEVERAL, SEVERAL REQUESTS TO YOUR OFFICES, AND I HATE TO SAY THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM SEVERAL, SOME OF YOU.

AND SO I UPLIFT THE NEED TO RESPOND TO YOUR EMAILS FOR OUR REQUESTS AND ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR TENANT STORIES AND OUR 2026 BUDGET DEMANDS.

I MUST SAY IN MY LAST WORDS THAT A PROACTIVE COUNCIL TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT ITS MAJORITY TENANT POPULATION TO CREATE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.

AND TODAY AND IN THIS MONTH, WE WANNA CREATE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES WITH YOU ALL.

UM, PLEASE RESPOND TO OUR MEETING REQUESTS.

ALLOW US TO MEET WITH YOU ALL AND YOUR TEAM AND TO UPLIFT, UH, TENANTS IN RENTER'S DAY THIS YEAR.

AT THE END OF THE AGENDA, WE ARE NOW AT ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THERE'S NO COUNCIL MEMBER, SO YES.

GO AHEAD.

SORRY YOU TALK FOR A LONG TIME AND YEAH, HE WAS ALWAYS QUICK TO SMILE.

UM, TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF MR. I WANNA EXPRESS MY DEEP CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY FOR THIS DEEP LOSS.

HE WAS BORN AND HE, AND HE WAS A LONGTIME SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT.

HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CAMBODIA AND ESCAPED THE KH ROUGE REGIME IN 1979 AND SETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1981.

RA IS THE ONLY SON OF HIS FAMILY TO SURVIVE THE KAHMA ROUGE REGIME.

HE, HE PLAYED MANY ROLES.

UH, HE WAS A SOCIAL COUNSELOR FOR THE UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST AT ST.

MARY'S MEDICAL CENTER, A DATA MANAGER FOR THE JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM OF THE YMCA LONG BEACH, A COMMUNITY LIAISON FOR THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND A FORMER EMPLOYEE AT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND RETIRED FROM THE CITY SINCE 1981.

HE SERVED ON NUMEROUS BOARDS AND HAS BEEN EMERGENCY TRANSLATOR FOR LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBER OF THE MAYOR'S BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE BEEN PART OF CENSUS 200, 2000 COMPLETE COMMITTEE.

SO HE HAS DONE SO MUCH.

UM, AND IT WAS BECAUSE THROUGH HIS HARDSHIP DURING THE KAMA REGIME, THAT HE HAS REALIZED THAT PEACE AND FREEDOM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, UM, ASPECT OF LIFE.

AND SINCE HE'S ADOPTED LONG BEACH AS HIS HOME, HE'S DEDICATED HIS WHOLE LIFE TO VOLUNTEER AND UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BRING HARMONY AND, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.

AND THAT IS THE LEGACY HE LEAVES BEHIND.

I I WANNA SEND MY, UM, PRAYERS TO HIS FAMILY, UM, THAT HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

AND, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY MOURNS WITH YOU THERE.

YOU'RE, I'M

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

GO AHEAD.

I THINK WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HE'S PASSED RIGHT BEFORE THE CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR, I WANNA JUST MAKE SURE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND OF CELEBRATION.

IT'S GONNA KICK OFF ON SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH WITH THE LONG BEACH CRON AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE FROM EIGHT 30 TO 10, AND THEN THAT SUNDAY, FIRST TIME EVER, UM,

[05:40:01]

WILL THERON AND CAMBODIA TOWN COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE WEEKEND TOGETHER IN THE SAME PLACE, WHICH IS LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.

BUT ON SUNDAY, APRIL 6TH, THERE'LL BE A PARADE THAT LEADS UP TO THE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.

UH, THIS IS TEMPORARY BECAUSE MACARTHUR PARK, WHERE THEY USUALLY END THEIR PARADE IS CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS.

SO JOIN US ON EITHER DAY, EVERYBODY IS WELCOME, UM, TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR AGAIN.

IF YOU DIDN'T QUITE MEET YOUR RESOLUTION IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY FOR LUNAR YEAR NEW YEAR, THIS IS YOUR THIRD CHANCE IN THE APRIL CRA NEW YEAR.

NEVER TOO LATE.

UH, CUSTOMERS.

THANK YOU MAYOR, AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILY.

UM, THANK YOU EVERYONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO THE FOLLOWING EVENTS IN THE FIRST DISTRICT, WE HAVE OUR FIRST DISTRICT QUARTERLY, UM, CHECK-IN AT THE GUIDANCE CENTER ON THURSDAY, APRIL 3RD, UM, BEGINNING AT 6:30 PM UM, WE WILL HAVE STAFF FROM HOMELESS SERVICES AND LONG BEACH HEALTH DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ALSO, UM, WANNA INVITE YOU TO DTLB ALLIANCE ART SHOW DESIGN WALK IS TAKING PLACE THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH, 2025 FROM 2:00 PM TO 7:00 PM IT WILL BE LOCATED AT 200 PINE.

JOIN US FOR THE FESTIVITIES, THE FUN, AND TO CELEBRATE OUR DOWNTOWN.

THAT IT IS.

THAT IT? YEAH.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KER.

THANK YOU, MR. VICE MAYOR.

UH, THIS WEEKEND I INVITE RESIDENTS TO JOIN NEIGHBORS AND BIXBY KNOWLES FOR FIRST FRIDAYS, THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 4TH FROM SIX 30 TO NINE 30.

EXPLORE THE BUSINESSES ALONG ATLANTIC AVENUE TO FIND ART, MUSIC, FOOD, DRINK, AND MORE WHILE CELEBRATING THIS MONTH'S THEME.

THE LONG BEACH COUNTY FAIR.

IT'S THE BIGGEST FIRST FRIDAY OF THE YEAR.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE.

ALSO, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 4TH, I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO VISIT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER OF LONG BEACH, HOUSED AT THE EXPO ARTS CENTER ON ATLANTIC AVENUE AS THEY CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF TWO DIFFERENT EXHIBITS AT 4:00 PM JOIN THE RECEPTION FOR THE JOSEPHINE S GUM FOUNDATION GALLERY EXHIBIT TO HONOR THE LEGACY AND COUNTLESS BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY PROVIDED BY THE NONPROFIT FOUNDATION.

THEN STICK AROUND UNTIL 6:00 PM FOR THE OPENING OF THE EARLY LONG BEACH BLACK FAMILIES, BLACK FAMILY EXHIBITS FEATURING THE DAVIS AND BOOKER FAMILIES.

MORE EARLY LONG BEACH BLACK FAMILIES WILL BE ADDED THROUGHOUT THE MONTH, AND BOTH OF THESE EXHIBITS WILL BE OPENED THROUGH APRIL 25TH.

I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL HISTORY.

THAT'S ALL I HOPE TO SEE ALL OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT AREA AND SOME FUTURE REVITALIZATION EFFORTS.

UH, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR.

I AM DELIGHTED TO SHARE THAT I'VE COMPLETED MY FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE.

YAY.

UM, SO OF COURSE THAT HAS INCLUDED, UH, FOCUSING ON HOUSING INITIATIVES, CONNECTING WITH NEIGHBOR AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS.

WE EVEN HAD A CONSTRUCTION GROUNDBREAKING AND I'VE BEEN ATTENDING LOTS OF COMMUNITY EVENTS.

I WANTED TO THANK THE TEAM AT THE PRESS TELEGRAM FOR RECOGNIZING MY FIRST THREE MONTHS, UM, SO FAR HERE ON THE DAIS.

AND GREAT TO SERVE WITH YOU LADIES AS WELL.

UM, LAST WEEK WE HAD A CHANCE TO HOST OUR FIRST COFFEE WITH A COP, AND THERE WAS AN IMMENSE AND OVERWHELMING TURNOUT WITH OVER 75 RESIDENTS AND OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE.

IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO HAVE GREAT DISCUSSION AND CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE NORTH DIVISION.

AND I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN RICKS OTI FOR ATTENDING AS WELL, BECAUSE THE NORTH DIVISION ENCOMPASSES BOTH THE EIGHTH AND THE NINTH DISTRICTS.

AS WE BUILD BID FAREWELL TO MARCH, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH PRESENTATION.

I SET OUT TO HONOR ALL THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED, UM, THE, NOT ONLY THE EIGHTH DISTRICT, BUT ALL OF LONG BEACH AND BEYOND.

UM, AND SO WITH THIS INITIATIVE, YOU SAW SOME, UH, A NUMBER OF POSTS ONLINE WHERE WE HIGHLIGHTED COMMUNITY LEADERS, EDUCATORS, UM, AND THOSE WHO WORK AT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE YMCA AND THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LONG BEACH.

UM, FEEL FREE TO VISIT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT.

LOOKING AHEAD, WE'LL BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THIS WEEKEND.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONNECTING WITH A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE HOSTING EVENTS ON SATURDAY.

RIDGEWOOD TRIANGLE HAS A CLEANUP IN BIXBY KNOLLS FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 PM THAT'S LOCATED AT 1200 EAST SAN ANTONIO DRIVE.

WE ASK YOU TO COME OUT THOSE, UM, THAT TEAM IS PRETTY INDUSTRIOUS, SO THEY EXPECT YOU TO BE READY, UH, FOR LOTS OF ACTIVITY.

AND THEN IN THE NORTH VILLAGE, WE'LL BE HOLDING A MEETING FROM 10 TO 11 AT SOUTH AND LINDEN.

UM, WE REALLY WANNA FOCUS ON SOME OF THE POSITIVE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN

[05:45:01]

AS ALWAYS, WE HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED WITH THE EIGHTH DISTRICT.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER ACCORDINGLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR.

UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO OUR, THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE ACTION CORPS, UH, MCKINLEY NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PLANTING ON SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 11:30 AM THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT 31 0 1 EAST 68TH STREET.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO THE LONG BEACH REALTORS ASSOCIATION'S BUILDING BLACK WEALTH COMMUNITY DAY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 12TH FROM 12 TO 4:00 PM THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE MICHELLE OBAMA LI NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY AT 58 70 ATLANTIC AVENUE.

UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT ON APRIL 19TH FROM 10 TO ONE.

MY OFFICE WILL BE HOSTING OUR HIGHER UPTOWN JOBS SUMMIT.

UH, THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT HELTON PARK AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE.

UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A VARIETY OF, UM, CITY COMMUNITY, LABOR, UM, ORGANIZATIONS ALL THERE OFFERING INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND POSITIONS ACROSS THE CITY.

UM, AND SO WE WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND GET CONNECTED TO SOME GREAT EMPLOYERS.

SO AGAIN, THAT'LL BE ON APRIL 19TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR AT DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV.

UH, ANY FINAL COMMENTS IF ANYMORE? NONE.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING.