* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:07:51] GOOD. [00:07:54] GOOD. AH. [00:19:59] ALL [00:19:59] RIGHT, FOLKS. WELL, [00:20:01] THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL. IT IS TUESDAY, APRIL 22ND, AND [CALL TO ORDER] I'M CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILWOMAN SINJA. COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. COUNCIL [ROLL CALL] MEMBER DUGGAN. HERE. COUNCILMAN SUPERMAN. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. PRESENT VICE MAYOR ANG COUNCILWOMAN THRASH AND TUCK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. GREAT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN WON'T BE JOINING US. RANDY IS HAVING SHOULDER, A SHOULDER OPERATION. WE WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, PLEASE LEAD US IN THE MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. LET'S TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WE HAVE THE CAMBODIAN [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] 50TH ANNIVERSARY. LET'S REMEMBER THAT TODAY. PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE, PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ALRIGHT, WELL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. UM, UH, CITY MANAGER MOCA, UH, WON'T BE JOINING US. WE HAVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, WALKER IS HELPING WITH THE MEETING TODAY AND, AND IT'S HER BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, APRIL. THAT'S RIGHT. SO WE, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO GET YOU HOME, HOME AT A DECENT HOUR. WE HAVE THREE PRESENT. WELL, IT STARTS WITH THESE THREE PRESENTATIONS. UM, FIRST WE'RE GONNA CALL UP 2025 COMMUNITY NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK. UH, AND SO WE'RE GONNA INTRODUCE OUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. [ 2025 NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK] GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S MEGAN SORENSON. I'M THE PROUD BUREAU MANAGER FOR HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. I'M SUPER THRILLED TO BE HERE TODAY IN HONOR OF, UH, 2025 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES FACILITATED BY OUR TALENTED AND PASSIONATE STAFF WHO ARE ADAMANT ABOUT BUILDING STRONGER AND MORE EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES. THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS A LONGTIME RECIPIENT OF US HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FUNDING, INCLUDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT, UH, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT FUNDS. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK IS A TIME TO SHINE A LIGHT ON ALL OF THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT THIS FUNDING PROVIDES AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT MAKES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS WEEK, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING A SERIES OF EVENTS ON TOPICS LIKE YOUTH AND SENIOR SERVICES AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. WE'RE ALSO CONDUCTING OUTREACH, INCLUDING DOOR TO DOOR AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN INPUT ON THE PRIORITIES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, FOR OUR FUNDING. AND NOW WE'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU A BRIEF VIDEO COMMEMORATING AND CELEBRATING ALL THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WITH OUR CDBG GRANT FUNDS. NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK IS CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR IN APRIL. LET'S LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL THE FEDERAL FUNDING STREAMS THAT SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS HERE IN LONG BEACH. FOR OVER FIVE DECADES, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, OR CBBG, THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP GRANT AND THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT FOR ESG FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, OR HUD, HAVE BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND FLEXIBLE TOOLS TO USE NATIONWIDE BY STATES AND LOCALITIES LIKE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TACKLE ECONOMIC DISTRESS, AND ADDRESS A WIDE VARIETY OF COMMUNITY NEEDS. OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, CDBG CONTRIBUTED TO INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS BENEFITING OVER 59 MILLION PERSONS AND MET THE HOUSING NEEDS OF NEARLY 2.1 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS NATIONWIDE. AT A NATIONAL LEVEL. A 2023 STUDY FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S JOINT CENTER FOR HOUSING STUDIES SHOWS THAT THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF 1.5 MILLION RENTAL UNITS THAT ARE BOTH AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS MAKING UP TO 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME HERE IN LONG BEACH HOUSING HAS CONTINUED TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR RESIDENTS [00:25:01] CDBG AND HOME BRANDS TO HELP PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EXPAND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS INVESTED MORE THAN 30 MILLION OF CDBG AND HOME FUNDS TO CREATE OVER 600 NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. IN 2023, CDBG GRANTEES INVESTED OVER 453 MILLION NATIONWIDE TO REHABILITATE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THIS ACTIVITY PRESERVES AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADDRESSES. UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS, ALLOWS SENIORS TO AGE IN PLACE AND CAN PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. CDBG ALSO STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES BY BUILDING ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE ROADS, STREETS, AND OPEN SPACE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO JOBS, SERVICES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE SUPPORTING SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELLBEING. THE TEAM 2021 AND 2023 LONG BEACH INVESTED OVER 1.5 MILLION CDBG FUNDS TO ENHANCE LOCAL PARKS, INCLUDING THE 14TH STREET PARK BASKETBALL COURTS IN THE WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD, THE RAMONA PARK PLAYGROUND IN NORTH LONG BEACH, AND THE ADMIRAL KIDD PARK PLAYGROUND ON THE WEST SIDE. CDBG FUNDING HELPS GROW LOCAL ECONOMIES BY RETAINING, EXPANDING, AND ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES AND JOBS TO LONG BEACH. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OUT OF LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, CDBG FUNDS PROVIDE WORKSHOPS AND ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GET STARTED. HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX, SERIOUS AND GROWING CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND THE ENTIRE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. HOME AND ESG FUNDS PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR HOUSING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING WHO ARE AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN LONG BEACH. SECURITY DEPOSITS ARE PROVIDED TO LY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO HELP THEM GAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. THESE FUNDS ALSO ASSIST WITH HOUSING RELOCATION, HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY EMERGENCY SHELTER AND OTHER SERVICES THROUGH THE CITY'S MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. CDBG GRANTEES CAN USE UP TO 15% OF THEIR ANNUAL ALLOCATION FOR PUBLIC SERVICES TO ADDRESS A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY NEEDS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE PROVIDING MEALS AND OTHER SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT FOR MANY OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES SUCH AS NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCES AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. CDBG HAS A GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WITH EVERY DOLLAR OF CDPG FUNDING. AN AVERAGE OF $5 IN LOCAL INVESTMENT IS LEVERAGED. HOWEVER, RISING INFLATION HIGHER HOUSING COSTS AND DECLINING CDBG FUNDS MAKE IT HARDER TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SUPPORT THESE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT OFTEN SERVE AS A CRITICAL GAP FOR FINANCING, FOR WIDE ARRAY OF PROJECTS AND SERVICES TO HELP LOCAL ECONOMIES, INCLUDING LONG BEACH. WITH A 50 YEAR TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS NATIONWIDE, U2 CAN GET INVOLVED TODAY BY INFORMING HOW THESE FUNDS ARE PRIORITIZED AND SPENT IN LONG BEACH. PLEASE VISIT LONG BEACH.GOV/HUD GRANTS TO LEARN MORE. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THAT LITTLE OVERVIEW OF ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT IS DONE WITH THESE FUNDS EVERY YEAR. I'D LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE CHIN W CHOI. HE IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FROM THE LA HUD OFFICE AND A SUPER VALUABLE, UH, PARTNER FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELCOME. THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON. AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, I REALLY WANNA, UH, EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE RECOGNITION OF CDBG WEEK. UH, IT'S VITAL FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PROGRAM THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT ARE BEING DONE WITH THESE DOLLARS. AND, UH, AS THE VIDEO SAYS, UM, WE ARE, UH, WE ARE 50 YEARS INTO THE PROGRAM. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST FLEXIBLE PROGRAMS AND, UM, LONG BEACH HAS BEEN WITH OUR PROGRAM FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I I JUST WANTED TO, I WAS GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE DO, BUT I THINK THIS VIDEO KIND OF ENCAPSULATES WHAT WE DO. UM, I DID WANNA MENTION AS A 27 YEAR RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, UH, THAT, UH, WE, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN. UM, AT THE TIME THAT THE, UM, AQUA OF THE PACIFIC WAS BEING DEVELOPED, UH, HUD PARTICIPATED IN THE REDEVELOPMENT [00:30:01] OF SHORELINE VILLAGE AND PINE AVENUE TO TRY TO REVITALIZE, UH, THE, UH, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CORE OF LONG BEACH. LONG BEACH. UM, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND, UH, THANK MEGAN AND, UH, ALL HER PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES. UH, LONG BEACH IS, UH, HAS BEEN A STALWART PARTNER. UH, LONG BEACH HAS BEEN VERY INNOVATIVE AND HAS DONE REALLY, UH, IN MY OPINION, VERY SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS LEVERAGING OUR FUNDS. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE CITY, UH, WITH AS MANY CHALLENGES AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER 50 YEARS WORKING WITH EACH OTHER. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO COMMEMORATE AND, UH, THE, ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT ARE DONE WITH THIS FUNDING SOURCE AND THE STAFF THAT WORK SO TIRELESSLY. PERHAPS WE COULD GET A QUICK PHOTO MAYOR AND, UM, WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MEGAN AND, UH, MR. CHOI, UH, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THAT PRESENTATION. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND HOW WE HERE IN LONG BEACH LEVERAGE CDBG, UH, FUNDS. CHRISTOPHER, YOU, YOU COME UP TO SPEAK. YOU GOT SOMETHING? OH, NO, I GOT NOTHING TO SAY. WE'RE DOING A PICTURE. YEAH, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GETTING READY. SO, ONE, DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, CDBG PROGRAM AND ALL THAT YOU DO ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE CRYSTAL VEGA, WHO WAS IN THE VIDEO. UH, THEY WERE A PUBLIC SERVICE CORPS IN OUR FIRST FELLOW, IN OUR FIRST, UH, FIRST ROTATION. AND NOW THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM LONG BEACH STATE COME INTO THESE PROGRAMS TO LEARN ABOUT CITY JOBS AND PURSUE CAREERS AND SEE THAT HAPPENING. AND IT WAS A LOT OF, I SAW A WHOLE LOT OF GROUNDBREAKINGS AND RIBBON CUTTINGS. WE ARE, WE ARE PUTTING THOSE DOLLARS TO USE HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. TWO RECORD YEARS OF HOUSING PRODUCTION, BOTH ENTITLEMENTS, GROUNDBREAKING, AND, YOU KNOW, TURNING KEYS ON NEW UNITS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, LET'S HEAR IT FOR NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK AND ALL OUR PARTNERS AND, AND CDBG AND DEVELOPMENT. NOW WE'LL COME DOWN, WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT PRESENTATION. I HEAR SOME YOUTH IN THE HOUSE. YOUTH YOUTH POWER LONG BEACH IN THE HOUSE. ALRIGHT, SO THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS YOUTH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IN LONG BEACH. I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, UH, ALL THE YOUTH HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT [ YOUTH POWER PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING LONG BEACH] AND OUR YOUTH LIAISON IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. MONTSERRAT PINEDA. WHERE'S MONTSERRAT? SHE'S AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, SO GISELLE FROM OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND INVEST IN YOUTH COALITION, UH, HAS A PRESENTATION FOR US. GISELLE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. WOO. ALL RIGHT. UM, CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? OH, THIS, OH, IS IT HERE? OKAY. UM, HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS GISELLE RIO. I'M WITH THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND I'M, AND I'M PRINCETON HERE REPRESENTING EM THREE. AND MY NAME IS KAIJA HEARNS AND I'M WITH LONG BEACH FORWARD. WE ARE THE, THE THREE YOUTH FROM INVESTING YOUTH COALITION, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING TODAY. UM, I AM HAPPY TO BE ONE OF THE YOUTH HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE YOUTH POWER PARTICIPATORY BUDGET IN LONG BEACH. A PROCESS WHERE RESIDENTS DIRECTLY DECIDE HOW TO ALLOCATE A PORTION OF PUBLIC BUDGET THROUGH THE STEP THROUGH THREE STEPS IDEA COLLECTION, UM, WHERE RESIDENTS SUGGEST IDEAS FOR PROJECTS, PROPOSE A DEVELOPMENT WHERE IDEAS ARE TURNED INTO PROPOSALS FOR THE BALLOT, AND VOTING WHERE RESIDENTS DECIDE WHICH IDEAS GET FUNDED. THE PRO THE PB PROCESS STARTED IN PUERTO RE IN 1989, AND NOW OVER 7,000 [00:35:01] CITIES ARE SITES ARE RUNNING PB AROUND THE WORLD, INTRODUCED IN THE US AND CHICAGO IN 2009. PB WAS FIRST LAUNCHED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN LONG BEACH IN 20 14, 20 15 BY THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER REX RICHARDSON AND COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE. THIS YEAR WE ARE CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF PB AND THE THIRD YEAR OF YOUTH POWER PB LONG BEACH ORGANIZED AND LED BY YOUTH IN ALL NINE DISTRICTS OF LONG BEACH. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FULL CIRCLE MOMENT. 10 YEARS LATER. NOW I'LL PASS IT OVER TO PRINCETON TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THE YOUTH POWER PB PROCESS HAS GROWN BETWEEN YEAR TWO AND YEAR THREE. HI EVERYONE. THANK YOU GISELLE AND OUR CITY COUNCIL FOR WELCOMING THE YOUTH. NOW, THIS YEAR WE SAW AN INCREASE IN YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE IDEA COLLECTION PHASE, PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT PHASE, AND VOTING PHASE COMPARED TO YEAR TWO. IN YEAR TWO, FOR INSTANCE, WE HOSTED TWO IDEA COLLECTION EVENTS, ONE WITH YOUTH AND ADULTS AND ONE WITH SOLELY YOUTH IN NORTH LONG BEACH, CENTRAL LONG IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH. WE COLLECTED 44 IDEAS FROM YOUTH AND YOUTH ONLY, OR WE COLLECTED 44 IDEAS FROM YOUTH AND YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS OUTTA THE 44 IDEAS. 13 PROJECTS MOVED INTO THE PROPOSAL SER PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT PHASE, DECIDED BY, DECIDED BY THE YOUTH ONLY STEERING COMMITTEE WITH 35 YOUTH AND ORGS PARTIC YOUTH AND ORG PARTICIPANTS. DURING THIS PHASE, A TOTAL OF 602 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS VOTED IN YEAR THREE, THE OFFICE OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT HIRED PERLA ALVARADO AS A DEDICATED FULL-TIME YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR TO COORDINATE THE PB PROCESS. THIS YEAR, WE HOSTED A TOTAL OF FOUR IDEA COLLECTION EVENTS OPEN TO ONLY YOUTH SPREADING ALL OVER THE CITY IN EAST WEST, CENTRAL, AND NORTH LONG BEACH. IN THESE FOUR EVENTS, YOUTH SUBMITTED A WHOPPING 495 IDEAS FROM THE 495 IDEAS. THE YOUTH ONLY STEERING COMMITTEE SELECTED 25 IDEAS TO MA TO MOVE INTO THE NEXT PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT PHASE WHERE THE NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP MATCHED THE IDEAS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. IN THIS STEP, WE HAD 104 YOUTH AND ORG PARTICIPANTS MORE THAN TRIPLED FROM YEAR TWO. WE LAUNCHED THE VOTING PROCESS ON APRIL 8TH, AND AS OF THIS MORNING, WE HAVE COLLECTED 1,744 VOTES, TRIPLING THE AMOUNT FROM YEAR TWO. NOW WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF YOUTH POWER PB, ESPECIALLY AFTER WHEN WE'VE SEEN SUCH A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND A PROCESS DESIGNED TO ENSURE YOUTH CENTERED ENGAGEMENT IN THE FUNDING OVERSIGHT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YOUTH STRATEGIC PLAN. THE YOUTH POWER PB SUPPORTS POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS BY GIVING YOUTH IN LONG BEACH REAL POWER OVER REAL MONEY AND, AND THE DATA SHOWS THAT YOUTH KNOW WHEN WHAT THEY NEED AND HOW THEY WANT TO INVEST THIS YEAR'S $550,000 OF PUBLIC FUND INTO YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. I'LL NOW PASS IT OVER TO KEISHA, WHO WILL SHARE A TESTIMONIAL OF HER JOURNEY PARTICIPATING IN THE YOUTH POWER PV THIS YEAR. WOO. THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH. PRINCETON. UH, MY NAME IS KAIJA HEARNS AND THIS WAS MY FIRST YEAR BEING INVOLVED WITH THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS AND I HAD THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON BOTH THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND AS A YOUTH FACILITATOR COMING INTO THIS SPACE, I WASN'T ENTIRELY SURE WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT I QUICKLY REALIZED THE POWER OF YOUTH VOICE AND COLLECTIVE DECISION MAKING, BEING ABLE TO HELP SHAPE WHERE REAL CITY DOLLARS GO, ESPECIALLY TO PROJECTS THAT REFLECT THE NEEDS OF LONG BEACH YOUTH, JUST LIKE ME, WAS BOTH EYE-OPENING AND EMPOWERING. OFTENTIMES AS YOUTH, WE FEEL OUR VOICE DOESN'T MATTER OR THAT WE ARE AT WILL TO THE POWERS THAT BE, BUT IT IS PROCESSES LIKE THESE THAT HELP SHIFT THIS NARRATIVE. THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE, I LEARNED TO GUIDE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, CENTERING YOUTH VOICES, EXPERIENCES AND CONCERNS. AND I WAS ABLE TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN, IN EQUITY AND CHANGE IN THIS CITY THAT I HOLD SO DEAR TO MY HEART. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS MADE ME AND MANY OTHER YOUTH FINALLY FEEL SEEN AND HEARD LIVING IN LONG BEACH. THERE ARE OFTENTIMES WHEN YOUTH ARE SEEN AS JUST A VICTIM OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT THIS PROCESS HAS GIVEN US BACK THAT AUTONOMY AND THAT IS THE REAL IMPACT OF YOUTH-LED PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING. HOW DO YOU THAT? THERE WE GO. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SINCERELY THANK MAYOR REX RICHARDSON, CITY MANAGER TOM IKA, AND ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT WITH THE YOUTH LED PB PROCESS. YOUR COMMITMENT GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME THE TOOLS AND PLATFORM TO LEAD WITH THIS BEING OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR. YET I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE NEXT YEAR WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORTING EVEN MORE YOUTH VOICES. I KNOW NEXT YEAR'S PB PROCESS WILL [00:40:01] BE THAT MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I WANNA EXTEND MY THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT ON A TUESDAY EVENING TO HELP CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S PB PROCESS. ALRIGHT, WELL HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON JUST A MINUTE. KAISHA. YES. ALL RIGHT. SO FIRST OF ALL, YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB ON YOUR PRESENTATION. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE UPDATE ON 10 YEARS OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IN LONG BEACH. THAT IS CERTAINLY, UH, SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF. NOW, I WILL TELL YOU, SOMEONE SAID FULL CIRCLE WHO SAID FULL CIRCLE? SOMEONE SAID FULL CIRCLE. IT IS FULL CIRCLE BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED, UH, 10 YEARS AGO, UH, I WAS A NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON, COUNCIL MEMBER, DR. JONI RICKS OTI WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER AND COUNCIL MEMBER KERR WAS THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. AND THE THREE OF US ORGANIZED THE FIRST PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IN NORTH LONG BEACH, JUSTIN COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE. AND IT WAS, I THINK IT WAS A BUDGET, A PUBLIC BUDGET OF ABOUT 250 TO $300,000 THAT FIRST TIME. WOW. AND SO IT WASN'T A HUGE AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT WHAT YOU GOT WAS A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT. THE COMMUNITY TOLD YOU HOW THEY WOULD SPEND THAT MONEY ON THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU ALSO GOT A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT. A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME OUT, PITCHED IDEAS, SHAPED IDEAS, LEARNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT, HOW FAR A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY GOES, LEARNED ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENT. SO A LOT OF THIS IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EDUCATION. AND THEN THEY CAST AN ACTUAL VOTE AND MADE A DECISION, A DECISION THAT WE RESPECTED. UM, AND WE CONTINUED THAT PROCESS GOING. NOW IT'S CITYWIDE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS OUR CITY GET A PUBLIC BUDGET EVERY YEAR TO FACILITATE THEIR OWN PROCESS. AND THE VALUE, AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU'RE VOTING ON, IT'S THE IMPACT AND THE INPUT FROM ALL OF THOSE YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATED. HOW MANY DID YOU SAY VOTED SO FAR THIS YEAR? 1,744. 1,744 PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE READ A BALLOT, THE CITY COUNCIL AND, AND VOTING. RIGHT. THAT'S LIKE, IN FACT, YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT WAS THE NUMBER OF VOTES YOU NEEDED TO GET ELECTED IN CITY COUNCIL IN SOME DISTRICTS PRE PRIOR TO, PRIOR TO WHEN WE REALIGNED ELECTION DAYS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND LET'S GET THE YOUTH AND LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. CAN I DO ONE? CAN I, CAN I, CAN I ADD ONE THING IN? OH, ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER OD UH, SORRY. I, TO TO, TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THE MAYOR SAYS THIS IS, IT IS DEFINITELY FULL CIRCLE AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE ONE ANECDOTE AND THE MAYOR WILL REMEMBER THIS. SO ON THAT FIRST PB PROCESS, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PB GROUP THAT WAS AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL. UM, AND SO THERE WAS A WHOLE ENTIRE YOUTH GROUP, AND THE THING THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER THIS, BUT THE, THE ISSUE THAT THEY ELEVATED WAS THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THEIR BOARD, RIGHT? THEIR MESSAGE BOARD THAT HAD JORDAN DIGITAL BOARD, UM, THAT WAS OUTDATED. YOU COULDN'T SEE IT FROM THE STREET. WELL, IT GOT VOTED IN AS THE ONE OF THE, AS THE TOP PROJECT, I THINK, UH, DURING THAT PP PROCESS. BUT WHAT WE FOUND OUT WAS THAT WE AS A CITY, BECAUSE OF THE, THE GOVERNING OF THE STATE, WE COULDN'T GIVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT. THE STATE HAD TO DO IT, BUT BECAUSE THE YOUTH ADVOCATED FOR IT, THE, THE, THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE STATE, UM, UH, ROSE THAT TO A PRIORITY. THEY WERE PLACED THE, THE DIGITAL BANNER AT JORDAN AND WE GOT A DIGITAL BOARD AT HOUGHTON PARK. SO WE GOT TWO PROJECTS OUTTA ONE PROJECT BECAUSE OF OUR YOUTH AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PPE PROCESS. GREAT. ALRIGHT. LET'S JOIN IN FOR A PHOTO. WHOEVER WANTS TO JOIN COME. OKAY. RIGHT IN THE CENTER. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN BETWEEN THE TWO FLAGS. YEAH, THOSE TWO FLAGS. JUST STAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM. KEEP GOING ACTUALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH CERTIFICATES, SO. [00:45:46] ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A BIT MORE WORK TO DO, SO LET'S MIND OUR CHATTER AS WE, AS WE EXIT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO NEXT WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE FIFTH 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF, UH, CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY. I'M GONNA PASS IT OFF TO COUNCIL [ 50TH ANNIVERSARY CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY] MEMBER SORROW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO IT'S ACTUALLY APRIL 17, UM, LAST WEEK. THAT WAS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN THE GENOCIDE IN CAMBODIA BEGAN. AND I WANNA THANK, UM, ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE HERE, AS WELL AS EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDED THE PRESENTATION TODAY IN THE LOBBY. UM, AND, AND I WANNA THANK THE CAMBODIA AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER IN CAMBODIA, TOWN WITH SOPHIE FOR, UM, HOSTING THE EVENT WITH ME TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE LEADERS, BUT ALSO JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE SHARE THEIR STORIES BECAUSE IT IS A VERY SOLEMN DAY. I'VE SHARED EARLIER THAT IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGING MONTH, IT'S A SPECIAL MONTH, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGING MONTH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FROM 18, UH, APRIL 14TH TO THE 16TH IS THE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, AND THEN THE DAY AFTER IS WHEN THE, THE TAKEOVER OF THE CAPITAL PENANG BEGAN. AND SO THERE'S JUST A LOT THAT YOUR, YOUR FELLOW AND AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY WHO'VE HAD EXPERIENCE HOLOCAUST, UM, ARE FACING MANY THAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED IN APRIL. BUT I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT AGAIN, UM, THE HISTORY, BECAUSE I HAVE A VIDEO THAT I'LL PLAY, UM, THAT WAS CREATED BACK IN 2023. I WANNA THANK KAYLEE. SO WHO ACTUALLY HELPED PRODUCE IT AT THAT TIME WHEN WE COULDN'T COME TOGETHER BECAUSE OF COVID, UH, WE WERE IN MASK. BUT, UM, THIS VIDEO WAS CREATED BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE KNEW THAT WHILE THERE WAS A DARK HISTORY THAT HELPED, YOU KNOW, THAT SHAPED, UM, THE COMMUNITY AND ITS IDENTITY. FOR A WHILE, MANY PEOPLE VIEWED US AS VICTIMS AND SURVIVOR, BUT I REALLY WANT THIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TO BE A NEW BEGINNING AND MARK A PERIOD OF THRIVING, RISING AND BEING UPLIFTED, UM, INTO A PERIOD WHERE WE ARE WORKING IN SOLIDARITY, NOT JUST WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHO FACE THESE ATROCITY THAT WE STAND AGAINST ATROCITIES AND ACROSS THE WORLD AND WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AND PEACE. SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO START WITH, UH, THE VIDEO, UM, THAT WAS CREATED, JUST A INTRO IN 2023. JIM, HELLO, I'M COUNCILWOMAN SULI, SORROW OF LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS SPECIAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND RENEWAL, A CELEBRATION OF CAMBODIAN AMERICAN STORIES, AND TO WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR DURING THE ANNUAL CAMBODIAN, THAI AND LAO'S NEW YEAR, WHICH BEGINS ON APRIL 14TH AND ENDS ON APRIL 16TH, SOUTHEAST ASIAN, EVERYWHERE. CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING, BUT FOR SOME APRIL 17TH, 1975 MARKS THE DAY IN WHICH THE LIVES OF CAMBODIANS EVERYWHERE WERE TRAGICALLY CHANGED FOREVER. WHEN THE KAHMA ROUGE MARCHED INTO THE CAPITOL, UND AND EVACUATED THE ENTIRE POPULATION, THEY FORCED PEOPLE INTO LABOR CAMPS AND MURDERED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, DOCTORS, ARTISTS, AND SCHOLARS. AMONG MANY OTHERS, IT BECAME KNOWN AS YEAR ZERO. UNDER THE KAHMA ROUGE REGIME, IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT OVER 2 MILLION LIVES WERE LOST DUE TO EXECUTION AND STARVATION. SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND CAMBODIANS LATER FLED THEIR COUNTRY AND BECAME REFUGEES RESETTLING IN COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD IN THE HOPES OF REBUILDING THEIR LIVES. LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA BECAME A CITY THAT STILL HAVE THE LARGEST CAMBODIAN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AS DAUGHTERS AND SONS OF SURVIVORS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE NEVER FORGET WHAT HAPPENED, AND THAT WE REMEMBER THE LIVES LOST [00:50:01] DURING THE GENOCIDE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE MUST HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE RESILIENCY OF THE KAMAI SPIRIT. WE WILL ALWAYS CARRY OUR HISTORY AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO REBUILD, RESTORE, AND RENEW, TO LOOK TOWARDS A FUTURE MADE STRONGER BY ITS PAST, AND TO TAKE PRIDE IN A GENERATION THAT CAN NOW FLOURISH BEYOND ITS SCARS. A GENERATION THAT NOW HAS ITS OWN PATH TO FORGE ITS OWN STORIES TO TELL. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND ENJOY OUR PROGRAM, . SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY WATCH THE, THE REST OF THE VIDEO. IT HAS DIFFERENT STORIES FROM THE ONE THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED THE GENOCIDE TO THE NEXT GENERATION, BUT FOR TODAY, WE HAVE A FEW SPEAKERS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HONOR THE ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES WHO'VE ARE LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEER AND PROVIDE DIFFERENT CULTURAL RESOURCE AND, UM, SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND SO WE, WE WON'T BECAUSE WE HAD A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR STORY. I'M SORRY THAT PEOPLE COULD NOT POSSIBLY SHARE THEIR STORY IN ONE MINUTE TIME THAT WE GAVE THEM , BUT I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE DOING THE STORYTELLING THROUGHOUT, UM, BEYOND OBVIOUSLY JUST THE, THE, THE DAY OF, BUT ONGOINGLY. SO I'D LIKE TO, UM, WELCOME, UM, ONG, SAM LIMON, UM, TO COME UP WITH, UM, SORRY, I'M GETTING CONFUSED BETWEEN THE PROGRAM OUTSIDE AND IN HERE, BUT AND ALSO, UM, SHARE WOMEN SATAN. AND WHY DON'T SUE YOU GUYS ALL COME UP IN THE FRONT AND THEN YOU ALL CAN SHARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SULI, SORRY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A SNIPPET OF MY STORY. , AND GOOD EVENING HONORABLE MAYOR AND A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS AS COUNCILWOMAN SULI SHARE. MY NAME IS MONT SANON. I AM THE INTERIM CHAIR OF THE CAMBODIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, AND I'M PRIVILEGED TO SERVE, UH, AS BOARD OF DIRECTOR FOR THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CAMBODIAN EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION AND ALSO THE OCCURRING OF THE PACIFIC. EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, 24 ORGANIZATION GATHER IN THE CITY HALL LOBBY EACH UNITED IN A SHARED MISSION TO COMMEMORATE THE 2 MILLION LIVE LAWS DURING THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE. THE SOLEM ATION REMINDS US OF THE WEIGHT OF OUR HISTORY AND THE RESILIENT OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND THE ENDURING STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. AT JUST SEVEN YEARS OLD, APRIL, 1975, MY TWO SISTER AND I BECAME ORPHANS, SEPARATED FROM OUR PARENTS AND SIBLING. IT WAS A JOURNEY FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY AS WE DIDN'T KNOW IF OUR PARENTS AND SIBLING WERE ALIVE, BUT WE WERE FORTUNATE TO FIND A NEW HOME IN THE US. NINE YEARS LATER, WE LEARNED THAT 12 OUT OF 14 FAMILY MEMBERS HAD SURVIVED THE KILLING FIELDS. THOUGH WE GRIEVED THE LOSS OF OUR BROTHER AND SISTER, WE WERE ONE OF THE BLESSED FAMILY THAT MOST OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS SURVIVED EARLIER. AS WE SHARE OUR STORIES IN THE LOBBY MEMORIES, IT, I WAS STRUCK BY THE POWERFUL TRUTH THAT YOU WILL NOT MEET ONE CAMBODIAN AMERICAN, ONE CAMBODIAN, THAT'S NOT IMPACTED BY THE ATROCITY. EACH NARRATIVE WHILE UNIQUE WEAVES TOGETHER A TAPESTRY OF LOSS, SURVIVAL, AND HOPE. ECHOES OF THOSE LOSS LIFE THROUGH GENERATION URGING US TO REMEMBER TO REFLECT AND TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND HEALING. AS WE GATHER TO COMMEMORATE THIS SIGNIFICANT, LET US UNITE TO HONOR THEM BY SPEAKING THEIR NAMES, B, B, AND KEEPING THEIR MEMORIES ALIVE TO ENSURE THAT SUCH ATROCITY ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN AND NEVER REPEATED. TOGETHER WE CAN FOSTER UNDERSTANDING, COMPASSION, AND RECONCILIATION, PAVING THE WAY FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW. IN HONORING THE PAST, WE EMPOWER THE FUTURE, A FUTURE WHERE LOVE AND UNITY TRIUMPHS OVER DIVISION AND DESPAIR IN OUR COMMUNITY. , GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN COMMEMORATING THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE 50TH ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN DR. SOLI SORO, SIX DISTRICT, THE CAMBODIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, AND CAMBODIAN TOWN. WITH THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR AND OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AS A SECOND GENERATION CAMBODIAN [00:55:01] AMERICAN, DEAR CITY OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, BOARD MEMBERS, AND FELLOW CITIZENS. MY NAME IS SUPA. I AM THE FIRST, UM, CRIME OF THE PACIFIC THEME SONG SINGER AND THE PROUD SON OF A CAMBODIAN FATHER WHO SURVIVED THE KHMER ROUGE REGIME, A GENOCIDE THAT DEVASTATED OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CULTURE. ALTHOUGH I WAS RAISED AND BORN IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, I HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE LASTING EFFECTS OF THE DUTCH CHAPTER ON MY FAMILY. GROWING UP, MY SIBLINGS AND I EXPERIENCED A DEEP CULTURAL DIVIDE. THE KHMER LANGUAGE FELT FOREIGN TO US, AND YET IT CARRIED THE WEIGHT OF THE UNIMAGINABLE STORIES THAT WAS TOLD STORIES OUR GRANDPARENTS SHARED OF LOSS, FEAR, AND SURVIVAL. AS CHILDREN, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GRASP THE, UH, THE HORRORS OF THE WAR AND THE GENOCIDE, ESPECIALLY IN A LANGUAGE RARELY SPOKEN IN OUR SCHOOLS, AMERICAN HOLIDAYS, LIKE THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS, WERE TYPICALLY FILLED WITH JOY AND CELEBRATION OFTEN BECAME MOMENTS WHEN MY AUNTS AND UNCLES WOULD WE COUNT TERRIFYING STORIES FROM THE KHMER ROUGE ERA. MY FATHER, JUST 12 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME, REMEMBERS BEING STARVED AFTER WORKING LONG HOURS IN THE KILLING FIELD. MEANWHILE, I SAT COMFORTABLY AT A DINNER TABLE HOLDING A TURKEY LAKE UNAWARE OF THE CONTRAST. IN OUR EXPERIENCES, THAT MEMORY STAYS HEAVILY ON MY HEART. AS WE CONTINUE TO BRIDGE THE GAPS BETWEEN GENERATIONS FROM YOUNG TO OLD AND OLD TO YOUNG. EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY IS KEY TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. TOGETHER WE CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND RESPECTED ELECTED OFFICIAL. 50 YEARS AGO ON APRIL 17TH, 1975, I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS AT HOME IN ING WITH MY FAMILY, TRYING TO SURVIVE THE ROCKET SHELLING BY THE K ROUGE. AT THE TIME, WE DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DANGER. LATER WE LEARNED OUR HOME WAS JUST BEHIND THE FRONT LINES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. PEOPLE RAISED WHITE FLAGS HOLDING ONTO A FRAGILE HOLE, THAT PEACE COMING THE NEXT MORNING, AMARU SOLDIER POINT A GUN AT US AND ORDERS US TO LEAVE ONLY FOR THREE DAYS. THEY SAID, BECAUSE AMERICAN WERE GOING TO BOMB THE CITY. AT DAWN, MY MOM, MY TWO SISTER AND I LEFT WITH ONLY A FEW BELONGINGS. WE BELIEVE WE WOULD RETURN SOON, BUT WE NEVER SAW OUR HOME AGAIN. ALONG THE ROAD, WE WITNESSED THE HORROR OF WAR, LIFELESS BODIES, DESPAIR AND CONFUSION. SOMEHOW WE SURVIVED THE KILLING FIELD. MY MOTHER, MY TWO SISTER, AND I ADORE, NO CHILD SHOULD EVER GO THROUGH WHAT WE DID. STARVATION, SICKNESS, FEAR OF BEING TAKEN AWAY FOR BEING APRIL 17 PEOPLE, I NEARLY DID NOT MAKE IT. MY MOTHER AND MY TWO SISTER GAVE ME SOME THEIR FOOD RATION SO I COULD SURVIVE. I OWE THEM MY LIFE. THEIR SACRIFICE GAVE ME STRENGTH. TODAY I STAND HERE IN THE LONG BEACH COUNCIL CHAMBER. I SPEAK NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR THE MONEY WHO DID NOT SURVIVE. WE REMEMBER THEM WITH SORROW, LOVE, AND RESILIENCY. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE PAST, BUT I EMBRACE THE FUTURE. MY EXPERIENCE GIMME PURPOSE TO SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY AND HONOR THOSE WHO LOST MY FAMILY. AND I ARE, I, I, DEEPLY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU AMERICA, FOR OPEN YOUR DOOR AND GIVING US A KICK, A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. THIS MOMENT IS MORE THAN REMEMBRANCE. IT IS A CALL, TWO, RESPONSIBILITY. IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY, WE MUST UNITE. SPEAK FOR JUSTICE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS. LET US GRIEVE BUT RISE IN HOPE. LET US BUILD BRIDGE, STAND TOGETHER AND ENSURE SEX ATROCITY NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. TOGETHER WE CARRY THE MEMORY TOGETHER [01:00:01] WE SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE WITH COMPASSION, COURAGE, AND UNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EACH OF YOUR MOVING TESTIMONY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE REMEMBER APRIL 17, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE GENOCIDE IN CAMBODIA, BUT THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO BE A FIGHTER AND A BEACON FOR HOPE. AND, AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PRESERVE DEMOCRACY, LIBERTY, AND FREEDOM HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW FOR LEADING, UH, THIS VERY SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE. UH, WHEN I LOOK AT OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY, UH, I SEE, I SEE PRIDE. I SEE THE INTENTIONAL EFFORTS, UH, THAT YOU ALL, UH, TAKE. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS CONTINUE TO TAKE AND PROTECT THESE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE COMMUNITY AND CULTURE. UH, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, UH, ALONE, WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT TAKES INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT, UH, THE INCREDIBLE CULTURE. BECAUSE THE CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY, I'LL TELL YOU, WE ARE A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY OF REFUGEES HERE IN LONG BEACH AND IMMIGRANTS HERE IN LONG BEACH. AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BETTER BECAUSE OF THAT. AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO, UH, PRESERVE AND UPLIFT, UH, YOUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY. SO, JAM PRIAM, I WANNA INVITE YOU ALL DOWN SO WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO AND I HAVE A, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A A A WE, YEAH, WE WANNA TAKE A PHOTO. YEAH. THERE'S CERTIFICATE FOR CERTIFICATE EACH ORGANIZATION, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO TO UPLIFT AND PRESERVE CULTURE AND THE COMMUNITY. ALL RIGHT. UH, THANK YOU. WE'LL PROCEED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. LET'S, LET'S HANDLE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE. [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 8.)] [01:05:01] OKAY. CONSENT CALENDAR'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WE HAVE EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT. UM, JANINE STALLINGS, AMY CREEPIN, RYAN RISING, RILEY RISING, ELIJAH GARRA, ASPEN JONES, NATHAN RAA, AND HECTOR REYES. SO JANINE STALLINGS. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JANINE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE. LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I SPOKE ABOUT HOW THE PORT'S LEASE WITH SPACEX IS RELATED TO TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY. I FELT PUSHBACK FROM SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT AGAIN AND SPEAK TO THE $250 YOU INTEND TO GIVE TO THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER FOR ITS TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY CELEBRATION. I AM TRANSGENDER. I MOVED TO LONG BEACH AND PUT DOWN ROOTS HERE BECAUSE IT IS A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE CITY. I LIVE, WORK AND SPEND LEISURE TIME HERE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE MY QUEER COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMFORTABLY ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE. YOU HAVE DECLARED THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, A SAFE CITY FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO REAFFIRMING THE CITY'S VALUES REGARDING MY COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, RIGHT NOW MY COMMUNITY IS IN DISTRESS DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ELON MUSK, WHO IS ACTING IN AN AUTHORITARIAN CAPACITY. IT IS NOT HYPERBOLE TO SAY MUSK IS A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY. IN ORDER FOR THE CITY TO BE A SAFE PLACE FOR TRANS FOLKS, WE MUST NOT BE COMPLICIT WITH A PERSON WHO IS HARMING US. WE MUST NOT ENRICH AN ANTI-TRANS OLIGARCH WHO HAS USED HIS WEALTH TO BUY THE ABILITY TO DISMANTLE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HIS OWN GAIN. HE BOUGHT HIS POSITION WITH MONEY HE MADE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS CITY. SHAME. TODAY AGAIN, YOU ARE MAKING A SYMBOLIC STATEMENT SUPPORTING THE TRANS COMMUNITY BY GIVING $250 TO THE CENTER FOR TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY. BUT THE LEASES $285,000 A MONTH SPEAKS LOUDER. YOU CAN'T BUY OUR HEALTH AND YOU CAN'T BUY OUR SAFETY BACK WITH THAT MONEY. IT WON'T BEGIN TO COVER THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO OUR DEMOCRACY. WE NEED YOU TO FIGHT FOR US. HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO BREAK THE LEASE? THAT IS THE PRICE OF ACTUAL SUPPORT OF THE TRANS COMMUNITY. AND WITH IT, YOU GET THE SOUL, THE CITY'S SOUL BACK FOR FREE. THANK YOU. AMY. IS NEXT AFTER AMY IS RYAN. HI MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AMY CREO AND I'M THE SENIOR LIBRARIAN OVERSEEING TEENS AND EMERGING ADULTS AT THE BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN LIBRARY. A ROLE I STARTED IN THE END OF JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. IN THE BRIEF TIME I'VE BEEN AT THE MAIN LIBRARY, I'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF YOUTH COMING TO THE LIBRARY WITH SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA VERY EASILY TRIGGERED AND QUICKLY ESCALATING TO ANGER AND LASHING OUT. SOME OF THE YOUTH COMING TO THE LIBRARY HAVE ALREADY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND OTHERS ARE AT RISK. ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF LIBRARIANSHIP IS FINDING THE RIGHT MATERIALS, RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE COMING TO YOUR LIBRARY. THIS IS WHY I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE MOU WITH WEST COAST CREDIBLE MESSENGERS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR TONIGHT, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT IN ON SOME OF THEIR MEETINGS AT THE LIBRARY, AND THE ACTIVITIES AND APPROACH THEY ARE OFFERING ARE INSPIRING AND TRANSFORMATIONAL. THEY BRING A LIVED EXPERIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE THAT'S NOT EASY TO FIND, AND I'M SURE YOU CAN APPRECIATE THAT AND WHICH ARE REALLY NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED BY RYAN FLACO RISING AND THE OTHER WEST COAST CREDIBLE MESSENGERS THAT I'VE MET AT THE LIBRARY AND WHO ARE DEDICATED TO CHANGING THE NARRATIVE FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR WHO AT RISK, OR [01:10:01] WHO OR WHO ARE AT RISK OF BEING INVOLVED. MUCH OF MY LIBRARY CAREER HAS BEEN CENTERED ON ADULT LITERACY, AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE POWER OF PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE CHANGES AND TRANSFORM LIVES, ESPECIALLY. AND I BELIEVE THAT LIBRARIES WITH THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAN BE PLACES OF TRANSFORMATION. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR APPROVING THE MOU AND SUPPORTING YOUTH FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO GROW, THRIVE, AND REACH THEIR POTENTIAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. RISING. YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU. HONORABLE MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL RYAN F FLACO RISING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WEST COAST CREDIBLE MESSENGERS. UM, WE STARTED LAST SUMMER WITH THE, UH, YB POWER AND WE PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL WITH OUR YOUTH TO REALLY SUPPORT SYSTEM IMPACTED YOUTH, TEENS AND EMERGING ADULTS. AND, AND, UH, WE FOUND OUR PLACE OUT THERE AT LINCOLN PARK. AND SO WE WENT INTO LINCOLN PARK AND WE REALLY PUT AN AMAZING PROGRAM TOGETHER AROUND ART. AND OUR PROGRAM IS, IT'S ENTRENCHED IN TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE. SO WE BUILT THE PROGRAM WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS. WE DON'T JUST PARACHUTE IN AND, UH, AND HAVE A PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM. NO, THIS PROGRAM IS DEVELOPED WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS. SO WEST COAST, CREDIBLE MESSAGE, WERE ALL ABOUT TRANSFORMATIVE MENTORING. UM, MYSELF, I I WAS LABELED A GANG MEMBER AT THE AGE OF 12 YEARS OLD. THAT LABEL FOLLOWED ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. AND I ENDED UP IN PRISON. I ENDED UP IN JUVENILE HALL, AND I WAS STUCK IN THIS CYCLE OF RECIDIVISM. WELL, NOW I'M, I'M OUT. I'M IN MY PHD PROGRAM. I'M AT UC, IRVINE, FINISHING UP, AND I'M ABOUT TO BE A DOCTOR. AND SO NOW I'M OUT HERE BEING OF SERVICE TO MY COMMUNITY, UPLIFTING MY COMMUNITY, AND I, I'M, I'M SHOWING THE YOUTH AND I AND GIVING THEM SOMETHING THAT I WISH I HAD. AND THAT'S CREDIBLE MESSENGERS. I'M INFLUENCING 'EM TO BE OF SERVICE. I'M INFLUENCING 'EM TO WORK ON THEMSELVES AND FIND THEIR INNER SELF AND THEIR, THEIR CONFIDENCE AND REALLY DEVELOPING THEIR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. AND SO WE'RE SO HAPPY THAT YOU ALL PUT THIS MOU ON ON ON TODAY'S, UH, BALLOT, AND WE ARE JUST GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL, UH, VOTING THIS IN TODAY ON OUR BEHALF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS RILEY. AND AFTER RILEY'S, ELIJAH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THAT, I'M A YOUTH THAT STARTED IN THE PROGRAM DURING THE SUMMER AND I WANTED TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH THEY'VE HELPED ME AND HOW MUCH THEY'VE HELPED ME SET GOALS FOR MY FUTURE. AND, UH, I'M NOT REALLY MUCH OF A PUBLIC SPEAKER AND THEY PUSH ME TODAY TO COME OUT HERE AND JUST TELL THEM HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THEM. SO, UM, THEY'VE HELPED ME SET GOALS, DO BETTER IN SCHOOL AND I, I JUST HOPE YOU GUY OR I JUST HOPE YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT WHERE I'M COMING FROM 'CAUSE UH, THEY JUST HELPED ME GET INTO A BETTER PLACE. THAT'S ALL I WANNA SAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. GOOD JOB, RILEY. NEXT IS ELIJAH, THEN ASPEN. YEAH. UM, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING US OUT. UM, MY NAME IS ELIJAH. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE WEST COAST CREDIT MESSAGES SINCE I WAS AROUND 18 YEARS OLD. UM, WHEN, WHEN THEY FOUND ME, I WAS ONE OF THE YOUTHS THAT YOU ALL TRYING TO HELP. I WAS TEARING DOWN MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EMOTIONALLY HURT. 'CAUSE MY, A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND ME WAS PASSING AWAY. AND UH, UM, AND SO WHEN THEY FOUND ME, I DIDN'T REALLY WANNA DO GOOD EITHER, BUT THEY FOUND ME, THEY HELPED ME NAVIGATE THROUGH COLLEGE. I NOW GO TO UC, IRVINE, AND I'M GETTING MY BACHELOR'S IN CRIMINOLOGY. AND SO, UM, THERE'S SOMETHING I BELIEVE IN DEEPLY AND IT MEANS A LOT THAT, I MEAN, A BUNCH OF US YOUNG GUYS ARE HERE WHEN WE COULD BE OUT THERE TEARING OUT OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE HERE HELPING YOU, I MEAN, ASKING YOU TO HELP US REBUILD OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, I ASPEN AND THEN NATHANIEL. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ASPEN AND I JUST WANNA, UM, SAY I'M, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR THE TIME YOU'VE GIVEN US TO EXPLAIN LIKE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND BASICALLY OUR PROGRAM, LIKE WE SPECIALIZE IN, UH, MENTORSHIP, HIGHER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND HOW THAT'S HELPED ME. YOU KNOW, IT CHANGED MY LIFE COMPLETELY. UM, I WAS, I, I, AT FIRST I DIDN'T HAVE LIKE FAITH, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE SOMETIMES, UH, THINGS ARE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IN THIS WORLD, YOU KNOW? BUT RYAN HAS TOOKEN THE TIME AND, AND GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE MAN I'M SUPPOSED TO BE. HE, HE BASICALLY JUST ASKED ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO WITH YOUR LIFE? AND HE SHOWED ME HOW TO ACQUIRE THOSE TOOLS ON MY OWN. SO IT'S LIKE A SELF OF LIKE SELF GRATIFICATION. LIKE I DID IT, YOU KNOW? AND IT'S LIKE, IF I CAN DO IT, I CAN OTHER AND ANYONE ELSE CAN DO IT, YOU KNOW, JUST ALL IT TAKES IS ENCOURAGEMENT AND LETTING SOMEONE KNOW THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S, THAT'S HOW WHAT I GOT OUTTA THIS PROGRAM. I, I THANK YOU EVERYBODY. APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OSCAR NEXT IS NATHANIEL, THEN HECTOR AND HECTOR WILL BE LAST. [01:15:01] I'D LIKE, JUST TO ADD ON TO WHAT THEY WERE SAYING. UM, I JUST BELIEVE THAT THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE OF, I MEAN, MAN, CREDIBLE MESSENGERS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE IF I, IF THERE WAS, IF THERE WAS NO CREDIBLE MESSENGERS IN, IN MY TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. I, I TRULY BELIEVE I WOULD BE THERE IN A GRAVE OR IN A JAIL CELL. AND BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE RYAN, MY LIFE IS NOT ON THAT TRAJECTORY. I'M NOT WALKING THAT PATH NO MORE. I HAVE A DAUGHTER, I'M LIVING MY LIFE FOR HER. I'M AN ASPIRING TATTOO ARTIST. I'M FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL THIS MONTH. AND ALL OF THAT IS DUE TO THE, THE COMMUNITY WORK THAT THEY DO. LIKE I DIDN'T, THE STUFF THAT WE DON'T FIND IN OUR HOMES AS KIDS, WE FIND IN PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AND THESE PROGRAMS LIKE WE NEED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT STUFF AT HOME. BUT THAT'S ALL I'D HAVE TO SAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND THEN HECTOR, UH, HELLO, I'M HECTOR REYES AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WEST COAST, CREDIBLE MESSENGER, IT'S LIKE, UH, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO, TO MENTOR YOU WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THAT PROGRAM THAT THEY GIVE. BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LIKE THE AUTO ONE OUT THE BOX AND THEY, THEY REALLY SHOW YOU LIKE COMFORTABILITY AND THEY REALLY TRY TO SHOW YOU MORE THAN WHAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE FOR, LIKE, LIKE HOW HE SAID TOO, LIKE, I WOULD NEVER EVEN THINK I'D BE RIGHT HERE TALKING, BUT HERE I AM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO, HE PUSHES YOU TO DO MORE THAN WHAT YOU EXPECT OF YOURSELF. THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I SAY. ALRIGHT, WELL I WANT TO THANK ALL ALL THE PUBLIC WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK WITH US. UH, RYAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND WE'RE HONORED AND PROUD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FORMALLY PARTNER WITH YOU NOW. AND IT, AND IT'S CRAZY HOW THINGS HAPPENED. 'CAUSE WE MET ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT, A WHOLE DIDN'T KNOW I WAS THE MAYOR, DIDN'T KNOW YOU JUST A WHOLE DIFFERENT SPACE. AND TO BE ABLE TO RUN INTO EACH OTHER AT LINCOLN PARK AND, UH, LEARN ABOUT YOUR PROGRAM. YOU'VE FOLLOWED UP, YOU'VE ENGAGED WITH OUR TEAM. UH, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU'RE DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. AND OUR JOB IN GOVERNMENT IS TO, UH, ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC AND SOMETIMES WE NEED CREDIBLE MESSENGERS IN ORDER TO DO SO. RIGHT? GREAT BRAND AND GREAT MESSAGE. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU FEEL ALONE, WE'RE BORN IN THIS WORLD ALONE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE. YOU ALL HAVE VALUE. SOCIETY OF MANY TIMES CAST AWAY, CAST ASIDE PEOPLE'S VALUE, BUT WE SEE ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AS ASSETS AND WE SEE THAT THE SAME WAY, RIGHT? AND THE MORE WE INVEST IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR VALUE, THEY CAN GO ON AND ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST AND BEST POTENTIAL. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING YOUR WORK AT LINCOLN PARK. ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. THIS REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. WE HAVE NO REPORT TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NO REPORT. DID YOU HEAR THAT? UM, ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE ON ITEM 17, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, CHAIR OF THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE CHARTER COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS [17. 25-55062 Recommendation to receive Charter Commission appointments and reappointments approved by the Government Operations and Efficiency Committee pursuant to Section 509 of the City Charter and Section 2.03.065 of the Long Beach Municipal Code.       Office or Department: Kristina Duggan, Councilmember, Third District; Chair; Government Operations and Efficiency Committee         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WELL, TONIGHT, UH, IT'S A GOOD DAY. UH, SEVEN NEW SEVEN INDIVIDUALS ARE STEPPING UP, UH, TO SERVE OUR CITY ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. SOME OF 'EM YOU WILL RECOGNIZE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SERVED OUR CITY FOR A LONG TIME IN OTHER CAPACITIES. UH, SO WE ARE, UH, THRILLED TO, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM. AND WE HAVE TWO RESIDENTS, UH, WHO I AM RECOMMENDING TO BE REAPPOINTED TO CONTINUE THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS TONIGHT ARE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE NEW CIVIL SERVICE AND EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION. UH, I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED TO BRING THIS FORWARD AS THIS IS A RESULT OF THE LONG BEACH JOBS PROMISE MEASURE, JB THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT, UH, THAT PASSED IN OVERWHELMING NUMBERS TO MODERNIZE THE WAY WE DO HIRING IN OUR CITY TO A MODERN HIRE STANDARD, WHILE ALSO INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF, UH, THE, THE LEVEL OF APPEAL RIGHTS FOR OUR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES. AND THESE FIVE INDIVIDUALS, UH, WILL, WILL PLAY AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR WORKFORCE, UH, HAVE DUE PROCESS AND, AND ARE ABLE TO, UM, UM, CONTINUE TO DO THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY DO. SO WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM. UM, I WANNA START OFF, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GOING TO, UH, GO COMMISSION BY COMMISSION AND THEN, UH, AT, IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, JUST STAND UP SO WE CAN SEE YOU AFTERWARD. UH, WE'RE GONNA COME DOWN AND TAKE A BIG PHOTO WITH THE COMMISSIONERS. SO LET'S START OFF WITH CIVIL SERVICE, EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION. UM, WE'LL START WITH DEVIN ABL. [01:20:01] DEVIN IS A LONG BEACH BASED, UH, LONG BEACH RESIDENT. HE'S A LABOR AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WHO PREVIOUSLY REPRESENTED LONG BEACH CITY EMPLOYEES. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AS AN ORGANIZER. UH, HE'S CURRENTLY DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FEDERATION OF LABOR, WHERE HE SUPPORTS WORKERS ACROSS LA COUNTY THROUGH RELIEF, COORDINATION, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND HOUSING ADVOCACY. SO WE WANT TO WELCOME DEVIN TO THE NEW CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. THANK YOU. NEXT IS, UH, RITA GADO. UH, RITA, UH, DR. RITA GADO. GADO GOOD IS A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT WITH 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES ACROSS CALIFORNIA'S HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, STATE AGENCIES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SHE CURRENTLY IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PARTNERSHIPS AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT AT CALIFORNIA. UH, AT CAMPAIGN FOR COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY. UH, SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT AT SACRAMENTO STATE, WHERE SHE WAS THE HIGHEST RANKING LATINA, UH, LEADING STATEWIDE ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN PUBLIC FACING INITIATIVES. UH, HER EARLIER ROLES IN INCLUDED KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT CALSTERS CALPERS, AND AS A LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT FOR SENATOR ALEX PADILLA. SHE WAS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE. SHE EARNED HER DOCTORATE IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP FROM SACRAMENTO STATE IN 2004. SHE'S A FOURTH DISTRICT RESIDENT AND SHE IS, UH, PROUD TO CONTINUE HER SERVICE HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. NEXT WE HAVE JOINING THE VERY SAME COMMISSION, UH, CHRISTOPHER GARNER. PLEASE STAND UP. CHRISTOPHER GARNER , BORN AND RAISED IN LONG BEACH AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT. CHRIS GARNER IS A FOURTH GENERATION LONG BEACH, IAN. HIS ADULT CHILDREN ARE NOW FIFTH GENERATION LONG BEACH. IAN AND HIS GRANDSON IS NOW A SIXTH GENERATION LONG BEACH. IAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT I ADOPTED LONG BEACH, IAN. YOU FORCED ME TO ADOPT THAT TERM. , UH, MR. GARNER ATTENDED LONG BEACH SCHOOLS, INCLUDING GRANT, UH, OUR LADY OF REFUGE, STANFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL, MILLIKEN HIGH SCHOOL, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE BEFORE A BA IN MBA AT LOYOLA MARYMONT UNIVERSITY. MR. GARNER RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER A 40 YEAR CAREER, SERVING AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WORKING AT VARIOUS TIMES WITH NINE, WITHIN NINE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING SERVING AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD FOR 27 YEARS, OVERSEEING GAS DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, AIRPORT, LONG BEACH ENERGY, GAS AND OIL, THE WATER DEPARTMENT, AND LONG BEACH UTILITIES. HE LIVES IN LONG BEACH WITH HIS WIFE BECKY, AND HAS THREE CHILDREN. JULIET, MATTHEW, NATALIE, AND GRANDSON. RORY. FUN FACT, AT HIS RETIREMENT PARTY, A FEW, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, UH, I, THE MAYOR OFTEN GIVES THE KEY TO THE CITY. I GAVE HIM THE LOCK TO THE CITY AND SAID, DON'T COME BACK. BUT HE FAILED AT THAT BECAUSE HE HAS AGREED TO SERVE ON THIS NEW COMMISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MR. GARNER, UH, FOR CONTINUING YOUR SERVICE. WE, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR INCREDIBLE SERVICE. NEXT IS HURLEY OWENS. HURLEY IS A PROUD US ARMY VETERAN WHO DURING HIS MIT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, WHO DURING HIS MILITARY CAREER WAS AWARDED THE ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL AND THE ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL HONORS THAT REFLECT HIS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION. DURING WARTIME, HURLEY BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN OCTOBER, 1997. UH, HE PROPELLED THROUGH THE RANKS FROM A GENERAL MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT TO GENERAL MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR TWO, THEN ON TO SUPER SUPERINTENDENT OF MARINE MAINTENANCE. IN DECEMBER, 2014, HE WAS PROMOTED TO BUREAU MAN MANAGER OF MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS, WHERE HE LED THE COMPLEX CITYWIDE MAINTENANCE EFFORTS AND MANAGED DIVERSE TEAMS RESPONSIBLE FOR EM, ESSENTIAL PUB, UH, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. AFTER MORE THAN 26 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND A CAREER SPANNING MORE THAN THREE DECADES, HE RETIRED AS A BUREAU MANAGER IN JUNE, 2024. TODAY, HURLEY SHARE, HURLEY SHARES HIS JOURNEY FROM THE BATTLESHIP TO LEADERSHIP OFFERING, OFFERING AUDIENCES INSIGHTS INTO SERVICE, RESILIENCE, AND THE VALUE OF STRONG PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP, BOTH IN MILITARY AND IN CIVILIAN LIFE. MAN, WHOEVER, WRITE IN YOUR BIO, I NEED HIM TO WORK ON MINE. THAT WAS SIGN ME UP. UH, HURLEY. HURLEY, I'VE KNOWN HURLEY MANY YEARS. HE IS A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT AND HE KNOWS OUR CITY INSIDE AND OUT. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS COMMISSION ONWARD. UH, MARGOT MORALES IS A 40 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SHE CURRENTLY RESIDES WITH HER HUSBAND IN THE FIFTH COUNCIL DISTRICT. IN 2019, MS. MORALES WAS SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE INAUGURAL ETHICS COMMISSION AND DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB FROM AUGUST, 2020 SECOND, I MEAN, TO AUGUST, 2022 TO JULY, 2024, SHE SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. HER CURRENT TERM ON THE ETHICS COMMISSION ENDS IN JUNE. SHE REACHED OUT AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WANT TO CONTINUE MY SERVICE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND WITH THAT STELLAR RECORD, UH, WE, THIS IS THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE YOUR SERVICE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. PRIOR TO SERVING ON THE ETHICS COMMISSION, SHE SERVED ON THE PARKS RECREATIONS COMMISSION, PACIFIC PACIFIC GATEWAY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE CHANGED THAT COMMISSION THAT TO AS LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INVESTMENT NETWORK. NOW, SOME OF HER PREVIOUS, UH, COMMUNITY [01:25:01] ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SERVING ON THE BOARDS OF THE FAIR HOUSING FOUNDATION, CAL POLY POMONA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, AND CAL STATE ALUMNI COUNCIL. MARGO RETIRED FROM LA COUNTY IN 2018, FOLLOWING A 34 YEAR CAREER DURING WHICH SHE HELD ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS IN SIX COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. SO BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT COMMISSION, I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE FIVE COMMISSIONERS ALL UNDERSTAND, UH, CIVIL SERVICE. THEY ALL UNDERSTAND THE, THE JOB THAT WE NEED TO DO REQUIRE RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT. THEY KNOW IT BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE IT VERY SUCCESSFULLY WITHIN THEIR CAREERS. UH, AND SO THIS, THIS I THINK IS A, A, A VERY IMPORTANT COMMISSION, UH, WITH THIS NEW DESIGN. AND I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT GROUP OF LEADERS TO SERVE THERE. SO WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT LARGE, WE HAVE TODD LIMI, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION. UH, TODD IS A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, AUTHOR, HR LEADER, LECTURER, ORGANIZATIONAL ARCHITECT, LAWYER, DESIGNER AND MUSICIAN. HIS DIVERSE BACKGROUND IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, LAW, HOSPITALITY, BUSINESS, MUSIC, ART AND DESIGN GIVES HIM A CREATIVE BIG PICTURE, PERSPECTIVE AND APPROACH TO EACH PROJECT. HE UNDERTAKES, FORMERLY THE CHIEF OF HR FOR MOLINA HEALTHCARE. TODD'S CURRENT WORK WITH PACIFIC SIX ENTERPRISES, A LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA BASED INVESTMENT FIRM INVOLVES INVESTMENT IN CA IN COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF HOTELS AND MULTI-FAMILY PROJECTS. HIS SEMINAL PUBLISHED WORK INVOLVES TRANSFORMING HR ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE WITH A SCIENCE-BASED APPROACH THAT UNLOCKS THE KEYS TO CAREER DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYEE RETENTION, CULTURE AND ENGAGEMENT. TODD LIVES IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA WITH HIS AMAZING, AMAZINGLY PATIENT WIFE . THAT'S GOOD. UH, THEY'RE FREQUENTLY VISITED BY THEIR THREE ADULT CHILDREN. AND TODD, UH, I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S WE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF PERSPECTIVES AND ONE OF THOSE PERSPECTIVES IS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ON OUR PLANNING COMMISSION. SO WE CERTAINLY WELCOME YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, AND YOUR TASTE IN FINE ART AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED TO OUR PLANNING COMMISSION. YOU'RE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT, THE UTILITIES COMMISSION. THIS IS A FAMILIAR FACE WHO'S BEEN, UH, FOR ONE COM ONE. WE CAN'T GET RID OF ONE ATTORNEY ON THE COMMISSION WITHOUT REPLACING HIM WITH ANOTHER ATTORNEY. . CHARLIE PARKIN SERVED THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR 39 YEARS, BEGINNING HIS CAREER IN 1985 WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF OIL PROPERTIES PROPERTY OVER THERE WITH CHRIS GARNER. HE JOINED THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN 1995, RISING THROUGH THE RANKS TO BECOME CITY ATTORNEY IN 2013. OFFICIALLY ELECTED IN 2014 AND 2018 AND RETIRED IN 2022. HE WAS CITY AT CITY ATTORNEY THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS ON THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL. MR. PARKIN HAS A BROAD, HAS BROAD EXPERIENCE IN CIVIL LITIGATION, INCLUDING TRIALS, MED MEDIATIONS, ARBITRATION AND ADVISING, NUM ADVISING NUMEROUS CITY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS POLICE, FIRE, HARBOR AND HEALTH. HE ALSO PROVIDED LEGAL COUNSEL TO THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY CLERK ON MATTERS RELATED TO TITLES, OPEN MEETING LAWS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. MOST RECENTLY, CHARLIE WAS ONE OF THE INAUGURAL APPOINTEES TO THE LONG BEACH POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION TO HELP LAUNCH THE IMPORTANT WORK OF THAT COMMISSION. AND NOW, THANK YOU. WE ARE PULLING YOU FROM THAT COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR HELP GETTING OFF THE GROUND. AND NOW WE NEED YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR SERVICE ONCE AGAIN IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ON THE UTILITIES COMMISSION. THANK YOU AND WELCOME BACK. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE TWO REAPPOINTMENTS ON THE HARBOR COMMISSION. UH, STEVE NEIL. I SAW STEVE EARLIER. STEVE HERE. THERE HE IS. PLEASE STAND. THIS IS HARBOR COMMISSIONER STEVE NEIL, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE NEIL. UH, HE, I WAS HIS CHIEF OF STAFF. HE SAT WELL, HE IS IN THE OLD BUILDING. HE SAT ON THAT END DOWN THERE. UM, UH, SO HE WAS APPOINTED IN 2019 AND I'M RECOMMENDING HIM TO, FOR A SECOND TERM ON THE HARBOR COMMISSION, A FULL SIX YEAR TERM STARTING, STARTING IN JULY. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT LARGE, ALVARO CASTILLO, A DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT, UH, BEGAN SERVING ON THE COMMISSION IN 2020. ONE IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR A SECOND TERM. IS ALVARO HERE? DID I SEE ALVARO? OKAY. THOSE ARE OUR, UH, NOMINEES FOR OR RECOMMENDED APPOINTMENTS FOR, UH, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THAT SAID, I'LL PA I'LL HAND IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. WELL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING. IT'S IMPORTANT WORK. AND I, I DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT THOUGH TO RECOGNIZE SOME THIRD DISTRICT RESIDENTS, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UH, CHARLIE PARKIN. YOU KEEP SAYING YOU'RE RETIRING, BUT YOU JUST KEEP GOING AND GOING. AND NOW IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON UTILITIES, UH, COMMISSION, TODD LIMUS. UM, SO HAPPY [01:30:01] TO HAVE YOU ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. UM, AND THEN DEVIN ALER, HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ON, UM, YOUR FIRST COMMISSION APPOINTMENT. RIGHT. SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON, ON THE COMMISSION. AGAIN, APPRECIATE EACH ONE OF YOU, AND I THINK IT SPEAKS WELL THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF RETIRED LONG CITY OF LONG BEACH EMPLOYEES WHO COME BACK AND DO THIS WORK BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK, UH, ALL THE FORMER PREVIOUS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS AND THE INTERIM COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE BEEN HOLDING IT DOWN, SERVING ON TWO COMMISSIONS WHILE WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO STAND UP THE, THIS COMMISSION. WE'RE PROUD THAT AFTER TONIGHT THE COMMISSION'S OFFICIALLY FORMED. AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF, CAN I SAY ARE, ARE WE, I THINK I CAN SAY IT. WE'RE DONE WITH MEET AND CONFER. SO MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE A COMMISSION WE'RE DONE WITH MEET AND CONFER. AND SO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE NEW COMMISSION WILL BE FULLY ACTIVE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE GLORIA CORDERO, CHIEF COLEMAN, ROBIN GORDON P GORDON PETERSON, VICKI LOVE, AND SHARON WEISMAN. THREE OF THEM DID DUAL DUTY ON COMMISSIONS, UH, THROUGH THE INTERIM UNTIL THIS COMMISSION GOT SET UP. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE. THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. WHAT? PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTIONS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY, YOU GUYS CAN GO HOME NOW. YOU'RE GOOD. THEY WANT A PICTURE WITH YOU. OH, WE GOTTA TAKE A PICTURE. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. DID WE VOTE? YES. YES. GREAT. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE. UH, YOU'RE GONNA CALL ON DARRELL. ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA, SO I'M GONNA PASS IT ON TO COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER NA, UH, TO, [ 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. ] UH, INTRODUCE OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKER. OKAY, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO DEVIATE FROM PROTOCOL FOR JUST A SECOND HERE AND INTRODUCE, INTRODUCE OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKER. THIS IS DE GIAN CASTRO, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE RANCHO LOS AMI FOUNDATION BOARD. UH, RANCHO LOS SALAMIS IS IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT. I'M WEARING THEIR HAT TONIGHT. UM, BUT THE RANCHO IS A CITYWIDE ASSET. UH, DEBORAH WILL BE INTRODUCING HER VERY SPECIAL GUEST WHO IS HERE TONIGHT ON HIS FIRST DAY ON THE JOB. DEBORAH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. AND GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY APPRECIATE BEING HERE. I'M DEBORAH CASTRO, VICE CHAIR OF RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS FOUNDATION, AND I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TIMOTHY ROBERTS MA. AS A CITY ASSET AND ONE OF TWO HISTORICAL RANCHOS IN LONG BEACH, OUR FOUNDATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAMMING, MOST OF IT FREE OR LOW COST, AS A WELCOMING PLACE FOR EDUCATION, PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY ACCESS. [01:35:01] AS SUCH, THE COM, THE CITY IS A KEY STAKEHOLDER IN THESE EFFORTS. WE ARE LOCATED IN DISTRICT FOUR AND SERVE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS WITH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE ONES WE'RE MOST PROUD OF IS OUR SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM. IT ALONE SERVES THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND MORE THAN 50% OF LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TITLE ONE SCHOOLS TODAY IS EARTH DAY. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT RANCHO IS A GREEN SPACE THAT HONORS SUSTAINABILITY AND ITS MISSION AND ITS PRACTICE TONIGHT IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL. NOT ONLY IS IT TIM'S FIRST DAY, AS YOU HEARD AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BUT WE ARE ALSO RECOGNIZING A MILESTONE FOR THE RANCHO. AND OUR FOUNDATION. TIM ROBERTS IS ONLY THE THIRD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN 41 YEARS. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. WE STARTED THIS EFFORT SIX MONTHS AGO, AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FABULOUS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, A LOCAL LEADERSHIP LONG BEACH ALUM, DR. CHRISTINE PETIT, AND ALONG WITH HER, WE HAD A NONPROFIT RECRUITER HELP US GET THE BALL ROLLING. WE RECEIVED COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT THROUGH SURVEYS AND MEETINGS AT THE OUTSET, AND CONDUCTED A THOROUGH PROCESS THAT INCLUDED A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR A LEADER WITH EXPERIENCE AND VALUES THAT ALIGNED WITH THE RANCHOS MISSION. WE FOUND THAT IN TIM, HIS EXPERIENCE AND AUTHENTICITY AS A HISTORIAN AND EDUCATOR SPANNING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MUSEUM MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISION AND RESTORATION OF 400 ACRES AND EIGHT HISTORIC SITES IN NEW MEXICO. GRANTS MANAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, TRIBAL LIAISON AND ADJUNCT PROFESSOR IDEALLY POSITIONS HIM TO LEAD OUR MULTIFACETED ORGANIZATION. WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME TIM TO OUR TEAM AND EXCITED FOR HIM TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF HELPING US WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE RANCHO STORY. LIKEWISE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OUR MISSION AS A HISTORICAL SITE, CULTURAL INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE. I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, RANCHO LOS ALTOS. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED, TIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DEBRA. UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON. COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS, UH, DEBRA SAID, MY NAME IS TIM ROBERTSON. AS OF ABOUT EIGHT HOURS AGO, I TOOK OVER THE REIGNS AT RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS, AND I CANNOT, YOU'RE HERE WORKING ALREADY. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I AM, YES, SIR. SO I CANNOT BE MORE THRILLED. UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK THE, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE RANCHO FOR PLACING THEIR TRUST IN ME. IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OUTRIGHT FOR ITS DECADE SUPPORT OF, UH, RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS. AND ITS VISION FOR PRESERVING PROBABLY ONE OF, IF NOT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL HISTORIC SITES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. UM, I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU THAT RANCHO LOS LOS ALAMITOS IS A IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL HISTORICAL SITE. IT'S NOT JUST A HISTORICAL SITE. IT'S A LIVING CONNECTION TO THE PAST AND A VIBRANT EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SPACE FOR THE PRESENT AND FUTURE. AND I'M EXCITED TO BUILD ON THE REMARKABLE LEGACY THAT BEGAN WITH THE BIXBY FAMILY'S GENEROUS GIFT TO THE LAND OF THE LAND AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE CITY, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE DEDICATED STAFF, AND THE AMAZING, UM, CORE OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE AT THE RANCHO. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE RANCHO IS WELL POSITIONED TO GROW IN VISIBILITY, RELEVANCE, AND SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC. UM, LOOKING AHEAD, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M DEEPLY COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING RE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF THE RANCHO STAKEHOLDERS, UM, FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO REGIONAL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE AREAS INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WHOSE HISTORIES ARE INSEPARABLE FROM THE LAND THAT THE RANCHO SITS ON. UM, I SEE THE RANCHO AS A WELCOMING SPACE FOR EVERYONE IN LONG BEACH AND BEYOND A PLACE WHERE STORIES OF RESILIENCE, COMMUNITY, AND TRANSFORMATION ARE BROUGHT TO LIFE IN WAYS THAT SPARK CURIOSITY AND CONNECTION. FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE FROM THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA TO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST, UM, TO LEAD TEAMS AND PROJECTS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE STORIES THAT SHAPES COMMUNITIES. AND NOW MY FAMILY AND I, AND I NOW, I'M GONNA GET OFF TOPIC A LITTLE BIT OR OFF SCRIPT BECAUSE BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE TONIGHT IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER, THE LEADERSHIP IN LONG BEACH AND YOUR PRIORITIES TO THIS COMMUNITY, WE, MY FAMILY IS EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND JOIN THE COMMUNITY AND BE A PART OF THIS VIBRANT AND DIVERSE CITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LONGSTANDING SUPPORT OF THE RANCHO. I'M EXCITED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH ALL OF YOU TO MOVE THE MISSION FORWARD AND ENSURE THE RANCHO, UM, REMAINS A DYNAMIC, INCLUSIVE, AND THRIVING SPACE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND WELCOME. THANK YOU. THE [01:40:01] RANCHO IS A PUBLIC ASSET. IT'S A CITY FACILITY. WE, WE INVEST IN IT, UH, BUT WE ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE CHANGING IN HOW WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HISTORY AND OUR LEGACY. SO I LOVE THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE FULL HISTORY AND MAKING SURE WE EMBRACE THAT AS A PART OF OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO LONG BEACH. ALRIGHT, UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KURT CANFIELD, FOLLOWED BY DR. LISA VEST. UH, ASHLEY BRADY, JENNIFER COHEN, MEG DLE, DALKEY, UH, SERENITY VI, HAR, LAURA FOY AND CHRISTINA HALL. SO NEXT IS KURT WITH THE BABY. KURT WITH THE BABY. COME ON FORWARD. YEAH. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS SEQUOIA. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER. UM, JOINING ME ARE TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF CARLITE LONG BEACH. UH, WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, AB 6 4 5 IMPLEMENTATION. THAT'S THE SPEED CAMERAS BILL THAT WAS PASSED. AND LONG BEACH IS ONE OF THE, UH, PILOT CITIES. YOU GUYS ARE NODDING YOUR HEADS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. UM, WE WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA GET AN UPDATE BECAUSE WE'VE SENT LETTERS, WE'VE TALKED TO, UM, VARIOUS FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. UH, WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE TIMELINE IS. WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THOSE CAMERAS ARE GONNA BE INSTALLED AND WE WANNA KNOW WHY IT'S TAKING SO LONG. SO, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT SPEED IN THE CITY. UM, 36 PEOPLE DIED LAST YEAR. 3000 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. UM, 25% OF THOSE WERE DUE TO SPEED. UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, OCEAN BOULEVARD, UH, IS IN LONG BEACH POST TODAY. SO, YEAH, I DON'T THINK SPEED CAMERAS ARE GONNA SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS, BUT I THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE, UM, INSTRUMENTAL IN AT LEAST ADDRESSING A COUPLE OF PROBLEM AREAS. WE COULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE HIGH INJURY NETWORK LOCATIONS AND MAKE THEM NOT HIGH INJURY NETWORK LOCATIONS, MAYBE. UM, SO YEAH, I'M LOOKING FOR AN UPDATE. UM, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM SOMEBODY AT PUBLIC WORKS, PERHAPS. I THINK I SAW KEITH EARLIER, BUT EITHER WAY, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS KURT. WE'LL MAKE SURE SOMEONE FOLLOWS UP WITH YOU DIRECTLY. THANK YOU ON THE TIMETABLE. THANKS A LOT. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS, UH, DR. JENNIFER LISA VEST. GREETINGS, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST SPACEX AND I'M HERE BECAUSE OF MY ANCESTORS. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY ANCESTORS AND ON BEHALF ALSO OF THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS. I FEEL THAT I'M ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF MOTHER EARTH. I THINK THAT WE'RE LIVING IN REALLY CHALLENGING TIMES RIGHT NOW, AND MANY OF US ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO? HOW CAN WE STOP WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY? AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT I CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN DO, I THINK THAT THERE'S ONE THING THAT LONG BEACH CAN DO, THAT WE HAVE THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP AGAINST A NAZI. AND WHEN WE FIND OURSELF IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE A CHANCE TO STAND UP. WE'RE NOT ALWAYS PLACED IN THE RIGHT PLACE. WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT VOICE, BUT I FEEL THAT HERE IN LONG BEACH WE HAVE THAT, WE HAVE THAT VOICE, WE HAVE THAT DIVERSE VOICE. WE'RE BLACK AND INDIGENOUS, WE'RE GAY, WE'RE QUEER, WE'RE FEMINISTS. AND LONG BEACH REPRESENTS SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN STAND UP. AND SO I'M ASKING THAT THE COUNCIL, PLEASE CONSIDER PUTTING AN AGENDA ITEM FOR SPACEX SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN DISCUSS THIS AND WE CAN THINK ABOUT HOW WE COULD GO ABOUT STANDING UP AGAINST ELON MUSK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ASHLEY, THEN JENNIFER, SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS NEXT. UM, FIRST I DID WANNA SAY, UH, DR. SORROW. I AM SO SORRY THAT WE, UH, DID INTERRUPT. WE HAD NO IDEA UNTIL SOMEBODY CAME OUT. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS THE SAME DAY. SO I DID WANNA APOLOGIZE. THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL EVENT, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL VIDEO. UM, I'M A CRIER AND THAT GOT ME. UM, OKAY, LET'S TURN THIS ON SO I CAN GET GOING. HELLO, MY NAME IS ASHLEY. I'M ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF THE FEMINIST UPRISING. I'M STANDING HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANNA VOICE CONCERN AND I ALSO WANNA TIE IN TOGETHER. WHY IS THE FEMINIST UPRISING HERE? WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT [01:45:01] SPACEX? IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. IT'S A BAST ISSUE BECAUSE ECOSIDE IS A FEMINIST ISSUE. WHEN, WHEN SPACEX OPERATIONS ARRIVED AT OUR PORT, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T BRING INNOVATION. THEY BRING SIGNIFICANT RISKS. AND THESE RISKS INCLUDE TOXIC EXPOSURE, ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION, AND COMMUNITY DESCENT. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THIS FOR WHAT IT IS NOT JUST AN UNFORTUNATE BYPRODUCT, BUT THE SYSTEMIC DESTRUCTION OF ECOSYSTEM. THE NAME OF PROFIT, IT'S ECO SIDE, AND IT'S A FEMINIST ISSUE ACROSS THE GLOBE. AND HERE AT HOME, IT IS WOMEN, ESPECIALLY BLACK INDIGENOUS WOMEN OF COLOR, WHO DISPROPORTIONATELY BEAR THE BRUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HARM FROM CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES TO UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS. THESE UNPACK, THESE IMPACTS ARE NOT HYPOCRITICAL. THEY ARE MEASURABLE, THEY ARE VISIBLE, AND THEY ARE DEEPLY UNJUST. AND FEMINISM ISN'T JUST ABOUT CLOSING THE PAY GAPS OR BREAKING GLASS CEILINGS. IT'S ABOUT SURVIVAL. TRUE GENDER, DUST JUSTICE DOESN'T CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. A FUTURE WORTH BUILDING IS ONE THAT PRIORITIZES COMMUNITY VOICES OVER CORPORATE INTERESTS, AND THAT HONORS THOSE WHO HAVE LONG SERVED AS STEWARDS OF THE LAND. WE MUST BE HONEST, YOU CANNOT GREENWASH A ROCKET CRASH, AND YOU CAN'T MINIMIZE THE PRESENCE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE STORED RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN'T CLAIM TO SUPPORT INNOVATION WHILE IGNORING THE LIVED REALITIES OF THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY THAT INNOVATION. THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ONE COMPANY. IT'S ABOUT THE EXTRACTION OF EXTRACTIVE SYSTEMS THAT TREAT LAND, LABOR, AND HUMAN LIFE AS EXPENDABLE. IT'S ABOUT WEALTH THAT EXPLOITS POWER, THAT HARMS AND THE INSTITUTIONS THAT OFTEN LOOK THE OTHER WAY. THAT'S WHY WE SAY NO TO SPACEX AND LONG BEACH, TO PRIVATIZE SPACE AMBITIONS THAT COST THE, THAT THE COST OF OUR NEIGHBORS. NO TO ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION, TO GUIDES AS PROGRESS AND YES TO LIFE. YES TO CARE, YES TO COMMUNITY, TO A LONG BEACH THAT IS TO A LONG BEACH THAT PLACES PEOPLE OVER PROFIT. AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS BEFORE SHORT TERM GAIN. WE ASK YOU TO TAKE THIS MOMENT SERIOUSLY, LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, PROTECT YOUR PEOPLE, AND MAKE LONG BEACH A MODEL FOR JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND JUSTICE, JUSTICE ALIKE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, HAPPY MOTHER. EARTH DAY. THANKS, ASHLEY. SORRY. NEXT IS JENNIFER, AND AFTER JENNIFER IS MEG. UH, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR HEARING US THIS EVENING. UM, MY NAME IS JEN COHEN. I'M ALSO ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF THE FEMINIST UPRISING. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. UM, I'M BACK AGAIN TONIGHT BECAUSE I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED THAT THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD ON THE SPACEX ISSUE. UM, WE HAD A PEACEFUL PROTEST OUTSIDE. MANY OF US ARE NOW IN HERE WANTING TO SPEAK, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICE AND THEIR OPINION ON THIS ISSUE IS HEARD AND RECOGNIZED, UM, AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS ISSUE ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE. AND NEITHER ARE WE. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE, BUT THERE IS A PETITION CIRCULATING TO GET ELON MUSK OUT OF AND SPACEX OUT OF LONG BEACH. AND IT'S GROWING. THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. THIS ISSUE IS GROWING. UM, AND TONIGHT IT FOUND IT SO INTERESTING 'CAUSE WE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH, WHICH IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. BUT I FAIL TO SEE HOW INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH AND, AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY, HOW ARE THOSE VALUES COMPATIBLE WITH SPACEX HERE IN THIS CITY? HOW IS SPACEX EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH WHEN MANY OF OUR YOUTH ARE LGBTQ PLUS? AND ELON MUSK IS VERY, VERY PUBLICLY TRYING TO CREATE HATE FOR THAT ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS THAT YOU, YOU ALL ARE PROTECTING ELON MUSK AND SPACEX INSTEAD OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS CITY. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PAPERWORK. UM, AND WE DID GO TO THE HARBOR COMMISSION MEETING AS WAS SUGGESTED, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT BASICALLY THE LEASE ENDS IN 2028 AND THAT WAS ALL THE INFORMATION WE GET. BUT THAT'S 2028. THAT'S NOT RIGHT NOW, BRINGING MORE ROCKETS HERE, WE'LL BRING MORE POLLUTION AND BRING MORE ISSUES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. SO MUCH OF ASTHMA IS A HUGE ISSUE IN LONG BEACH. WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES IN THE COUNTRY, AND YET WE'RE GONNA BRING MORE POLLUTION HERE, LING. AND NOT TO MENTION LONG BEACH CALLS ITSELF A SANCTUARY CITY, BUT SANCTUARY IS MEANINGLESS IF WE ARE TURNING OUR BACKS ON TENANTS AND WORKERS AND STUDENTS AND QUEER AND TRANS RESIDENTS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AND BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY BY WELCOMING A CORPORATION WHO IS HATEFUL [01:50:01] AND HARMFUL TO THIS COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS VERY MUCH ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH, THIS IS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND THIS IS ABOUT THE HEART OF THIS CITY. SO I, WE'RE WAITING, WE'RE WATCHING, WE'RE ORGANIZING, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING WITH THE POWER THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO STAND UP TO A FASCIST NAZI. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOO. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MEG, AFTER MEG IS SERENITY. UM, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MEG DALKEY AND I'M A PROUD LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE FEMINIST UPRISING AS WELL. UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO VOICE MY DEEP CONCERN AND STRONG OPPOSITION TO SPACEX EXPANDING ITS OPERATIONS IN OUR CITY. UM, LONG BEACH IS ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED CITIES IN CALIFORNIA, AND WE'RE FACING ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, HOUSING INSTABILITY, AND A WIDENING GAP BETWEEN THE PROMISES OF DEVELOPMENT AND THE LIVED REALITY OF OUR RESIDENTS. UM, ALLOWING A PRIVATE AEROSPACE GIANT LIKE SPACEX TO EXPAND WILL ONLY DEEPEN THOSE DIVIDES. UM, SPACEX HAS A TRACK RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISREGARD, EXPLOSIONS, TOXIC RUNOFF, AND ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE. UM, WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR COASTLINE AIR AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO BECOME COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN NAME OF THE SO-CALLED INNOVATION. UM, AND LET'S BE HONEST, THAT'S NOT GONNA BRING JOBS TO OUR COMMUNITY. UM, THEY'RE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED ROLES AND THEY, THIS COMPANY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT INVESTING IN LONG BEACH. UM, THEY WANNA EXPLOIT US AND WE NEED TO INVEST IN US IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CLEAN ENERGY, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND EDUCATION, NOT ANOTHER BILLIONAIRE'S PLAYGROUND. PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH AND SAY NO TO SPACEX. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SERENITY. AFTER SERENITY IS LAURA AND THEN CHRISTINA. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SERENITY VEJA. I'M BORN AND RAISED IN LONG BEACH AND I'M THE DAUGHTER OF TWO TWO LONGSHOREMEN WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN WAREHOUSE UNION FOR OVER 20 PLUS YEARS. TODAY I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AS A BIOLOGY STUDENT FROM C-S-U-L-B, AND I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN THE IMPORTANCE OF A WORK UNION WITH THE LONG BEACH PORTS. AND I HAVE A HUGE PASSION, PASSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF OUR ACTIONS ON OUR ANIMALS ECOSYSTEMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I BELIEVE BY ALLOWING SPACEX TO USE OUR PORTS IS A VIOLATION OF EVERYTHING THAT LONG BEACH STANDS FOR AND IS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO BOTH OUR OCEANS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. ACCORDING TO NPR AND AP NEWS, IN NOVEMBER, 2024, SPACEX WAS ON ONE OF THE FOREFRONT COMPANIES THAT SUED IN AN ATTEMPT TO DECLARE THE LABOR AGENCY AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. OH MY GOD. NOW I THINK WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES, IS THIS A COM CORPORATION THAT WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH FOR A LITTLE HISTORICAL LESSON OF THE BACKGROUND OF WHY THIS COMPANY OPPOSES EVERYTHING WITH LONG BEACH CITY AND ITS PORT STANDS FOR HARRY BRIDGES, A LABOR ACTIVIST OF 1930S AND FOUNDER, FOUNDER OF THE ILW JOINED TOGETHER WITH MANY OTHER MEMBERS TO PROMOTE REPRESENTATION AND DEMAND A COAST WIDE CONTRACT FOR JOB ITY AND WORK OPPORTUNITY. AFTER 83 DAYS, AND DESPITE POLICE BRUTALITY AND CITY RESISTANCE, ALL THE STRIKE DEMANDS WERE FINALLY MET AFTER GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. THIS MOVEMENT IN ITSELF WAS LARGELY INFLUENTIAL BECAUSE THE 1934 STRIKE GAINED MOMENTUM AND PUBLIC SUPPORT STRENGTHENED FOR THE LONGSHOREMEN. THIS INFLUENCED THE CREATION OF MANY UNIONS ALONG THE COAST. HARRY BRIDGES TRAILBLAZING LEGACY REPRESENTS THE DEMO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES OF PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS WITH THE POWER OF SPEECH AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. THEREFORE, I'M INSPIRED BY HARRY BRIDGES TODAY BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS THE POWER OF ONE VOICE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIONS ALLOWING SPACEX TO EXPAND ON OUR COAST ALLOWS FOR OUR COMPANY WITH ANTI-UNION IDEALS TO JEOPARDIZE EVERYTHING OUR PAST LEADERS HAVE FOUGHT FOR AND MISREPRESENTS OUR CITY WHILE HURTING OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES IT HURT OUR COMMUNITIES DUE TO THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENTS, BUT ALSO OUR ECOSYSTEMS. ACCORDING TO JOHN ARMSTRONG, ENGINEER, CHIEF EXECUTOR AND DIRECTOR OF ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE BRITISH PIPELINE SPACE X FALCON, THE ONE THAT CARRIES THE DRAGON CAPSULE, RELEASES 1,115 TONS OF CAROUSEL AND OXYGEN PER LAUNCH. THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF 650 HOUSEHOLDS A YEAR, OR 8 MILLION KILOMETERS WORTH OF DRIVING. THIS IS THE CO2 IMPACT ONLY FROM THE LAUNCHING. THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE RESOURCES, THE ENERGY, THE CO2 EMISSIONS FROM MANUFACTURING, TRANSPORTING THE OFFICE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES AND THE ROCKET FUEL. THERE WERE THESE POLLUTIONS, DISPROPORTIONATE DISPORT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT THOSE IN LOW INCOME AREAS. AND THEREFORE, SPACEX CLASSES WITH THE GREEN INITIATIVE PORT LONG BEACH GOALS HAVE ON THEIR WEBSITE BECAUSE IT SAYS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES FROM HARMFUL ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS OF PORT OPERATION. AND THEREFORE SPACEX SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON OUR COAST FOR THE SAKE OF PROTECTING OUR UNION'S COMMUNITIES, COAST AND EARTH, AND BY ABIDING [01:55:01] BY THE LONG BEACH, PORT, PORT AND CITY GOALS, PLEASE HALT SPACEX PLANNED RELOCATION TO THE LONG BEACH HARBOR BECAUSE OUR ANTI-UNION IDEALS AND NEGATIVE TAKE TIME HAVE CONCLUDED NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, OUR FINAL TWO SPEAKERS PLEASE. SO I HAVE LAURA AND CHRISTINA. YEAH, GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. I WAS INCREDIBLY MOVED BY ALL THE STORIES OF CAMBODIAN COMMUTE. WE WERE ALL IN TEARS. AND WHAT STRUCK ME THE MOST IS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO STAY HERE. AND THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLED GENOCIDE ARE BEING SENT BACK. WE HAVE SAID SO MANY TIMES, NEVER AGAIN, BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING. AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE THIS TIME, AND YOU GUYS ARE IN POSITIONS OF POWER THIS TIME, THIS TIME YOU ARE THE COMMISSION THIS TIME. YOU ARE THE POLITICIANS. PEOPLE WHO AREN'T INNOCENT ARE BEING SAID TO CAMP IN EL SALVADOR. THIS IS EXCEPTIONALLY ATROCIOUS AND SO FRIGHTENING. CHILDREN ARE BEING TAKEN FROM THEIR PARENTS. PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING GIVEN FOOD OR WATER. WE DO NOT NEED TO DO BUSINESS WITH A MAN WHO IS RESPONSIBLE THIS TIME, THIS TIME YOU ARE IN CHARGE. THIS TIME YOU GET TO SAY WHAT HAPPENS THIS TIME. YOU GET TO PULL A PLUG. MAYBE IT IS NOT THE PLUG, BUT IT IS A PLUG AND IT IS IN YOUR HANDS. PEOPLE ARE CANCELING CONTRACTS WITH ELON MUSK ALL OVER THE WORLD. PEOPLE ARE TAKING STANDS FOR WHAT IS RIGHT ALL OVER THE WORLD. THIS TIME IS YOUR TIME. IT'S YOUR TIME TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY, I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB THAT DIDN'T WORK AT THE BERG TRIALS. MONEY IS NOT YOUR JOB. YOUR JOB IS TO HONOR YOUR PROMISE THAT YOU MADE TO THE CAMBODIAN PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE TO PROTECT THEM, TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY, TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY. WORDS HAVE MEANING. THOSE LIVES HAVE VALUE. AND SO DO ALL OF THE LIVES WHO ARE ROTTING IN EL SALVADOR RIGHT NOW. SO DO ALL OF THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN WHO ARE TERRIFIED TO GO TO SCHOOL, WHO ARE BEING BULLIED AND TOLD THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEPORTED. A LITTLE GIRL JUST KILLED HERSELF. THIS IS NOT HOW IT NEEDS TO BE. IT IS UP TO US. IF WE WANNA CHOOSE FEAR OR LOVE, WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS FOR HUMANITY. AND THIS TIME YOU ARE IN CHARGE. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER, CHRISTINA. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CHRISTINA HALL AND TONIGHT I'M HERE WITH MY LONG BEACH ECE, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAT ON. UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE AND I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT, UM, SARAH AND I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION FOR THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD. YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, NOT JUST FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. INVESTING IN EARLY LEARNING SUPPORTS STRONGER FAMILIES, BETTER EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, AND LONG-TERM COMMUNITY WELLBEING. YOUR RECOGNITION SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS MATTER AND THAT THEIR GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING ARE A SHARED PRIORITY. ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND ALL THOSE WHO WORK TO SUPPORT YOUNG CHILDREN IN LONG BEACH AND ELSEWHERE, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT AND INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE YOUNG CHILD, WHICH IS THIS SATURDAY FROM 10 TO TWO. UM, WE HAVE FLYERS, UH, BUT IT'S 10 TO TWO, IT'S JUST NEXT DOOR. IT'S AT THE BILLIE JEAN KING LIBRARY AND LINCOLN PARK. UM, AND SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNGEST ONES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, [02:00:01] THANK YOU. SO, THE CELEBRATION OF THE YOUNG CHILD THIS SATURDAY, 10 TO TWO BILLIE JEAN KING. THANK YOU FOR, UH, PASSING THE FLYERS OFF TO THE CLERKS. WE APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT, SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI, MAYOR RICHARDSON, COUNCILWOMAN THRASH, AND TOOK RECOMMENDATION [9. 25-55031 Recommendation to request City Manager to work with all relevant City departments, potentially including Long Beach Police Department, Health and Human Services Department, City Prosecutor, Dispatch, Economic Development Department, Community Development Department, and Public Works, to provide the City Council with information about the scope of human trafficking activities and attendant public safety impacts along Long Beach Boulevard in North Long Beach; the City’s current efforts and programs to address those activities and assist victims; any barriers to more effectively counter these activities; and options to more successfully address this issue. Explore additional possibilities for regional coordination with Compton, Lynwood, and other neighboring cities as well as the County of Los Angeles and potential partnership opportunities with relevant State agencies and survivor-focused nonprofits; Collaborate with City Attorney, Community Development Department, and City Prosecutor to review and provide an update to City Council on the City's Nuisance Motel Regulation and Alcohol Nuisance Abatement ordinances, highlight opportunities to strengthen or expand existing ordinances to address outstanding quality of life issues and present current data regarding motels linked to recurring public safety concerns along Long Beach Boulevard in North Long Beach; Identify state and federal legislation that aims to enhance enforcement tools, expand survivor support services, and provide cities with greater legislative oversight to address these quality-of-life issues, and return to Council with recommendations to adopt formal support positions; and Report back is requested within 120 days.       Office or Department: Joni Ricks-Oddie, Councilmember, Ninth District; Rex Richardson, Mayor; Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Councilwoman, Eighth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH ALL RELEVANT CITY DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE THE CITY COUNCIL WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCOPE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES AND ATTENDANT PUBLIC SAFETY IMPACTS ALONG LONG BEACH BOULEVARD AND NORTH LONG BEACH. THE CITY'S CURRENT EFFORTS AND PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THOSE ACTIVITIES AND ASSIST VICTIMS. ANY BARRIERS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY COUNTER THESE ACTIVITIES AND OPTIONS TO MORE SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. COLLABORATE TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE CITY'S NUISANCE MOTEL REGULATION AND ALCOHOL. NEW NUISANCE ABATEMENT ORDINANCES. IDENTIFY STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT AIMS TO ENHANCE ENFORCEMENT TOOLS, EXPAND SURVIVOR SUPPORT SERVICES, AND PROVIDE CITIES WITH GREATER LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT TO ADDRESS THESE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADOPT FORMAL SUPPORT POSITIONS AND REPORT BACK WITHIN 120 DAYS. ALL RIGHT, SO, UH, BEFORE I HAND IT TO MM-HMM . THE MAKERS OF THE MOTION, UH, FOR THEIR PRESENTATION, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT. I THINK NORTH LONG BEACH IS IN THE HOUSE, SO I SEE SOME NORTH LAWN BEACH JUST A LITTLE BIT. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. I SEE IT. A NUMBER OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. COOLIDGE TRIANGLE OUT THERE AND LONGWOOD AND COLLEGE SQUARE AND STAR KING. AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE EIGHTH DISTRICT ONES I REPRESENTED THE NINTH I, YOU KNOW, PRE REDISTRICTING. BUT, UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE. LITTLE BIT OF LITTLE, JUST LITTLE, YOU GUYS CAN DO YOUR CONT DO YOUR SHOUT OUTS WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME. I GOT THE FLOW RIGHT NOW. UH, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT, VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. AND THE COUNCILWOMEN HAVE THEY HAVE BEEN PLANNING AND TALKING ABOUT THIS, UH, FOR SOME TIME, UH, THIS MOTION. THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF THOUGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORIC CONTEXT PICKING UP SOME OF THE, THE HISTORY OF SOME OF THE GOOD WORK THAT'S TAKEN PLACE, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT SOME NEW STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN DEPLOY. AND SO THIS IS A LONG TIME, 50 YEAR ISSUE ON THE LONG BEACH BOULEVARD CORRIDOR. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, YOU'VE SEEN PROGRESS AND YOU'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, LIKE A WATER BALLOON, YOU CRACK DOWN, IT JUST POPS UP IN ANOTHER AREA AND YOU SQUEEZE DOWN ON THE ISSUE, IT POPS UP IN ANOTHER AREA. I THINK WHAT'S, WHAT'S, WHAT'S INTERESTING, WHAT'S SUPPORTED, WHAT MAKES SENSE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A LONG TERM PERMANENT SOLUTION. YES. WHICH IS SOMETHING I CERTAINLY WELCOME. SO, UH, I I WANT TO HAND IT OFF TO THEM. YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT AS MAYOR. IT'S, I I WAS COUNCIL MEMBER THERE. WE HAD ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER UP THERE. AND NOW SHORT TERM TO PASS THE REINS, YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT AS MAYOR AND I WANNA SEE SOME GREAT PROGRESS HERE. THAT SAID, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION I HAVE IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. YOU FIRST YOU ARE PASSING THE TORCH INTO VERY CAPABLE HANDS. THAT'S, I WANNA HEAR MYSELF HEAR. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRIGGS. OTI, YOU'RE UP FIRST. UH, YES. YES, SIR. UM, WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. IT'S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY RESIDENTS OUT AND WE KNOW IT'S A REALLY COUNCILWOMAN AND I KNOW THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO SO MANY OF YOU. UM, I'M BEFORE YOU TODAY. TO CONTINUE A DISCUSSION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO NORTH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. FOR DECADES. HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM ON THE LONG BEACH BOULEVARD CORRIDOR LONG BEFORE I MOVED HERE. SO AS TO BEGIN TODAY'S DISCUSSION, I WANNA BRIEFLY SET THE STAGE BY SHARING, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF HOW WE GOT TO THIS MOMENT. THE ISSUE WAS ORIGINALLY ELEVATED AS A PRIORITY BY THEN COUNCIL MEMBER AND NOW MAYOR REX RICHARDSON. PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, A COORDINATED INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED TO ADDRESS THE ACTIVITY ALONG LONG BEACH COURT BOULEVARD. HOWEVER, BEGINNING IN 2020, THE PANDEMIC AND ITS WIDESPREAD IMPACTS PLACED CONSIDERABLE STRAIN ON CITY STAFF CAPACITY IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING STAFF WERE FURTHER DIRECTED TO RESPOND TO POST PANDEMIC RECOVERY EFFORTS, AND MORE RECENTLY TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION ON HOMELESSNESS IN 2023. AS A RESULT, WE AIM TO BRING RENEWED ATTENTION AND RESOURCE REALIGNMENT. I LIKE TO DIRECT MY, UM, MY COLLEAGUE'S ATTENTION TO I THINK THE PACKETS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF THEM. THE PACKETS IN FRONT OF YOU INCLUDED OUR LETTERS TO SUPPORT FOR TONIGHT'S ITEM LETTERS THAT I, ALONG WITH MY CO-AUTHOR, COUNCILWOMAN TRESH IMP, TOOK SECURED FROM REGIONAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING CONGRESSWOMAN NANETTE GAN, SENATOR LE GONZALEZ, ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIKE GIBSON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER SHADAY ELSI ASSEMBLY MEMBER, UH, JOSE CE, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL, SUPERVISOR JANICE HAHN COMPTON MAYOR EMMA SHARIF LINWOOD, COUNCIL MEMBER LUIS GUAR, UH, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES UAK JO INUK AND VIVIAN MALU, LONG BEACH UNIFIED SUPERINTENDENT. UM, JILL BAKER, UM, OUR UPTOWN EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR [02:05:01] UPTOWN BUSINESS, UM, IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. JU UH, JUSTIN BLAKELY, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF POOLS OF HOPE. PAT DIXON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR WOMEN'S SHELTER OF LONG BEACH, UH, KENT MEGS, UM, AS WELL AS ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT SHARE THE CORRIDOR, INCLUDING CO COOLIDGE, TRIANGLE, LONGWOOD STAR KING, AND COLLEGE SQUARE, AS WELL AS DOZENS OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONTEXT AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND HERE. PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FREEWAYS, MAIN CORRIDORS, LIKE LONG BEACH BOULEVARDS SERVED AS MAIN STREETS FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVEL THROUGH, RESULTING IN MOTEL DEVELOPMENT AS A SHORT-TERM PLACE FOR THOSE TRAVELING. AFTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF FREEWAYS, THE NEED FOR MOTELS IN THE AREA AS SHORT-TERM REST AREAS DWINDLED. AS A RESULT, ILLICIT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PROSTITUTION ARE PREVALENT AT THOSE PROPERTIES. LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, PARTICULARLY NORTH LONG BEACH, HAS BEEN A KNOWN CORRIDOR FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND RELATED PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS FOR DECADES. AS OUR MAYOR MENTIONED, WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST HOTSPOTS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SECOND ONLY TO FIGUEROA CORRIDOR IN LOS ANGELES, AS SHARED BY OUR CITY PROSECUTOR YEARS AGO AS A RESIDENT, I PERSONALLY PICKETED ALONGSIDE OTHER RESIDENTS IN FRONT OF THE LUXURY INN WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED MEN'S STANDING AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE ACTIVITY THERE AND TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE, TO THE, THAT THIS BEHAVIOR WON'T BE TOLERATED IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WAS OUT THERE WITH A LOCAL NONPROFIT STANDING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEM TO TAKE ACTION AND FOR US TO PUSH FOR CHANGE. AND HERE WE ARE TODAY. THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS HISTORICALLY ATTEMPTED TO MITIGATE THESE HARMS THROUGH A RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND AND REGULATIONS, INCLUDING THE NUISANCE MOTEL, UM, PILOT PROGRAMS, THE START OF THE MOTEL CONVERSIONS, UM, WITH THE CONVERSION OF LUXURY INN THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM REX RICHARDSON'S, UM, FORMER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER REX RICHARDSON'S COUNCIL AGENDA, UH, ITEM FROM MAY OF 2022 THAT SAID, BEFORE THE NUISANCE MOTEL PROGRAM LAUNCHED THESE TWO MOTELS, LUXURY INN AND STORE MOTEL THAT IS NOW IN DISTRICT EIGHT ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN 1500 CALLS FOR SERVICE FROM JANUARY, 2014 TO MAY, 2017 REPORTING PERIOD, UH, REPORT REPORTING PERIOD, NEARLY TWO CALLS PER DAY FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS. IF THE 30 PER, IF A 30% REDUCTION FOUND IN THE PILOT PROGRAM HAD HELD UP OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THOSE MOTELS WOULD STILL TAKE UP MORE THAN ONE CALL TO, UH, SERVICE PER DAY. AND AS EVIDENT IN THE PD DATA, THIS CORRIDOR STILL REPRESENTS A SAFETY CHALLENGE. NORTH DIVISION CURRENTLY DEALS WITH 86% OF THE CALLS FOR SERVICE PERTAINING TO PROSTITUTION, CITYWIDE WITHDRAWS SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES FROM DIVISION'S, EFFORTS TO ADDRESS OTHER PROBLEMS FACING NORTH LONG BEACH. WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE UPDATED METRICS ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE THE END OF 2022. BUT THIS ISSUE PERSISTS. RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATES ALIKE ARE CALLING MY OFFICE AND MY COUNCILWOMAN, MY FELLOW COUNCIL WOMAN'S OFFICE TO REPORT THEIR CONCERNS. I PERSONALLY KNOW THAT THE COLLEGE SQUARE AND STAR KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATES ASSOCIATIONS HAVE EVEN ORGANIZED A PETITION TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN. COLLECTION OF THIS DATA WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD TO A, TO ASSIGN DEDICATED RESOURCES TO THIS AREA. BUT DESPITE ALL THESE EFFORTS, SOLICITATION AND TRAFFICKING REMAIN HIGHLY VISIBLE, PARTICULARLY NEAR SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS LEADING TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES. UH, SPECIFICALLY IN OUR DISTRICT'S. DARK KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS IMPACTED BY DAILY PROSTITUTION ACTIVITIES, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE, THE MOST CONCERNING IMPACTS OF ONGOING TRAFFICKING ALONG LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. THE DIRECT EXPOSURE OF CHILDREN TO THESE ENVIRONMENTS. WHEN SOLICITATION TAKES PLACE NEAR SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS, IT'S NOT ONLY PRESENTS IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE NORMALIZATION OF EXPLOITIVE CONDITIONS. THIS IS A FORM OF GROOMING BY PROXIMITY, IT CONDIT, IT CONDITIONS YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACCEPT THE PRESENCE OF EXPLOITATION AND EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS ERODING THEIR SENSE OF SAFETY AND WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE IN PUBLIC PLACES. MY OFFICE RECENTLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS REPORTING THAT A TEEN HAD BEEN DIRECTLY SOLICITED BY A SEX WORKER. WHILE WE ARE NOT SEEKING TO CRIMINALIZE THOSE WHO MAY BE VICTIMS THEMSELVES, WE CANNOT IGNORE THE BROADER IMPACTS NEXT ACTIVITY HAS ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. MY STAFF AND I ARE FREQUENTLY ON THE GROUND IN THESE COMMUNITIES, AND WE HAVE WALKED THE SAME ALLEYWAYS THAT FAMILIES NOW USE AS DETOURS TO GET TO THEIR CHILDREN, TO SCHOOL SAFETY BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF THEIR SCHOOLS ARE NO LONGER SAFE. WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE AFTERMATH, THE USE CONDOMS AND OTHER HAZARDS LEFT BEHIND ON PEDESTRIAN PATHS. THESE CONDITIONS RAISE NOT JUST PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS. WE MUST ACT WITH URGENCY TO ADDRESS THESE CONDITIONS, NOT ONLY TO MEET CURRENT ENFORCEMENT NEEDS, BUT TO SAFEGUARD THE LONG-TERM WELLBEING OF OUR CHILDREN AND PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE DOCUMENTED, WE'VE EVEN DOCUMENTED LONGSTANDING RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SOLD THEIR PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACTS AROUND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I JUST WANNA READ YOU A COUPLE OF EXCERPTS OF EMAILS THAT MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED AROUND THE ISSUE. THIS ONE WAS FROM US, A BUSINESS, A LOCAL BUSINESS, AMERICAN OIL, WHO'S HERE TODAY. THEY SAID THE PROSTITUTES IN THE AREA REGULARLY SOLICIT COMP CUSTOMERS AT THE FUEL PUMPS. THIS HAS NOT ONLY CREATED AN UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR PATRONS, BUT IT'S ALSO LED TO MANY FAMILIES AND REGULAR CUSTOMERS TO TAKE THEIR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE. THE PIMPS OVERSEE THESE WOMEN, THEY [02:10:01] PARK AT OUR GAS PUMPS, WATCHING THE WOMEN AS THEY WORK OR SUPPLYING THE GIRLS CONDOMS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES AT THEIR CAR. SANITATION AND HYGIENE HAVE ALSO BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM. PROBLEM. THE PROSTITUTES HAVE BEEN DEFECATING AND URINATING IN OUR PLANTERS PARKING LOT AND OTHER AREAS AROUND THE STATION. ANOTHER RESIDENT, OR THIS IS ACTUALLY FROM, UH, A LETTER FROM, UM, A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GROUP, WESTLAND REAL ESTATE. ANOTHER PRESSING ISSUE IS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ENGAGING IN SOLICITATION ALONG LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, WHICH HAS BECOME EXCESSIVE AND INCREASINGLY PROBLEMATIC. THIS AREA IS HOME TO FAMILY, SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES. YET RESIDENTS ARE FORCED TO WITNESS INAPPROPRIATE AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITY DAILY. LONG BEACH BOULEVARD HAS UNFORTUNATELY BECOME A RUNNING JOKE AMONG RESIDENTS DUE TO THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT, WHICH RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL NEIGHBORHOODS EQUALLY. AND THEN LASTLY WAS A EMAIL FROM A, A RESIDENT ABOUT STAR KING ELEMENTARY. I'M SEEING A LOT MORE PROSTITUTION AND HOMELESSNESS WHILE WALKING MY SON TO AND FROM SCHOOL. I'M POSITIVELY SURE YOU HAVE SEEN AND POS POSSIBLY RECEIVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AS I REALLY DO HOPE I AM NOT THE FIRST ONE. BUT THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO SEE THIS MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. I JUST WANNA KNOW THAT WHAT'S BEING DONE SO OUR STREETS ARE SAFE FOR MY CHILD TO WALK, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO RECOGNIZE WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS THE, UH, POLICY AND ENFORCEMENT GAPS THAT WE IDENTIFIED. THE RECENT DECRIMINALIZATION OF, UH, THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF LOITERING FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION UNDER SENATE BILL 3 57 HAS LIMITED ENFORCEMENT TOOLS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INTERVENE PRIOR TO VISIBLE SOLICITATION. THIS MEANS THAT THE INVOLVED PARTIES WOULD HAVE TO BE FOUND, OBSERVED, HAVE TO BE OBSERVED, ENGAGING IN COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN ORDER FOR THE POLICE TO MAKE AN ARREST. LAST YEAR, I TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO CONVENE MEETINGS WITH REGIONAL LEADERS LIKE OUR LIN, LIKE LINWOOD, MAYOR RITA SOTO, AND COMPTON MAYOR EMMA SHARIF AND COMPTON COUNCILWOMAN LILY DARDEN. BECAUSE OUR CITY'S ALL BOARD IN LONG BEACH BOULEVARD AND ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE, WE'RE SEEING THE SAME PATTERN. WHEN ONE CITY SETS UP STEPS UP ENFORCEMENT, THE ACTIVITY JUST SHIFTS TO THE NEXT. THAT KIND OF DISPLACEMENT HAS ONLY MADE THE SITUATION WORSE IN NORTH LONG BEACH. IT'S CLEAR THIS ISN'T JUST A LONG BEACH ISSUE, IT'S A REGIONAL ONE, AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE COORDINATED. UM, WE NEED A COORDINATED STRATEGIC RESPONSE ACROSS ALL OF OUR CITIES. WHY THIS MATTERS NOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S TOP THREE PRIORITIES. IT'S DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE CONTINUATION OF A TRAFFICKING ALONG THIS CORRIDOR. THIS IS AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN. HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONTRIBUTES TO BROADER VIOLENCE IMPACTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, OUR SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, AND OUR RESIDENTS. WITH THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP AND 2028 OLYMPIC GAMES APPROACHING EVENTS HISTORICALLY CORRELATED WITH SPIKES IN TRAFFICKING ACTIVITY, THERE'S AN URGENT NEED TO ASSESS AND ENHANCE THE CITY'S CAPACITY TO RESPOND. THE DEPTH OF THIS ASSESSMENT MAY REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES. HOWEVER, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THIS WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED AS A CONCERN IN 2018. AND ALIGNS WITH OUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES IS OUTLINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIZATION RETREAT IN 2023. WHILE THE FISCAL IMPACT IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN, DEPARTMENTS ARE ASKED TO INCLUDE THOSE COST ESTIMATES IN THEIR FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL. THIS ITEM ALSO ALIGNS WITH OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY, ALIGNING WITH GOAL NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS DESIGNED AND INVEST IN COMMUNITY SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND OF, AND, AND ALSO THE FRAMEWORK FOR RACIAL RECONCILIATION. GOAL 5.1 AROUND CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE SAFE FROM VIOLENCE OF THE CITY'S 2030 STRATEGIC PLAN. FINALLY, I'D JUST LIKE TO TO CLOSE WITH SAYING, ULTIMATELY THIS ITEM IS NOT ONLY ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, IT'S ABOUT ENSURING SAFETY, STABILITY, AND DIGNITY FOR RESIDENTS AND SURVIVORS ALIKE. BY PROACTIVELY ADDRESSING AND ENHANCING OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING FRAMEWORK AND PUBLIC SAFETY ALONG LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, UPDATING OUR CITY METRICS AND REINSTATING A MORE ROBUST INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM, WE CAN MEANINGFULLY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND PROTECT THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN MORE SUCCESSFULLY. I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN THRESH INTO FOR HER PARTNERSHIP AND THE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, AND I AM ASKING MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR URGENT SUPPORT. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH INTU. SO I HAVE A PRESENTATION. IS IT UP? OKAY, THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD EVENING. I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH LONG BEACH FOR, UH, STAYING HERE THIS EVENING, BEING SO PATIENT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM THIS EVENING. FIRST, I WANNA START OUT BY SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH TO COUNCILWOMAN RICK OTI, UH, FOR BEING A PARTNER, UH, ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER AND WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH ME AND OUR TEAMS IN ORDER TO BRING THIS FORWARD. WE WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT, UM, AS HE NOTED HERE ON THE DAIS, AND ENSURING THAT THIS MATTER IS ADDRESSED AND ADDRESSED THAT IN A WAY THAT UPLIFTS A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK. SO WE ARE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE HUMAN TRAFFICKING REMAINS A PERSISTENT REALITY ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, [02:15:01] AND IT DEMANDS A HOLISTIC APPROACH, UH, COMBINING PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH ALIGNED WITH STATE AND LOCAL AND REGIONAL OFFICIALS. TODAY I'D LIKE TO JUST COVER A BRIEF, IN BRIEF CONTEXT, THE LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE THAT WE'VE HEARD A BIT HERE. UM, SOME KEY AREAS FOR ASSESSMENT AND ENHANCEMENT. LONG BEACH BOULEVARD IS LINKED TO TRAFFICKING, WHICH IS LINKED TO THE MOTELS THAT ARE THERE, UH, WHICH IMPACTS VIOLENCE AND EXPLOITATION. THIS REQUIRES A MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL APPROACH THAT SURVIVOR CENTERED AS WELL IN OUR RESPONSE. AND LBPD IS INTEGRAL TO THIS APPROACH. CHIEF, HE, I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY AND THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING THIS INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING DYNAMIC AND PROTECTING OUR RESIDENTS. WE SPECIFICALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION OF YOUR NORTH DIVISION TEAM. THEIR WORK EARLIER THIS YEAR, UH, HELPED TO RESCUE A 14-YEAR-OLD VICTIM FROM THE BOULEVARD, WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT. AND IT DEMONSTRATES YOUR DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING THE MOST VULNERABLE AS A MOTHER. HEARING ABOUT A CHILD IN THAT SITUATION IS DEEPLY TROUBLING THAT RESCUE AND CONNECTING HER TO SERVICES, GETTING HER BACK TO HER FAMILY UNDERSCORES NOT ONLY THE VITAL ROLE OF ENFORCEMENT, BUT THE PROFOUND NEED TO ENSURE THAT VICTIMS HAVE A REAL PATHWAY TOWARDS RESTORING THEIR LIFE AND RECLAIMING SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY AFTER SUCH TRAUMA. IT HIGHLIGHTS EXACTLY WHY AN INTEGRATED APPROACH THAT COMBINES THE VILLAGES OF SUPPORT IS SO NECESSARY. SO OUR CITY HAS TAKEN STEPS IN THE PAST. UM, THANKS TO SOME OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE. THIS HAS INCLUDED, UH, A MOTEL ABATEMENT PROGRAM UNDER A REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. LATER, THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT, A NUISANCE MOTEL PILOT PROGRAM IN 2018, WHICH TARGETED SIX MOTELS SUCCESSFULLY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CALLS, UH, THAT WERE CALLED IN THAT AREA. THE PILOT WAS THEN EXPANDED CITYWIDE IN 2018, AND WAS CODIFIED IN LATE 2019 THROUGH COVID, AS WAS NOTED, BUT WAS SLOWED BECAUSE OF THAT. UM, AND THE PROGRAM WAS, WE REACTIVATED IN OCTOBER OF 2022. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF SB 3 56, 3 57 IN 2022, WHICH DECRIMINALIZED LOITERING FOR SEX WORK, THIS HAS CHALLENGED ENFORCEMENT NECESSITATING THAT WE EMPLOY EVEN MORE CREATIVE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. THIS IS COUNT, THIS IS, UH, ATTRACTING THE ATTENTION OF OUR COUNTY. LA COUNTY IS PLANNING COUNTYWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION, PUBLIC HEALTH LED TASK FORCE FOCUSING ON SURVIVOR SUPPORT, OUTREACH AND DATA RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ANTICIPATED SOON, BUT ALIGNMENT AS A CITY WITH THE COUNTY IS KEY. SO THAT IS WHY THIS ITEM IS FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT THERE ARE FOUR CORE PILLARS THAT WE ADDRESS. UM, THE FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, SUPPORT AND COHESION, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, NUISANCE MOTEL UPDATES, AND LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY. MAYOR, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AS FAR AS FOUR PS THAT WE COULD BREAK DOWN FOR THE PUBLIC. AND THOSE CORE PILLARS, AGAIN, ARE POLICE POWERS, PARTNERSHIPS, PROPERTIES, AND POLICY. THE FIRST PILLAR IS THE LAW, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION. WE MUST ENHANCE COLLABORATION, POTENTIALLY INTEGRATING RESIDENT INPUT WITH POLICE DATA. LET'S ASSESS STUDENT SAFETY NEAR SCHOOLS AND EXPLORE EXPANDING THOSE PROGRAMS. WE MUST FULLY LEVERAGE LEGAL TOOLS LIKE PUBLIC NUISANCE INJUNCTIONS AND THE RED LIGHT ABATEMENT ACT. THE SECOND PILLAR, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON PARTNERSHIPS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORING CITIES, AS YOU HEARD, IS SO CRITICAL WITH COMPTON AS WELL AS LINWOOD. UH, WORKING WITH LA COUNTY IS VITAL TO REGIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND IDENTIFYING FUNDING. UM, AND WE MUST FOCUS ON SURVIVALS AND WHAT ARE THE ROOT CAUSES OF THIS ISSUE? EXPANDING EFFORTS THAT ALLOW US TO PARTNER WITH THE CALIFORNIA VICTIM COMPENSATION BOARD TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE SURE THAT OUR, THE FOLKS WHO ARE BEING VICTIMIZED BY HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAVE AND ARE ABLE TO GET BETTER BEHIND EVERY STATISTIC, UM, IS A PERSON WHOSE DIGNITY, RIGHTS, AND SAFETY HAVE BEEN VIOLATED. SO, EFFECTIVE ANTI-TRAFFICKING STRATEGIES MUST FOCUS ON ROOT CAUSES LIKE POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUSTICE AND FOSTER CARE SYSTEMS AS LEADING TO PATHWAYS WITHIN THIS LIFESTYLE. THE THIRD AREA, WHICH OUR PILLAR IS AROUND PROPERTIES AND CONNECTION [02:20:01] AROUND NUISANCE MOTEL, ORDINANCE, ABATEMENT AND ENHANCEMENTS. OUR CURRENT NUIS MOTEL ORDINANCE AND INTERDEPARTMENT TEAM HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE, BUT WE NEED UPDATED DATA SINCE NOVEMBER, 2022. AND THAT MUST BE REACTIVATED AND WE CAN LEARN FROM OTHER CITIES. THEY BUILT ON WHAT WE ARE DOING. AND NOW OTHER CITIES ARE DOING MORE SUCH AS LANCASTER AND CLAREMONT. AS AN EXAMPLE, CLAREMONT REQUIRES MOTEL GUESTS PAYING CASH TO PROVIDE A VALID CREDIT CARD, WHICH OPERATORS MUST VERIFY. LONG BEACH CURRENTLY HAS NO SIMILAR REQUIREMENT IN CLAREMONT. IT REQUIRES THE CLOSED CAPTION TELEVISION AT FREEWAYS MOTELS, RETAINING FOOTAGE FOR 90 DAYS WITH SPECIFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCESS PROTOCOLS IN LONG BEACH. IT'S ONLY IMPLEMENTED IF DEEMED NECESSARY. ENHANCED SURVEILLANCE CAN HELP US IN AID AND INVESTIGATIONS. OVERALL, WE THINK THAT IT'S, IM IMPORTANT THAT STAFF LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AND CONTINUE TO ELEVATE LAND, USE REZONING STRATEGIES, AMORTIZATION MECHANISMS, AND TO TRANSFORM MOTELS AND HIGH CRIME AREAS, UM, INTO MORE COMPATIBLE USES THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WANTS OVER TIME. AND THEN FINALLY, WHAT'S, UH, THE FOURTH PILLAR, WHICH IS POLICY. OUR LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK HIGHLIGHTED HERE ARE SEVERAL LAWS THAT NEED ADDITIONAL TOOLING SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ENFORCE AND PROVIDE SUPPORT IN COMMUNITIES. CURRENT EXAMPLES INCLUDE PROPOSALS LIKE CALIFORNIA BILL 3 79. IT USES A PENAL AND RESTORATIVE APPROACH BY INCREASING PUNISHMENT FOR SOLICITING PROSTITUTION FROM A MINOR, UH, DISTRIBUTING FINES INTO A FUND THAT WILL THEN SUPPORT VICTIMS AS THEY EXIT OUT OF THAT LIFESTYLE. SO FAR, I'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT POLICY AND KEY STRATEGIES, BUT I JUST WANNA REMIND US OF THE HUMAN COST OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ITS IMPACTS ON OUR CHILDREN, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR FAMILIES. WE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES SAFETY, DIGNITY AND RESPECT THE CONSEQUENCES FOR FAMILIES AND PLACES LIKE CHILDCARE FACILITIES SUCH AS THE BRIGHT FUTURES ACADEMY, COLIN POWELL, ACADEMY STAR KING ELEMENTARY AND NEARBY PARKS ARE SEVERE STORIES YOU'VE JUST HEARD. RESIDENTS FREQUENTLY REPORT SEEING CHILDREN EXPOSED TO SOLICITATION WITH LORDING, OFTEN OCCURRING RIGHT AT SCHOOL, INTEREST ENTRANCES AND DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM SCHOOL GROUNDS. AS A RESULT, FAMILIES ARE FORCED TO TAKE UNSAFE OF DETOURS THROUGH ALLEYS TO AVOID HARASSMENT. THIS IS ALARMING. AND THESE INCIDENTS INVOLVING, UH, TRAFFICKING HAVE ALSO, UH, BEEN LINKED TO OPENLY DISPLAYING OF WEAPONS, CAUSING PROFOUND FEAR AMONG CHILDREN AND PARENTS. EVEN AFTER CHILDREN ARE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, THEY CAN SOMETIMES SEE WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THEIR WINDOWS. DISRUPTING LEARNING AS WELL AS A SENSE OF SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THESE CONDITIONS ARE JUST UNACCEPTABLE AND WE OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN TO DO BETTER. THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND LONG BEACH BOULEVARD ARE FILLED WITH CLOSE-KNIT FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM PROUDLY HAVE CALLED THESE COMMUNITIES HOME FOR DECADES. THESE RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FACE THE DANGERS AND DAILY INDIGNITIES OF TRAFFICKING. NO FAMILY SHOULD FEEL RELUCTANT TO INVITE GUESTS OR VISITORS DUE TO FEARS THAT THEIR NEIGHBOR MIGHT ENCOUNTER SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOMES. THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE VIBRANT AND BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITIES FILLED WITH RESIDENTS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THEIR AREA'S. FUTURE. SINCE TAKING OFFICE, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH RESIDENTS OF THE LONGWOOD AND COOLIDGE TRIANGLE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. THOSE ARE IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT. UM, MAYOR, THEIR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES AND RESILIENCE, UH, HAVE DEEPLY INFORMED THESE POLICIES. AND YOU HAVE BEEN COURAGEOUS, ABSOLUTELY BRAVE IN PROTECTING YOUR OWN COMMUNITY FOR YEARS. BUT IT IS TIME FOR US AS A CITY TO STEP UP AND STAND ALONGSIDE YOU TO ENSURE THAT THE, UH, POLICIES THAT YOU NEED IN YOUR COMMUNITY ARE BROUGHT THERE. SO THROUGHOUT, UH, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH RESIDENTS, ONE POINT HAS BEEN CLEAR HUMAN TRAFFICKING POSES A SEVERE PUBLIC SAFETY RISK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT ALSO OCCURS ALONGSIDE OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. JUST AS OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AS WELL. ILLICIT ACTIVITY FREQUENTLY HAPPENING RIGHT OUTSIDE OR AT STOREFRONTS, DRIVING CUSTOMERS AWAY AND FORCING BUSINESS OWNERS INTO AN UPHILL BATTLE TO SURVIVE. THIS ISN'T THE FUTURE WE ENVISION FOR LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. INSTEAD, WE WANT A BOULEVARD THAT'S FILLED WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT MEETS RESIDENTS [02:25:01] DAILY NEEDS, SUCH AS CAFES, BOOKSTORES, FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS. AND WE CANNOT ATTRACT THESE KINDS OF BUSINESSES WITHOUT ADDRESSING THIS MATTER. TO BRING OUR VISION TO LIFE, WE MUST ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING FROM EVERY POSSIBLE AN ANGLE. TRUE AND LASTING CHANGE CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE TACKLE THE ROOTS DIRECTLY. WE NEED POLICIES THAT PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS, BUT ALSO EMPOWER US WITH STRONG LEGAL TOOLS TO PERSECUTE THOSE RESPONSIBLE. WE NEED ROBUST ENFORCEMENT ALONG THE CORRIDORS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN THEN HAVE PLANS TO REVITALIZE THE COMMUNITY. AS WAS NOTED, WE THIS, WE KNOW THAT THE WORLD CUP IS COMING IN 2026 AND THE OLYMPICS IS COMING IN 2028. WE WANT TO READY LONG BEACH TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE WANT TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE. THAT IS WHY I'M CALLING ON THE CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE THOSE FOUR CRITICAL AREAS. FIRST, ENFORCEMENT AND COORDINATION. THIS IS OUR POLICING POWER. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, ENSURING THAT THEIR SURVIVOR SUPPORT AS WELL AS CONNECTING REGIONALLY WITH CITIES SUCH AS COMPTON, LINWOOD, AND THE COUNTY. AND THE THIRD ONE, WHICH IS PROPERTY AROUND NUISANCE MOTELS, EXPANDING AND STRENGTHENING OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE. AND THEN A LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS OUR FOURTH PILLAR, TO ENSURE THAT WE LEVERAGE LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERY ADVANTAGE TO TACKLE, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AS WE, AS I CLOSE, UH, THIS EVENING HERE, UM, NORTH LONG BEACH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTED AREAS IN THE COUNTRY FOR VISIBLE SOLI IN THE COUNTY FOR VISIBLE SOLICITATION. THIS BEAUTIFUL, UH, POWERFUL COMMUNITY THAT IS HERE THIS EVENING, UM, CAN TELL US OF ALL THE GOOD THAT IS ALSO TAKING PLACE THERE. OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE SAFE, APPROPRIATELY UTILIZED SPACES ALONG THE CORRIDOR TO REFLECT THE VALUES AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES HERE THIS EVENING TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS MOTION. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU, UH, TO BOTH OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS. ALRIGHT, SO WE, WE WENT A LITTLE BIT OVER OUR, OUR NORMAL, UH, FIVE MINUTE SPEAKING TIME PER COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS, UM, HAVEN'T FELT HEARD, UH, RECENTLY ON THIS AND NEED TO, NEED TO FEEL HEARD. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO GO THROUGH THAT. WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA COME BACK AROUND. DO YOU WANNA JUST GIVE YOUR COMMENTS NOW? OKAY, LET'S GO. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, I'M JUST SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOU BRINGING THIS ITEM. I THINK IT'S A GREAT ITEM. THE PRESENTATION WAS GREAT AND YOU'RE SO SUPPORTIVE OF EVERYONE WHO'S IN NEED OF THIS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT, THANK YOU. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THE FULL CITY COUNCIL'S GONNA SUPPORT, UH, HEADING DOWN THIS, UH, DIRECTION. I LIKE THE, LIKE ORGANIZING FOUR KEY AREAS, FOCUSING ON INTERDEPARTMENTAL SUPPORT. THAT WAS KEY. THAT WORKED IN THE LATE 20 TEENS WHEN WE PUT THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL TEAM. YOU HAD PROSECUTOR, CODE ENFORCEMENT, EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER. GOTTA STAY ON TOP OF THAT. THE SECOND PIECE, I THINK FOCUSING ON THE NUISANCE MOTEL STRATEGY. UH, WHEN WE DID, WHEN WE DID LIQUOR STORES, IT WORKED THE ALCOHOL'S A NUISANCE ABATEMENT ORDINANCE. AND THAT ENDED UP BEING RECOGNIZED REGIONALLY, STATEWIDE, NATIONALLY, AND LOOKING AT THE MOTEL STRATEGY. IMPORTANT. THIRD, THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS ARE KEY. THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE COUNTY CAN DO THAT WE CAN'T DO. THERE'S COUNTY SHERIFFS, LONG BEACH, PD, OTHER PLAYERS. SO REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS ARE KEY. AND THEN THE FOURTH PIECE OF LOOKING AT STATE LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT. UH, LEGISLATION. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR US TO SHAPE WHAT IS COMING DOWN TO MAKE IT ACTUALLY IMPACT, UM, UH, THE WORK ON THE GROUND. SO THOSE FOUR AREAS ARE MY BIG TAKEAWAY. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER WAYS THINGS TO EXPLORE, BUT I THINK ORGANIZING AND THINK ABOUT THOSE FOUR WAYS ARE THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. THERE'S A NUMBER, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, 27 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SO IT'S 90, 90 SECONDS EACH. UM, WE KNOW MANY OF YOU, WE KNOW YOU'VE WAITED A LONG TIME TO SPEAK, BUT IT'S ALSO OKAY TO SAY I AGREE. I AGREE. RIGHT? UM, TOTALLY. OKAY. SO I'M GONNA START WITH, UH, UH, HONORABLE STEVE NEIL. I THINK HE'S STILL HERE. WE'LL START WITH, I'M GONNA READ THE FIRST 10. UM, STEVE NEIL, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO BLANCHE. JAY CLEMONS. VIVIAN MULU, CAROL SANDERS, JEANETTE SANDERS, HILDA GATON, UH, JANELLA FAULKNER AND MONICA KELLER. THOSE ARE OUR FIRST 10. ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN NEIL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND ESTEEM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT. UM, [02:30:01] OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TO MY RIGHT, YOUR LEFT HAVE BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD WITH MUCH FORETHOUGHT. UH, I THINK THE AUTHORS OF THE BILL, UM, INTIMATELY KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT NORTH LONG BEACH FACES. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST A NORTH LONG BEACH ISSUE. THIS ISSUE STEMS THROUGH THE CENTER OF THIS CITY. UM, AND, AND, AND THE THOUGHT AND THE WHEREWITHAL THAT YOU'VE HAD TO INCLUDE, UH, REGIONAL JURISDICTIONS IS VERY IMPORTANT. UH, I'VE BEEN A 22 YEAR RESIDENT OF NORTH LONG BEACH, AND THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR DECADES. IT EXISTED PRIOR TO MY TERM. IT EXISTED IN VAL LCHS TERM. IT EXISTED IN JERRY SCHULTZ TERM. BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY, AND, AND YOU GUYS, UH, PLAINLY LET THAT OUT AT STAR KING. STAR KING IS RIDICULOUS IN THE MORNING. JUST, IT, IT IS TOTALLY, IT'S, IT'S JUST, WOW. IT'S, IT'S UN UNIMAGINABLE. AND THEN GOING DOWN LONG BEACH BOULEVARD TO PATTON, IT'S THE SAME THING. THERE ARE TONS OF, UH, DAYCARE CENTERS. UM, AND, AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, BUT BRINGING THIS TO A A, A CITYWIDE, UM, UM, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND, UM, CONTINUE YOUR WORK WITH THE REGIONAL PARTNERS 'CAUSE THAT'S GONNA HELP WITH THE LEGISLATION, PARTICULARLY AT THE STATE. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT I JUDGE AS YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT IS BLANCHE. HI. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR, UM, HEARING ME OUT AND RESPONDING TO MY EMAIL. UM, YEAH, ACTUALLY BEFORE I EVEN GOT HERE, I HAD TO DEAL WITH TWO PROSTITUTES WHO DECIDED TO LOITER AT THE PUMPS FOR MORE THAN THREE MINUTES AFTER I CALLED POLICE. UM, BUT, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TREAT THIS AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE AS WELL. UM, JUST SAYING, BECAUSE I KNOW COMPTON HAS DONE THAT AS WELL. AND I DO HAVE EVIDENCE, I RECORD ALL THE TIME AND I HAVE PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA JUST SO I LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING AND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE. UM, BUT YEAH, I, I DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND I DO HOPE IT DOES COME TO LIGHT THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS AND GET THIS HANDLED. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO VIVIAN THEN JAY. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD EVENING CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS VIVIAN ULU AND I'M A TRUSTEE ON THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I AM HERE TO READ A LETTER WRITTEN ON, UH, IN FAVOR OF THIS AGENDA ITEM BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, UH, TRUSTEE BOARD PRESIDENT UWA JOE UNTUCK. HE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, SO HE ASKED ME TO READ THIS STATEMENT. AND, UH, FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I DO AGREE WITH THE LETTER, EVEN THOUGH HE WROTE IT, I WOULD LIKE TO SIGN OFF ON IT AS WELL. UH, WE WRITE THIS LETTER IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH CALLS FOR A MODERN ASSESSMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE CITY'S STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NORTH LONG BEACH. THE CITY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER IN A STRATEGIC, COMPREHENSIVE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMED APPROACH TO THIS DEEPLY CONCERNING ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE WELLBEING OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE CONSISTS OF TWO CAMPUSES WITH AN ENROLLMENT OF OVER 35,000 STUDENTS EACH SEMESTER AND SERVES THE CITIES OF LONG BEACH, LAKEWOOD, SIGNAL HILL AND AVALON, LBCC PROMOTES EQUITABLE STUDENT LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. BY DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. WE ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN HEALTH, SAFETY, AND PROSPERITY OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS AND THOSE THROUGHOUT THE SURROUNDING REGION, WHICH MANY OF THEM ARE OUR STUDENTS. OUR MISSION EXTENDS BEYOND TRADITIONAL ACADEMICS. WE STRIVE TO BE A CORNERSTONE OF OPPORTUNITY AND UPLIFTMENT FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE MOST VULNERABLE. THE GOALS OUTLINED IN YOUR PROPOSED FRAMEWORK, ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES, COORDINATING REGIONALLY AND PROVIDING ROBUST SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED, RESONATES STRONGLY. THANK YOU. AND THE LETTER WILL BE IN RECORD. THANK YOU. WE HAVE THE LETTER. APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT, JAY AND THEN CAROL. HI. THANK YOU GUYS. UM, I WAS ABOUT TO GO UP HERE AND GO SCORCH EARTH. BUT I RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. I'M GONNA LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME OF THE PIMPS THEMSELVES, TALK TO THEM. THEY RESPECTFULLY DECIDED TO LEAVE. I'M NOT ABLE TO CONTACT ALL OF THEM, UM, TO TRY TO CLEAN UP THE BOULEVARD, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THESE GIRLS, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, MAKING PHONE CALLS AND THEY'RE ARRANGING, UM, MEETUPS WITHIN THE ACTUAL STREETS OF LONG BEACH. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN SEE MYSELF. BUT, UM, I'M GONNA WORK WITH JOANIE AND IF YOU GUYS NEED ANY HELP FROM ME TO TRY TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP MOVE THINGS FORWARD, I'M HERE. UM, LIKE YOU GUYS CUT. GOT EVERYTHING COVERED. SO, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT IS GOOD THAT YOU WERE HERE. JAY? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. CAROL. [02:35:01] AFTER CAROL IS JEANETTE. GOOD EVENING. UM, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND THE COUNCIL. UM, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED FAITH COMMUNITY DAYCARE, LOCATED ON 69TH WAY. UH, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY WITH DAYCARE, EDUCATION, SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, FOOD TOYS, AND LOW INCOME HOUSING SINCE 1979. SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER US, UM, WHEN YOU INVEST OR, OR REVITALIZE THE, THE COMMUNITY. UH, OUR REQUEST IS TO HELP RE REVITALIZE OUR AREA. IN ADDITION TO HUMAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UH, WE ARE DEALING WITH ROBBERIES, DRUGS, UM, POOR LANDSCAPING IN OUR AREA ALONG THE CORRIDOR. UH, THE POOR LIGHTING, DIRTY AND CRACKED SIDEWALKS OVER OVERGROWN TREES AND BUSHES. AND WHEN THE PROSTITUTES, THEY COME DOWN AND THEY, THEY LEAVE ARTESIA, THEY COME TO OUR, OUR CORNER ON 69TH WAY TO TURN AROUND AND PATROL AND SCROLL BACK AND FORTH. AND SOMETIMES WE ARE, WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE PROSTITUTES. UM, THEY LEAVE CONDOMS IF THEY FEEL THAT WE ARE THE ONES THAT REPORT THAT, THAT'S MAKING THE REPORTS. THEY LEAVE FECES ON OUR DOORSTEPS. THEY PUT IT IN THE BELT, IN THE MAILBOX. AND, UH, YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. YEAH. THANK YOU. JUST REMEMBER. THANK YOU. NEXT PASTOR, MAYOR RICHARDSON. AND TO THE COUNCIL, JUST WANT TO REPORT, UM, THAT ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THAT AREA FOR A VERY LONG TIME, FOR OVER 40 YEARS, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THERE OVER 40 YEARS AND YOU HAVE SEEN A TITTEL TOTTER UP AND DOWN. BUT I HAVE APPROACHED SOME OF THESE PROSTITUTES AND SPOKE WITH THEM. AND SOME OF THE YOUNG GIRLS ARE IN THAT CONDITION BECAUSE THEY'RE FORCED THERE. THEY'RE MANIPULATED AND FORCED THERE. BUT THERE HAVE TO BE A WAY OF ESCAPE FOR THOSE CHILDREN TO SOME OF THE YOUNG GIRLS ARE 13 AND 15 OR WHATEVER. THERE'S A WAY, THERE HAS TO BE A WAY OF ESCAPE FOR THEM. AND SAYING THAT THERE HAVE TO HAVE A SAFE HAVEN TO PUT THOSE CHILDREN IN. WE JUST CAN'T. WE CAN ADDRESS IT, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLACEMENT FOR THEM. SO IT IS MY HOPE AND PRAYER AS A CLERGY IN THAT AREA THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, COLLABORATE WITH NORTH LONG BEACH, AND EVERYONE THAT'S, UH, TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BEEN, HAS SHOWN US WE HAVE SEEN SOME RESULTS FOR, FOR THE CALLS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS HILDA, THEN JANELLA. FAULKNER. OH, HILDA. BEFORE YOU START, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT FEW. YES. SO THEY CAN LINE UP. SO I HAVE HILDA JANELLA, MONICA, AND THEN WE HAVE DAVID SALAZAR, KAREN REZA, JERRY EARL SAIFE, MARIA LOPEZ, LINDA WILSON, JOSIE CASTELLANOS, UH, CLAIRE FII AND EDWARD NEE ANI. ALRIGHT, HILDA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. AND IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM IS VERY, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME. HOWEVER, EVERYTHING THAT YOU TO PROPOSE IS GREAT. HOWEVER, I DIDN'T SEE, UM, THE REQUEST THAT, UM, OKAY. NO, HOLD IT. HOWEVER, WHAT I DID NOT SEE IS FOR THIS PROCESS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THIS PROCESS BE INCLUSIVE AND COM OF COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES AND LIFE EXPERIENCES. WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE RESIDENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND LOCAL ORGANIZA LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SHAPING SOLUTION AND TRULY ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY DRIVEN RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU SAY IT AT THE BEGINNING, DURING THE BUDGETING, YOU SAW THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY TELLS YOU WHAT THEY NEED. I THINK IN THIS CASE, WE NEED TO DO IT. WE NEED TO HEAR THE COMMUNITY. AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, 20 LATINO IS BEEN WORKING FOR EIGHT YEARS IN THAT AREA. AND WE RECOMMEND THE CITY OR THE POLICE TO PUT A SUB, UM, A SUB OFFICE IN THE AREA. SO WE CAN SAY, HAVE SERVICES OR WE CAN HAVE MORE PATROL IN THE AREA AND ALSO FOR THE POLICE THAT THEY ARE WORKING THERE. FEEL SAFE [02:40:01] WITH THE PLACE THAT THEY CAN GO IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS. YOUR TIME HAS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, JANELLA AND THEN MONICA. GOOD EVENING, HONOR ROLL. MAYOR RICHARDSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JANELLA FAULKNER. I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BORN AND RAISED IN THIS CITY. I NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE PRINCIPAL OF STAR KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF LONG BEACH BOULEVARD IN ARTESIA. I WANNA BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, DR. RICK OTI, ALONGSIDE COUNCIL MEMBER INTECH FOR AUTHORING THIS URGENT AND DEEPLY IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEM REGARDING AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CITY'S STRATEGIC TR FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS OF THE LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, NORTH LONG BEACH CORRIDOR. I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, NOT ONLY AS AN EDUCATOR, BUT AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. EACH DAY, OUR STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM WALK TO AND FROM SCHOOL, ARE EXPOSED TO DISTRESSING AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS. CHILDREN HAVE REPORTED SEEN WOMEN HALF NAKED AND ENGAGING IN ACTS AS THEY DON'T IN ACTS THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND. PARENTS ARE REACHING OUT TO US ASKING FOR HELP IN EXPLAINING WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE WITNESSING. MOST RECENTLY, A VIOLENT ALTERCATION OCCURRED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OUR CAR POOL LINE DURING SCHOOL DISMISSAL INVOLVING PIMPS IN THE WOMEN OF THE NIGHT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE NORMALIZED. WE NEED A MULTI-PRONGED SAFETY CAMPAIGN, ONE THAT INCLUDES ENFORCEMENT PREVENTION, ACCESS TO SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION. I URGE THE CITY AND THE PLAN SOUNDS BEAUTIFUL TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS. YES, TIME HAS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS SAFE PASSAGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, MONICA, AFTER MONICA IS DAVID. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR REX RICHARDSON. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I JUST WANTED, UH, MY NAME IS MONICA KELLER AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE STAR KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND AS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING, UH, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS AGENDA ITEM AND WHO CANNOT BE HERE BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT THINGS. UH, ONE OF THEM IS FEAR. UM, THEY LIVE IN FEAR OF THE DAILY ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON AND OF COMING FORWARD AND REPORTING THESE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE, YOU ARE HEARING DAY TO DAY HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY'RE NOT ONLY HAPPENING IN THE, ON THE BOULEVARD, BUT THEY'RE ALSO MOVING INTO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. SO ON A DAILY DAY, DAY TO DAY, YOU WOULD SEE, UM, SOME OF THESE, UM, WOMEN WALKING UP AND DOWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS WEARING BASICALLY NOTHING. AND SO, AS THEY, YOU'VE HEAR HEARD TODAY, THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE BEING EXPOSED TO THIS AND ASKING, WHAT IS THIS? I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD SON. HE NOW KNOWS WHAT A PROSTITUTE IS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS, IT'S, IT'S BEING NORMALIZED AND HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO YOUR CHILD, YOU KNOW? UM, SO AS A PARENT, AS A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY AND AS A VOICE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, I'M HERE TO, UM, IN SUPPORT OF THIS. AND I THANK YOU ALL THAT HAVE COME BEFORE AND ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST US. I KNOW, UM, OUR CHIEF DEPUTY, MEGAN ZEBO IS HERE. SHE WORKED WITH OUR COMMUNITY, UM, THE LEADERSHIP ALONG THE CORRIDOR. SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR REIGNITING THIS 'CAUSE WE ARE READY. WE'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME, SO WE DON'T MIND WAITING. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR COMING DOWN, MARTHA. ALRIGHT, DAVID, THEN KAREN. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UM, WELCOME, UM, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAVID SALAZAR AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY DESIGN CENTER. WE'RE CUR CURRENTLY FACILITATING WORKING WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS IN THE AREA, AN ALLEYWAY RESTORATION PROJECT JUST NORTH OF STAR KING ELEMENTARY. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM STAR KING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. UH, THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS NOT ONLY AN IMPROVEMENT FOR THE PATHWAY, A SAFE PATHWAY, BUT ALSO TO ACT AS A SOCIAL HUB FOR THE COMMUNITY AND A SURROGATE OPEN SPACE. THERE'S, UH, ABSOLUTELY A LACK OF OPEN SPACE AND PARKS IN THE AREA, AS YOU PROBABLY WELL KNOW. UM, THE DESIGN CENTER IS ALSO WORKING WITH LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CREATE A GREEN SCHOOLS YARDS PROJECT. AND BASICALLY THIS WOULD TRANSFORM THE ASPHALT, UM, UH, SCHOOL YARDS INTO GREEN SPACES, UH, THAT WOULD INCORPORATE SHADE, LANDSCAPING, PLAY AREAS, SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES TO IMPROVE THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND WELLNESS. SO THERE ARE PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN, IN THEIR SMALL FORM TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, BUT THESE PROJECTS ARE JUST ONE PIECE OF THE, THE SOLUTION. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE AREA THAT HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF DISINVESTMENT AND NEGLECTED AND NEGLECT, BASICALLY CONCENTRATED NEGLECT IN THE CITY. UH, THESE ISSUES BEYOND THE ISSUE OF, UH, PROSTITUTION TO WHERE WE'RE [02:45:01] TALKING ABOUT TODAY, UH, IMPACT LARGER ISSUES RELATED TO SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT HAVE PLAGUED THIS PART OF THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS. UM, YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS KAREN AND THEN JERRY, AND THEN SONATA ON. UM, I AGREE WITH WONDERFUL PROPOSAL. UM, I WANT YOU TO ADD THE SENIOR BUILDINGS. UM, ELDERLY, LONELY MEN ARE A BIG TARGET OF THE PROSTITUTES. I SPENT A YEAR WORKING WITH MY PROPERTY MANAGER TO GET ONE REMOVED WHO MOVED IN WITH THE MAN NEXT DOOR TO ME. IT WAS HELL. AND, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED LEGISLATIVELY. THE MEN, I DON'T THINK LOOK AT IT AS ELDER ABUSE, BUT IT IS. AND THEY FOUGHT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE SHE STOLE MONEY OUT OF HIS WALLET. THE OTHER THING IS BUS BENCHES. I OVERHEARD TWO GIRLS SITTING WITH ME ON THE BUS BENCH, A PIMP. SHE'S TALKING TO A PIMP ON SPEAKER PHONE AT THE BUS STOPS. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS BUS STOPS AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TRAIN STATION. THAT'S WHERE THEY GATHER BEACON POINT ON LONG BEACH AND ANAHEIM IS, THEY COME THERE, THEY STOP, THEY GET OFF, AND THEY WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY LETS 'EM INTO THE BUILDING. SO THERE'S, IT'S A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM AND I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING IT REGIONALLY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JERRY. AND THEN SONAI, THEN MARIA. NO, JOSEPH GOT IN HERE. UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS CHIEF HABI. MY NAME IS JOSEPH IN CASTELLANOS. I'M WITH A NORTH VILLAGE COMMUNITY GROUP, A COMMUNITY. UM, MOST EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT TENA AND JONI PRESENTED. THIS HAS BEEN TOO MANY YEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. UH, HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS, WORKERS OF THE NIGHT HAVE RIGHTS. DO WE NOT ALSO HAVE RIGHTS AFTER RAISING A FAMILY? PAID OFF MY MORTGAGE AND NOW I'M A SENIOR. I'M EMBARRASSED TO HAVE FAMILY FRIENDS COME AND VISIT TO SEE THIS. ALL I WANT IS TO LIVE IN A SAFE AND DECENT AREA. I'M PROUD OF MY HOME. THE VALUE OF HOMES ARE AFFECTED. SOMEBODY SAID ABOUT CHILDREN SEEING THE PROBLEM, WHAT'S HAPPENING? A NICE YOUNG LOOKING MAN REFERRED TO MY AREA, MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY HOME AS A NO MAN'S LAND. PLEASE ACCEPT THIS MOTION PRESENTED. HELP US BE RECOGNIZED. WE NEED YOUR HELP. MAYBE GOING AFTER THE JOHNS AND IDENTIFYING THEM COULD BE SOMETHING TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, ARE YOU JERRY? ALRIGHT, JERRY. JERRY, THEN SONAI, HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, NORTH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS. JUST TAKING A DIFFERENT ANGLE ON THIS. THE THING IS, IS THAT WE MOVED HERE, ME AND MY WIFE, IN 2020. UM, IT WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC, SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DESOLATE. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT. UH, THE CORNER, UH, EASTBOUND CORNER OF LONG BEACH IN 68TH WAS AS CONCENTRATED AS IT WAS UNTIL I GUESS THINGS LIFTED. UM, THE PART THAT BOTHERED US WHEN IT CAME TO IT IS THAT, UM, MY WIFE ONE DAY HIT THE CORNER AND WHEN SHE HIT THAT CORNER, SHE RAN INTO A YOUNG LADY WHO SHE KNEW PERSONALLY. THING IS, IS THAT THIS YOUNG LADY, UM, THERE WAS A SITUATION AT ONE POINT WHERE WE WERE GONNA ACTUALLY TAKE HER IN FROM HER MOTHER. NOW THIS IS THE THING, SHE DIDN'T LIVE NOWHERE NEAR LONG BEACH . THIS IS NOT THAT CITY. UM, LATER ON WE FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS A, UM, STUDENT AT LONG BEACH POLY. UM, SHE GOT, SHE GAVE THE YOUNG LADY HER INFORMATION, AND THE YOUNG LADY DID NOT WANT TO GIVE HER HERS. BUT THEN THE THING IS, IS THAT THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION A COUPLE DAYS LATER, NEVER SEEN HER AGAIN. UM, WITH THIS, WHAT BOTHERS ME WITH THAT IS THAT ONCE SHE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THE FAMILY, THE FAMILY GAVE HER INFORMATION AND SAID THAT SHE WAS RECRUITED BY A BOYFRIEND OUTTA LONG BEACH POLY. SO IF IT'S COMING FROM WITHIN THE SCHOOLS ALSO, THAT'S AN ISSUE. WHAT, WHAT MADE IT REALLY BOTHERSOME FOR ME LATER ON IS THAT SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD TWO MORE INCIDENTS. TIME HAS CONCLUDED THAT WE RAN INTO SOMEONE AT THAT SAME CORNER. SO IF THEY ARE NOT EVEN RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH, BUT THEY STILL COME IN, WHAT IS IT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO? SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO, NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU SIR. [02:50:02] ALRIGHT, SO NIA, THEN MARIA AND THEN LINDA. UH, SONAI CAN FACE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT. I FIRST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF AS WELL AS THE EIGHTH DISTRICT OFFICE FOR THE STAFF REPORT THAT WE, WE JUST WAS PRESENTED TO US. UM, ALSO, I JUST, FOR, IF I HAVE TO SAY UNHOUSED NOW INSTEAD OF HOMELESS, I THINK THAT WE ALL CAN BE MINDFUL AS A COMMUNITY AND STOP SAYING PROSTITUTE. UM, BECAUSE THIS IS, UM, IT, IT, IT IMPLIES THE LEVEL OF AGENCY THAT'S REALLY NOT PRESENT ON THESE STREETS. UH, A LOT OF THESE ARE LITTLE GIRLS. UH, ONE IN FIVE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, BEING SEX TRAFFICKED. WERE FORMERLY FOSTER AGE YOUTH THAT, UM, THE SYSTEM FAILED THEM AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ON THE STREETS. SO I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO THAT. UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE ORGANIZATION THAT I WORK FOR APRIL PARK FOUNDATION, UM, THANKFULLY THANKS TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH LA PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND, UH, DYD, UH, WE ARE A ONE OF THE SOLE PROVIDERS IN SPA EIGHT, UH, FOR FUNDS TO ACTUALLY HELP THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE AS WAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN MENTIONED BY A COUPLE OF THE RESIDENTS, UH, IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS TO SIMPLY PINPOINT AND, AND RECOGNIZE PEOPLE THAT WE WITNESSED IN THE STREETS. UH, WE NEED RESOURCES TO HELP THESE PEOPLE. AND SO, UH, CHIEF, UH, ISH AS WELL AS, UH, COMMANDER HUGHES, IF THERE'S EVER ANY OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR ANY SOLICITATION CHARGES TO BE DROPPED, PLEASE USE US AS THIS DIVERSION OPPORTUNITY SO THAT WE CAN HOUSE AND, UH, CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THESE YOUNG WOMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MARIA, THEN LINDA, AND THEN CLAIRE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARIA VE LOPEZ AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD. I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S EFFORT TO ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD IN NORTH LONG BEACH. I WANNA BEGIN BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBERS, DR. RICK ODI AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, THRASH NOOK FOR RECOGNIZING THE URGENCY TO ADD THIS ITEM TO THE AGENDA AND ADDRESSING AN ISSUE THAT'S AFFECTED NORTH LONG BEACH. FOR MANY YEARS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING ALONG LONG BEACH BOULEVARD HAS GRAVELY IMPACTED THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH LONG BEACH, PARTICULARLY THE CHILDREN WHO WALK TO AND FROM SCHOOL. OUR STUDENTS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO INAPPROPRIATE AND ILLEGAL BEHAVIORS, AND THEM THEMSELVES ARE AT RISK OF BEING TRAFFICKED. UNFORTUNATELY, ACTIVITY OCCURS OPENLY AND AROUND THE CLOCK WALK. AND FOR SOME OF OUR CHILDREN, THE ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES OR RIGHT NEXT, UH, TO THE SCHOOL THAT THEY ATTEND. AND THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE SPACES FOR OUR KIDS. AND OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER. THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITY, ACTIVITY, WHICH CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THEM EMOTIONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY. PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WITH A PEACE OF MIND THAT THEY ARE SAFE. NO FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY THAT THEIR CHILD WILL BE EXPOSED TO OR ENDANGERED BY TRAFFICKING ACTIVITY JUST BY WALKING IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MARIA. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. LINDA WILSON AND THEN CLAIRE. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. OUR DISTRICT NINE COUNCIL MEMBER AND DISTRICT EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPONSORING THIS PUSH THAT HAS BEEN ON OUR HEARTS AND HAVE INVADED OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR SOME TIME. NOW, THE LAST TIME I THINK THAT WE SPOKE ON THIS ISSUE, UH, OUR HONORABLE MAYOR WAS THEN OUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE AND THERE WAS SOME SPECIAL FUNDS ALLOCATED TO, UM, PROMOTE, UH, OR PUSH TRYING TO BRING SOME ATTENTION AND, AND SOME RELIEF TO THE COMMUNITY. AGAIN, WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR RELIEF. UH, THIS SIGN SAYS LEGISLATE SAFE STREETS CORRIDOR. AND WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING SAFE STREETS CAMPAIGNS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS OUR COLLEGE SQUARE LEADERSHIP ALONGSIDE ME HERE. AND, UH, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. WE HAVE EMAILED TO YOU SEVERAL LETTERS, WHICH I CAN'T READ BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF TIME TO EACH ONE OF YOU. AND WE WISH THAT YOU WOULD AT LEAST SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE ALSO HAVE HUNDREDS OF SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS ASKING THAT YOU ACT AND ACT MOST URGENTLY SINCE THE BILL THAT PAUSES PROBLEM HAS, UH, INFESTED OUR AREA. WE ALSO HAVE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH, AND WE [02:55:01] KNOW THAT YOU WILL COME UP WITH MORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE URGE YOU TO SAY YES AND TO VOTE YES. THANK YOU ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU CLAIRE. CLAIRE, BEFORE YOU, BEFORE YOU START, I'M GONNA READ THE REMAINING SPEAKER SO THEY CAN LINE UP JUST A MOMENT. OKAY. EDWARD SARNA. DAVID LOZANO, UH, ISAAC MARTINEZ, JULIE JONES, PAM WEST, CATHERINE, ERNESTO, CARINA VERDUGO, DESIREE CORTEZ, MARGARITA ROOKE. AND, UH, WENDY CASTILLO. IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE LINE UP IN THAT ORDER. CLAIRE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. AND, AND HERE. I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE THE FINALE SPEAKER. UM, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CLAIRE FIERI, THE PROUD PRINCIPAL AT COLIN POWELL, TK EIGHT ACADEMY AND DISTRICT EIGHT. I'M HERE NOT JUST AS A SCHOOL LEADER, BUT AS A WITNESS TO THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES, AND THE DEDICATED STAFF WHO SERVE THEM EVERY DAY. POWELL IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF LEARNING AND GROWTH, BUT WE'RE SURROUNDED BY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CHALLENGE THE SAFETY AND STABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FACES PERSISTENT UNSAFE CONDITIONS, INCLUDING VISIBLE DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, UNSAFE LOITERING, AND A TROUBLING NUMBER OF TRANSIENT ENCAMPMENTS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THESE ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS. THEY SHOW UP AT OUR DOOR AND THEY SHOW UP IN THE FORM OF FAMILIES WHO ARE AFRAID TO WALK TO AND FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO PUBLIC DRUG USE, VIOLENCE OR SEXUALIZED BEHAVIOR. THEY SHOW UP IN THE FORM OF STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH TRAUMA, ANXIETY, OR DISRUPTED LEARNING BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY SHOW UP IN THE FORM OF TEACHERS BURNING OUT UNDER THE WEIGHT OF TRYING TO BE EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS, AND PROTECTORS AT ALL AT ONCE. SO LET ME BE CLEAR. OUR SCHOOL AND OUR DISTRICT ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH APRIL PARKER FOUNDATION. WE HOLD REGULAR COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETINGS. WE INSTALLED PRIVACY SCREENS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF OUR SCHOOL, BUT WE CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE. I'M HERE TO PLEA FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS, UM, GREAT, UH, FRAMEWORK THAT'S PRESENTED TONIGHT. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, EDWARD AND DAVID, GOOD EVENING. UM, HONOR, HONORABLE MAYOR, MAYOR RICHARDSON, AND REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH ALSO FOR, UM, DR. JODY RICKS AND TO KNOW TRASH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, THIS MEETING. FOR THESE PAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE EXPERIENCED A CHRONIC PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS ACTUALLY COOLIDGE TRIANGLE WITH THE PROSTITUTION. ALONG WITH THE PIMPS. WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR, UM, DAYCARES, WHICH IS BRIGHT FUTURES. AND ACTUALLY THERE WERE PIMPS ACTUALLY THAT WERE JUST OUT THERE JUST OF COURSE, UH, HAVING THEIR PROSTITUTES A PROSTITUTE. PARENTS GOT MAD UPSET. THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PIMP THAT HAD A GUN THREATEN THE PARENT. THE DIRECTOR COULDN'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT FROM THE DAYCARE. SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT COULD HE HAVE DONE? JUST CALL. AND IF WE CALL THE POLICE OFFICER, DISPATCH MAN WOULD JUST SAY IT'LL TAKE ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. SO WE GOT INVOLVED WITH VICE, WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALSO WITH ACTUALLY OUR, UM, OUR CURRENT CITY PROSECUTOR, DOUG HALBRICK, WHERE WE SENT OFF PHOTO SHOTS, PICTURES, EMAILS, WHATEVER WE CAN DO. NOT MUCH HAS DONE, NOT MUCH WE COULD HAVE DONE. WE WE'RE JUST LIKE, OKAY, WELL NOW WHAT'S NEXT? SO, I'M GLAD WE HAD THIS MEETING TONIGHT 'CAUSE THIS WAS URGENT, UH, DUE TO THE SB 3 57 FOR SAFETY. WELL, ACTUALLY, OUR RESIDENTS CONSIDER THIS UNSAFETY MEASURES. WE'RE JUST STUCK IN THIS HOLE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. WE'RE LIKE SCARED NOW, BUT, SO I CAN SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. PLEASE HELP. THAT'S ALL I CAN ASK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, DAVID, THEN ISAAC, THEN JULIE. HI, MY NAME'S DAVID LOZANO. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN, UH, THE STARK KING AREA MY WHOLE LIFE. I WENT TO SCHOOL THERE. UM, TWO PEOPLE MENTIONED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. YOU KNOW, HEARING PEOPLE'S VOICES IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF SETTING ALL OF THIS UP. THAT'S BASICALLY AN IMPOSSIBILITY. EVEN ME COMING HERE TO JUST TALK, I FEEL AS THOUGH I'M PUTTING A TARGET ON MY BACK. UH, YOU CAN'T HEAR PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING THREATENED FOR THE VERY ACT OF TAKING A PICTURE. UH, WE HAD, I I WENT TO THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UM, NEAR STAR KING AT THE CHURCH. UH, AND THEY, THE POLICE WAS THERE AND THEY RECOMMENDED US TO TAKE PICTURES. LIKE THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME JUST SAID MY FATHER WAS PEPPER SPRAYED, DOING JUST THAT. UM, HE SAYS IT'S ONE OF THE WORST THINGS [03:00:01] HE IS EVER EXPERIENCED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT. BUT WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED IS THE FEAR. I TRIED TO TAKE PICTURES. I TRIED TO DO THESE THINGS. THESE PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW YOU. AND WHEN WE SHOW THE PICTURES THAT WE LIKE, LABORED OURSELVES TO TAKE TO THE POLICE BEFORE MEASURE, SB 3 57 WAS EVEN PASSED. I WORKED AT LOVE LAUNDROMAT ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. THE POLICE WOULD TAKE 20 MINUTES IF WE WERE LUCKY, WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE VIOLENT. WE WERE DEALING WITH PROSTITUTES COMING IN, ESCAPING THE PIMPS. I HAVE AN EXPERIENCE FROM WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY TRYING TO HIDE A PROSTITUTE IN THE BACK OF THE LAUNDROMAT, SEEING AN ARMORED CAR COME UP AND DOWN THE STREET IN FRONT OF WHERE I THOUGHT I WAS SAFE WORKING. HOW CAN YOU ASK PEOPLE THEN TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES? YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. YOU CAN'T THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALL RIGHT, ISAAC, JULIE, THEN PAM. UH, HELLO. GOOD EVENING. UH, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR, UH, CITY STAFF, UH, THEY SAY PIMPING AIN'T EASY, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT WAY. HERE IN NORTH LONG BEACH. UM, MANY, UH, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SILENCED THROUGH VIOLENCE AND OUT OF FEAR OF RETALIATION. UH, JUST SPEAKING TO A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, RESIDENTS, UH, THEY KNOW WHERE THE HOUSES ARE. THEY KNOW WHO THE CARS ARE, WHAT CARS ARE USED TO DRIVE, UM, SEX WORKERS TO THESE LOCATIONS, AND NO ONE'S SAYING ANYTHING. SO I HOPE THIS PROPOSED STUDY GOES OVER, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT POLICE HAS GATHERED, BECAUSE WHEN THE POLICE DO SHOW UP, UH, THE RAPPORT BETWEEN, UH, SEX WORKERS AND OFFICERS, UH, LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S MAYBE A DATABASE AND THEY KNOW WHO THE KEY PLAYERS ARE. UM, I DO HOPE THAT THE USED CONDOM DISPOSAL, UM, ISSUE IS ADDRESSED, UH, DURING CLEANUPS. THAT'S PROBABLY LIKE THE MOST DISGUSTING THING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH. AND ALMOST EVERY SINGLE STREET IS LITTERED WITH THAT. UH, THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE, UM, MENTAL HEALTH OR CHILD DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE TO FIND THESE, USE CONDOMS. UH, SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT IN THE STUDY. UM, ALSO, UH, FOR PUBLIC LIGHTING THAT CAN HELP, ESPECIALLY IN DARK ALLEYS AND ALONGSIDE THE FREEWAY. UH, THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T JUST STAY IN LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. IT GOES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, IT GOES AS FAR AS, UH, THE COACHELLA, UH, ROAD. UM, ALSO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE PRESENTATION, UH, FOR HOTEL ID VERIFICATION OR THE CHANCES OF HOTEL OPERATORS COMPLYING WITH THIS, AND THEY'RE ON THE BARREL OF A GUN. THANK, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANKS ISAAC. JULIE, AND THEN PAM, THEN CATHERINE. THANK YOU. THIS IS NEEDED. PLEASE VOTE YES, REX. YOU KNOW, DURING A PUBLIC PROTEST AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, YOU SAW FIRSTHAND. I KNOW I WAS THERE WITH YOU. JUST WHAT WE LIVE WITH ON A DAILY BASIS. A PIMP PULLED UP TO YOU AND FLASHED HIS GUN AT YOU BECAUSE WE WERE PROTESTING AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. OUR PAST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT WAS DRIVING WITH HER HUSBAND. THE CAR WAS STOPPED BECAUSE A PROSTITUTE WAS BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION. THEY CA THEY SAW HER, SHE WAS LOOKING ON HER PHONE. THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE TAKING A PICTURE OF HER THREE PROSTITUTES. CAME UP TO THE CAR, YANKED THE DOOR OPEN, PULLED HER OUT OF THE CAR, ATTACKED HER, BEAT HER, AND PEPPER SPRAYED HER. THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE WITH ON A DAILY DAY, UH, BASIS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESSES ANYMORE. WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 86, LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. HAD RESTAURANTS, HAD BUSINESSES, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. NO ONE WILL OPEN A BUSINESS ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. WHAT WE SEE DAILY IS LEAVING A LASTING IMPRESSION ON THE CHILDREN OF OUR TRIANGLE. WHEN NUDITY, DRUGS, VIOLENT CRIME AND TRASH IS ALL THE COUNTER, YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED, IT BECOMES THE NORM. WE NEED TO CHANGE. THANKS JULIE. ALRIGHT, PAM, THEN CATHERINE, AFTER CATHERINE IS, UH, CARINA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR REX RICHARDSON. THANK YOU TAN. AND THANK YOU JONI FOR BEING, HAVING US HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM TO THE, THE, TO THE FOREFRONT. I LIVE IN NORTH LONG BEACH AND I RAISED THREE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS OUT THERE. I'M GLAD THAT THEY ARE NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTEN INFLUENCE BECAUSE LEAVING OUR STREET, WE ARE BOMBARDED BY WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ON THE SIDEWALKS, INTERFERING WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING OFF OF THE BLOCK. UM, I HAVE BEEN SHOT AT AND MY CAR GOT SHOT AT, AT [03:05:01] THE STORE BY A PIMP. UM, THERE'S TOO MUCH VIOLENCE. WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORS GETTING BEATEN UP IN THE LIQUOR STORES. UM, THERE'S, THERE'S TOO MANY OPTIONS TO DO BETTER IN NORTH LONG BEACH THAN TO DO WORSE. AND RIGHT NOW, IT, IT'S LOOKING A LITTLE BETTER IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THANKS TO OUR COUNCILWOMAN, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, WE ARE BOMBARDED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING VIOLENT AND WE ARE TAKING LOSSES. MY CAR HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO, MY BRAKE LINES HAVE BEEN CUT, MY TIRES HAVE BEEN STABBED. ALL ON THE FOREFRONTS OF THE PROSTITUTES AND THEIR PIMPS. UM, BEING MAD AT US FOR WHAT WE DO TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU KATHERINE. THEN CARINA AND DESIREE. MY NAME'S CATHERINE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. I'M ACTUALLY THE MOTHER OF A SEX WORKER. PROSTITUTE IS A VERY STRONG WORD. MY DAUGHTER WAS COERCED AND MANIPULATED OUT THERE. SO I FEEL LIKE THIS BILL NEEDS TO BE PASSED BECAUSE MISSING PEOPLE, THE VICTIMS, THEY NEED HELP TOO. AND WHILE WE'RE STRONGLY SAYING PROSTITUTE, PROSTITUTE, PROSTITUTE, THESE PROSTITUTES WERE SOME OF HIS CHILDREN. AND, UH, MY DAUGHTER WAS COERCED AND MANIPULATED AND DOING THE WRONG THING AND SHE LEAVES BEHIND HER DAUGHTER, I NOW HAVE TO RAISE ON MY OWN. AND I ASK FOR YOU GUYS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER ON THE NORTH SIDE BECAUSE I LIVE NEAR THERE AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO RAISE HER SAFELY AND NOT HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN. BECAUSE THEY EAT OUR CHILDREN, THEY TAKE THEM AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. AND THE POLICE, YOU DO SOME, BUT NOT ENOUGH. NOT ENOUGH. PERIOD. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO DO MY OWN INVESTIGATION. CAR'S BEEN SHOT AT, BEEN BEAT UP BY PIMPS AND SEX WORKERS AND ALL THAT. BUT I'M GONNA STILL NOT STOP BECAUSE I WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON BRINGING RUTHIE SMITH HOME. AND I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS BILL NEEDS TO BE PASSED. AND WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO NOT BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT SEX WORKERS AND NOT BE AFRAID TO GO OUT THERE. AND YEAH, YOU PULL THE GUN ON ME, BUT I'M GUESS WHAT? I'M STILL HERE AND I'M NOT GONNA STOP IT. AND I'M NOT GONNA QUIT. SO AS MUCH AS THEY WANNA STOP ME, THEY'RE NOT GONNA STOP ME FROM LOOKING FOR MY DAUGHTER. THEY'RE NOT GONNA STOP ME FROM TALKING ABOUT SEX TRAFFICKING. NEEDS TO STOP. BILL NINE NEEDS TO BE PASSED SO THAT WE CAN HELP STOP IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T STOP IT UNLESS WE SAY SOMETHING. YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, THEN STOP IT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, CARINA, THEN DESIREE, THEN MARGARITA. UH, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ENVO MAYOR. UM, I'M READING THIS LETTER ON BEHALF OF A RESIDENT OF STAR KING NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, A YOUTH WHO'S UNFORTUNATELY NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY DUE TO HER ASTHMA FLARING UP, UM, AS WE HEARD IS A VERY LARGE ISSUE. UM, THE LETTER READS. HELLO. I AM A 16-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL. I HAVE BEEN GROWING UP IN THE STAR KING NEIGHBORHOOD MOST OF MY LIFE. AND SINCE I CAN REMEMBER, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SURROUNDED WITH DRUGS AND PROSTITUTION BECAUSE I GREW UP IN AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THESE ACTIVITIES WERE NORMALIZED. I GREW TO THINK IT WAS A CASUAL THING AND I HAD BEEN DESENSITIZED TO THESE CRIMES. THIS WAS WHEN I HAD BEEN IN ELEMENTARY. ALL MY FRIENDS ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL BECAUSE KIDS DON'T KNOW BETTER AND FOLLOW EXAMPLES AROUND THEM THAT THEY SEE. DURING MIDDLE SCHOOL, I PROCESSED HOW DANGEROUS AND DISGUSTING THESE CRIMES WERE. I FELT UNSAFE AND UNHAPPY KNOWING THIS WAS HAPPENING AROUND WHERE I GREW. I'M TIRED OF THIS CONTINUOUSLY HAPPENING. WHEN WILL IT STOP? I ASK, WHEN WILL I FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTABLE WALKING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD? IT NEEDS TO END. AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE WE SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN THIS MANNER, IN THIS MATTER. BUT THE REALITY AND THE TRUTH IS THAT NO ONE WISHES TO SACRIFICE TIME OR STRENGTH OR SHARE BRAVERY AGAINST THESE CRIMES. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A SLOW PROCESS TO SUCCESS. HOWEVER, IT'S, IF THE TOWNSPEOPLE KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS, IT GETS TO A POINT IN WHICH SOMEONE WILL TAKE AN AGGRESSIVE ACT ON THE MATTER. I AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, WILL LIKE TO SEE SOME CHANGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DESIREE, THEN MARGARITA, THEN WENDY. ALRIGHT. HI, MY NAME IS DESIREE CORTEZ. I'M IN HERE BEHALF OF RUTHIE SMITH, THE YOUNG LADY THAT GOT, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. ON THE YOUNG LADY THAT GOT TOOK AGAINST HER WILL IN LOS ANGELES ON THREE TWO 2022. RUTHIE IS A LONG BEACH RESIDENT THAT WAS SUBJECT TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING, HAS LEFT HER CHILD WITHOUT HER MOTHER AND A MOTHER WITHOUT HER DAUGHTER. I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU TO DISTRICT EIGHT, MS. UA AND DISTRICT NINE, MISS DISTRICT NINE, MS. JOANI. DR. JONI, I'M SORRY FOR BEING ABLE TO JOIN FORCES AND FINALLY HOLD THE SPOTLIGHT TO HOLD THE SPOTLIGHT ON THIS PLAGUE THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE DARK AND INTO THE LIGHT AND GETTING REX REGISTERED BACK ON BOARD. WE HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS TO ASK FOR SUPPORT AND LAST YEAR WE WERE MET WITH IT THROUGH AL AUSTIN. I APPRECIATE HIS [03:10:01] EFFORTS AND WHICH HE DID, AND HIS TIME THAT HE HAD WITH US. TODAY. I ASK THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO BE ON BOARD WITH US AS WE ARE WITH YOU. I ASK, I JUST ASK, PLEASE DO NOT PLEASE THE BLAME ON THE SEX WORKERS AND FOCUS ON HOW TO HELP WITH RESOURCES FOR A WAY OUT AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND WE'RE HERE FIGHTING FOR THEM ON THEIR BEHALF. I'M HERE TO OFFER MY HELP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER LIKE I HAVE IN THE PAST WITH MR. ALL AUSTIN, THE LONG BEACH POST, CIGNA HILL TRIBUNE, CHANNEL TWO THROUGH 52, TELEMUNDO NEWS NATION, AS WELL AS K NX, A M FM NEWS RADIO AND NEWLY FRIEND, MY NEWLY FOUNDED FRIEND, NORTH DIVISION COMMANDER ISAIAH HUGHES. WE STAND TOGETHER, WE STAND UNITED, READY AND WILLING TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. PLEASE HELP US BRING RUTHIE SMITH HOME AS WELL AS ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED. AND STOP THIS BEFORE, MORE ADULTS AND KIDS GO MISSING TIME. MY QUESTION I LEAVE YOU WITH IS THIS, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM ME? WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM THE COMMUNITY? THAT WAY WE STAND ON BUSINESS AND YOU, YOU MEAN WHAT YOU SAY? PLEASE HELP US TO BRING RUTHIE SMITH HOME. ALSO, I ASK THE CITY MANAGERS TO PLEASE BRIGHTEN UP THE STREET LIGHTS IN THE NORTH SIDE. IT IS VERY D VERY LOW THANK YOU BOULEVARD AND OUR CORRIDOR. AND THEN I ALSO ASK FOR, UM, JUST FOR POLICE TO HAVE THEIR, THEIR CARS PARKED AT EACH END WHILE THE SCHOOL IS IN, LIKE COMING IN AND GOING OUT. SO THAT, THANK YOU. BE PROTECTED AT THE TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MARGARITA, AND THEN WENDY IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UH, MY NAME IS MARGARITA. I'M A LIFELONG, UH, LONG BEACH RESIDENT AS WELL AS AN AREA MANAGER WITH WESTTOWN REAL ESTATE GROUP. WE OWN SEVERAL PROPERTIES ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD FROM ARTESIA TO GREENLEAF. UH, ONE OF OUR MODELS IS THAT WE BELIEVE OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE TO LIVE IN A QUALITY HOME, IN A SAFE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT. AND SO THIS ISN'T JUST A JOB, A JOB FOR US. IT'S A PASSION. AND PART OF OUR EFFORTS INCLUDES SEEING, SENDING A SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, MESSAGE TO OUR RESIDENTS, POSTING LBPD FLYERS AROUND THE COMMUNITIES, PLACING CAMERAS, WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS AND WE CONTINUE, WE'LL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS AND HOPE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS. BUT I'M NOT JUST HERE AS A PROPERTY OWNER. I'M HERE AS SOMEONE WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT JUST A NUISANCE ISSUE, IT'S A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE. AND OUR SILENCE ARE IN ACTION. IT'S COMPLICITY. WE NEED VISIBLE ENFORCEMENT, CONSISTENT OUTREACH, AND A LONG-TERM PLAN THAT PRIORITIZES THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON IN OUR CITY. PLEASE DO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. OUR FAMILIES AND THE WOMEN BEING EXPLOITED DESERVE BETTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER, WENDY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME IS WENDY CASTILLO. UH, THE NORTH LONG BEACH HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION FOR CRIME, FILTH AND HUMAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AS A RESIDENT, AS SOMEONE WHO DEEPLY CARES ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S HEARTBREAKING. I DRIVE DOWN LONG BEACH BOULEVARD AND SEE WOMEN BEING TRAFFICKED, OFTENTIMES HALF NAKED, WALKING THE SAME SIDEWALKS THAT OUR CHILDREN USED TO GET TO SCHOOL AND DAYCARE. AND SOMEHOW THIS HAS BECOME NORMAL. WE SAY FUTURE IN OUR OTHER, UH, CHILDREN ON THEIR FUTURE, BUT HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO FOCUS ON THAT FUTURE WHEN THIS IS THE REALITY THEY WALK OUT INTO EVERY MORNING? WHAT MESSAGES ARE WE SENDING WHEN POLICE CARS DRIVE BY AND NOTHING CHANGES? THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE WEARING OR WHAT'S VISIBLE. THIS IS ABOUT WHAT THESE KIDS ARE ABSORBING, WHAT THEY'RE EXPOSED TO, AND HOW IT SHAPES THEIR SENSE OF SAFETY, OF NORMALCY AND OF POSSIBILITY. IF WE WANT BETTER FOR OUR KIDS, WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP OUR STREETS PHYSICALLY AND MORALLY. WE NEED TO RESTORE DIGNITY TO THESE COMMUNITIES SO OUR YOUTH CAN DREAM BIGGER AND THAN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. THIS ISSUE DEMANDS ACTION, NOT JUST WORDS. THESE PEOPLE BEING TRAFFICKED DESERVES SUPPORT AND A WAY OUT. AND OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A SAFE PATH TO SCHOOL, TO HOPE AND TO THEIR FUTURE. AND IF AFTER EVERYONE SPEAKS TODAY, YOU STILL DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW DEEPLY THIS ISSUE IS IMPACTING US, I'D ASK YOU TO DO ONE THING. TAKE YOUR CHILDREN, DRIVE DOWN TO LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN GREENLEAF AND ARTESIA PARK. GET OUT. WALK THAT BLOCK AND LOOK AROUND. FEEL WHAT IT'S LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN TO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN MIGHT NOT SEE NEXT. IF IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA, THEN THERE'S YOUR ANSWER TO HOW SERIOUS THIS ISSUE IS. ALRIGHT, WELL, I WANT TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, EVERYONE WHO TOOK TIME TO COME DOWN. UH, YOU CAME DOWN FROM THE FARTHEST PART OF OUR CITY. I WILL SAY THERE ARE SIX CITY HALLS CLOSER TO NORTH LONG BEACH THAN OUR OWN CITY HALL. AND YOU ALL MADE THAT TIME TO MAKE THAT DRIVE. UH, SO WE, WE CERTAINLY THANK YOU. HEY, I WANT, I WANT JUST A FEW NOTES BEFORE WE TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, THIS IS A, A SUPER IMPORTANT ISSUE. TOTALLY, TOTALLY GET THAT. AND I'VE SEEN SOME OF YOU TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE I WORKED FOR STEVE NEIL WHEN I WAS HIS CHIEF OF STAFF. AND, AND I'M JUST IMPRESSED BY JUST, YOU KNOW, [03:15:01] WHEN I SEE FOLKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, LINDA WILSON AND, AND MONICA AND OTHERS WHO'VE MADE SOME REAL PROGRESS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES. BUT THIS IS THE ONE ISSUE THAT KEEPS COMING BACK AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE. UM, ABSOLUTELY. AND I REMEMBER ALL THE WORK IT TOOK TO GET IT TO A CERTAIN POINT. AND WHEN THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED, THINGS JUST GOT OUTTA CONTROL. BUT IT'S TIME TO MAKE THIS A TOP PUBLIC SAFETY CITYWIDE PRIORITY. NOT JUST, IT'S ON NORTH LAWN BEACH. I KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER IN NORTH LONG BEACH. WHEN YOU GOTTA CONVINCE THE REST OF THE CITY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE. RIGHT? YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE. YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS ARE IN LEADERSHIP. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS BEHIND YOU. UH, WE ARE GONNA STAY ON THIS UNTIL WE FIGURE IT OUT. A 50 YEAR ISSUE, WE GOTTA FIGURE IT OUT. ONE THING I WILL SAY, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE DIFFERENT LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE STATE FOLKS IN THE STATE. SOMETIMES THE STATE PUTS FORWARD LEGISLATION WITH GOOD INTENTION, THINKS THAT IT'LL BE HELPFUL. AND IT'S THE OPPOSITE. IT MAKES IT LESS HELPFUL TO OPERATIONALIZE ENFORCEMENT AT TIMES. SO SOME OF THIS WILL REQUIRE US BEING ENGAGED AT THE STATE LEVEL ON LEGISLATION. I ALSO THINK IT WAS GREAT, AND I'M NOT SURE IF BOARD MEMBER LOPEZ IS STILL HERE, BUT TO SEE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE TWO PRINCIPALS HERE, THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE, UH, PARTNER. AND, AND I'LL, I'LL PUT A FAILURE ON MYSELF. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT PARTNERSHIP WHEN WE TOOK THIS ON BEFORE. ONE OF THE STRATEGIES, UH, ONE OF THE STRATEGIES, I MEAN OUR BOARD MEMBERS DID, BUT OUR STAFF DIDN'T. ME AND MEGAN WERE GOOD, BUT THE STAFF REALLY DIDN'T, UH, TO THAT EXTENT. AND I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE. ONE PART OF IMPROVING THAT CORRIDOR, JUST THE STAR KING LONGWOOD PIECE, WAS TO TAKE SOME OF THE USES AND CHANGE 'EM. SO THERE WERE FIVE MOTELS. THE IDEA WAS LIKE REZONE IT. WE DID THAT. BUY THE WORST ONE LUXURY AND WE DID THAT. BUT THE TRUCK STOPS AND THAT CAR DEALERSHIP, WE HAD SOMEBODY, A BUYER WHO WAS GONNA COME IN, TAKE THE TRUCK STOP AND THE LITTLE LOUISIANA CHICKEN AND TURN IT INTO A SEVEN 11 AND TAKE THE OTHER ONE AND TURN IT INTO, UH, A STARBUCKS, RIGHT? AND WE WENT OUT AND THE COMMUNITY WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS, AND IT GOT HELD UP IN LITIGATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND I WAS THERE NOT LONG AGO, AND I JUST TOLD OUR CITY MANAGER LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO, TOLD OUR CITY MANAGER HE NEEDS TO GO LOOK AT THAT SITE WHERE THAT LOUISIANA CHICKEN WAS, IS WORSE THAN I'VE EVER SEEN, EVER. I SAY THAT TO SAY, I SAY THAT TO SAY, WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN THIS TIME. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS RIGHT THERE WITH US ALONG THE WAY. I UNDERSTAND, UH, UH, SEVEN 11 IS THE BEST USE, BUT IT WAS BETTER THAN A TRUCK STOP AND BETTER THAN THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE BLIGHT THAT EXISTS TODAY. SO WE CAN'T LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD. BUT I AM ENCOURAGED. AND THEN THIS IS NOT MY PROPOSAL, IT'S THEIR PROPOSAL. BUT I'M ENCOURAGED BY WHAT I'VE, THE DEMONSTRATION OF UNITY THAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY. IT'S UNFORTUNATE YOU HAD TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWN, BUT THE URGENCY HAS CLEARLY COME ACROSS AND WE WILL MEET, WE WILL TAKE THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. SO THAT SAID, WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR PERSISTENCE TO MAKING SURE THAT YOU CREATE A COMMUNITY AND A DISTRICT THAT EVERYONE DESERVES TO LIVE IN THAT'S SAFE. UM, AND, UH, UM, CLEAN AND, UM, HEALTHY. AND I JUST WANNA COMMEND, UH, DR. RICKS ODI AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN THRASH AND TUCK FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH MAYOR RICHARDSON. YES. UH, FOR TAKING A COLLECTIVE APPROACH IN LOOKING AT IT THROUGH MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL TO MULTI-LEVEL PARTNERSHIP. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, HAVING ALL OF YOU COME TOGETHER AND STRENGTHEN, SHOWING THAT, SHOWING UP AND SAYING, YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE. SO I STAND AND SUPPORT. I THINK THAT THIS ITEM, UH, HAS GREAT, UM, YOU KNOW, REPORT WHEN IT REPORT BACK. I THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR OTHER PARTS OF OUR DISTRICT, SUCH AS MINE AND CENTRAL LONG BEACH, UM, THAT HAS SPOTS THAT DO HAVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS WELL AS OTHER HEALTH AND, UM, SAFETY ISSUES. SO THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD IN VOTING YES. AND DOING ANYTHING I CAN TO SUPPORT THE ITEM, UM, WHEN IT COMES BACK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THRASS TOOK, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT TO TESTIFY. I JUST HAVE THREE QUESTIONS. UM, CHIEF, ONE OF ONE OR TWO OF THEM MAY BE DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE DATA. UM, AND I HEAR OUR RESIDENTS SAY THAT THEY'RE CALLING 9 1 1, THEY'RE CALLING THE POLICE OUT. BUT BECAUSE OF SB 3 57, UM, SINCE YOU CAN ONLY ARREST IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT IS YOUR PEOPLE ARE IN THE ACT OF SOMETHING, WHAT SHOULD OUR RESIDENTS, UH, SAY SO THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE CAPTURING THE RIGHT DATA, UM, AND CAN CONNECT THAT TO OUR STRATEGY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. [03:20:01] GOOD EVENING, COUNCILWOMAN AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THE ITEM. UH, I'LL, I'LL SHARE THAT THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO CALL DISPATCH, POLICE DISPATCH REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. JUST BECAUSE WE CAN'T MAKE AN ARREST DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T RESPOND AND WE PRIORITIZE THOSE CALLS AND WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING OUT, EVALUATING, ASSESSING, AND, AND DOING WHAT WE CAN. UH, IF THAT'S TO TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, THAT'S WHAT WE DO. BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO, TO LOOK AT THE CALLS FOR SERVICE INFORMATION AND BETTER ALLOCATE, REALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES AS NECESSARY. SO PLEASE CONTINUE CALLING IF THERE'S SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, IF YOU BELIEVE SOMETHING IS GOING ON, DISPATCH IS, UH, THE, UM, CENTER FOR COLLECTING THAT INFORMATION AND IT HELPS US, UH, CREATE OPERATIONS TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY. ALRIGHT, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, THE NEXT SECOND QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING, WE'RE IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW AND THE SCHOOL IS IN SESSION. AND SO WE HAVE, UM, ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTIVITY, UM, AS WE MOVE TOWARDS SUMMER MONTHS AS WELL THOUGH WE ANTICIPATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS TENDS TO BECOME MORE INTENSE. UM, WHAT ACTIONS CAN WE TAKE, UH, AS A CITY OR LBPD TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STAYING ON TOP OF THIS AS WE WAIT FOR THE REPORT BACK FROM THE CITY? UH, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER, THE, UH, STAY ENGAGED WITH THE NORTH DIVISION, OUR DIVISION COMMANDER ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A PRESENCE NOT ONLY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT OUR OTHER CITY PARTNERS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UH, WHAT I ASK OUR COMMANDERS AND OUR DEPUTY CHIEFS TO DO IS CONNECT WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS IN THE SCHOOLS, MAKE SURE THAT IF WE HAVE AVAILABLE RESOURCES, THEY'RE OUT AND VISIBLE AND PRESENT, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES, UH, WHEN, WHEN, UH, KIDS ARE COMING TO SCHOOL OR LEAVING SCHOOL. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND OUR DIVISION COMMANDER. UM, BECAUSE WE DON'T ONLY LOOK AT DATA, WE DON'T ONLY LOOK AT CALLS FOR SERVICE. UH, WE ASSESS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, WE ASSESS FEEDBACK FROM OUR, OUR POLICY MAKERS, OUR, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND OUR CITY PARTNERS. SO CONTINUE TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CONTINUE TO ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS, CONTINUE TO GO TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SHARE THE INFORMATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE AREA WHERE YOU LIVE. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. CHIEF COUNCIL, UM, THIS COUNCIL MEMBER, I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT AS WELL. OH, YES, YES. SO, UM, WE HAVE AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM, HEALTH PD, UM, CITY MANAGER'S, OFFICE, TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION WHO HAVE BEEN MEETING IN, IN THROUGH WORK SHOPPING, WHAT THE SUMMER PROGRAMMING CAN LOOK LIKE AND STRONG BEACH SUMMER. AND SO WE HOPE TO HAVE AN UPDATE AND WE'LL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT IN THIS AREA FOR THE YOUTH IN NORTH LONG BEACH, UM, AND ENSURE THAT THIS IS STILL A PRIORITY IN THAT SPACE AS WELL. WONDERFUL. GOOD TO KNOW. UM, THE LAST QUESTION, MAYBE, UM, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER APRIL, IF YOU WOULD. UM, SO YOU KNOW THIS, OUR ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO HOPE TO GET A 60 DAY REPORT BACK. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S QUICK, BUT THIS IS ALSO A COMPLEX ISSUE. THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR LEVELS OF URGENCY AROUND OUR RESPONSE. UM, CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE SHARE OF THE CURRENT 120 DAY REPORT BACK AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN? YEAH. SO OUR TEAM'S BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ALONGSIDE OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND YOUR OFFICES ON DEVELOPING OR SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. AND SO THERE IS A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING PD, UM, CODE CHRISTOPHER. A LOT OF THE FACES YOU SEE HERE TODAY ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT, ARE GONNA BRING AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL TASK FORCE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT, UM, SHORT, MEDIUM, AND LONG TERM GOALS LOOK LIKE. BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS ITEM IS NOT GONNA BE ACCOMPLISHED IN 120 DAYS, BUT WE WANNA BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT THAT DOES LOOK LIKE FOR SHORT, MEDIUM, AND LONG-TERM GOALS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE LOOK TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IN 120 DAYS. AND A LOT OF THE SHORT-TERM GOALS HOPEFULLY WILL BE UNDERWAY. AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS FURTHER WHAT THE MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM TIMELINES AND SCOPE OF WORK WOULD LOOK LIKE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE WHO ARE NORTH LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. AT THE END OF THIS MOTION, ONCE WE TAKE THE VOTE, COUNCILWOMAN, JONI, RICKS ODI, AND I ENVO YOU INVITE YOU TO THE FORAY, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE AND SAY HELLO AND GOODNIGHT. SO WITH THAT, I'LL YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KERR? YES. UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. I WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN RICKS ODI AND COUNCILMAN OOK FOR THIS IMPORTANT AND REALLY COMPREHENSIVE ITEM. UM, AND I STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT. I WANNA UPLIFT THE RESIDENTS AND THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE, AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES IN NORTH LONG BEACH. UM, AND THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS WORK BACK WHEN WE WERE WORKING TOGETHER ON THE SCHOOL, WHEN I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. UM, I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRINCIPALS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT. SO THEY'RE BACK AT WORK. THEY'RE STILL GOING FOR THEIR DAY. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. YEAH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO KEEP STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SAFE AS BEST YOU CAN WITHIN THE CIRCUMSTANCE. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP AND, AND WE BEAR A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT THE NEXT STEPS CAN BE. AND AGAIN, UM, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BROUGHT TOGETHER [03:25:01] A GREAT FRAMEWORK OF HOW WE CAN DO THAT. UM, BUT I KNOW EVERY DAY YOU ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO KEEP KIDS SAFE AND SHEPHERD AND WORKING WITH FAMILIES. UM, AND I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK. UM, AND AS, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TALKED ABOUT INTERDEPARTMENTAL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO REACH OUT TO NOT JUST THE LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, BUT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ASK FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE ON BOARD, NOT JUST WITH THE SPECIFIC WORK AROUND THIS ITEM, BUT LARGER ITEMS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD THAT THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT, THAT THEY TOO CAN LEND SUPPORT TO PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR, UM, TO REALLY ASK THEM TO COME INTO THE PROCESS EARLY, I THINK WOULD BE, UM, A REALLY GREAT THING FOR ALL INVOLVED. UM, AND I DO WANNA LIFT UP THE, UH, LONG BEACH HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE THAT HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING ON THESE ISSUES FOR YEARS. I KNOW WE HAVE LOCAL PTAS THAT HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THAT, UM, AND THAT THEIR EXPERIENCES CAN BE VALUED IN THE PROCESS AS WELL MOVING FORWARD. UM, BUT AGAIN, THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THIS, UM, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ITEM. AND I STAND IN VERY STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR URANGA. THANK YOU. UM, MEGAN, THE NAME, BEFORE I WAS ELECTED, I, UH, PARTICIPATED IN A COME OUT PROTEST WALKING DOWN BCA TO PROTEST THE PROSTITUTION THAT WAS TAKING PLACE ON BCH. MANY YEARS LATER, I WAS A SUPERINTENDENT OF, UH, TOY OPERATIONS AND LEAD SALES. AND WE USED TO RUN A, A JOHN PROGRAM WHERE IF A VEHICLE WAS IMPOUNDED BECAUSE IT WAS A JOHN, UH, BEING PROSTITUTES, THAT VEHICLE WAS IMPOUNDED FOR 30 DAYS WENT AWAY. YOU DID THAT. WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT HAPPENED? UH, THERE? YES, COUNCIL, UH, VICE MAYOR, UM, TIME HAPPENED, CHANGES IN LEGISLATION HAPPENED. UM, RESOURCES CHANGED, FOCUS CHANGED, PRIORITIES CHANGED. I REMEMBER THOSE PROGRAMS. I I WAS TOOK PART IN THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL. BUT IT WAS BACK WHEN WE HAD A, UH, VICE DETAIL THAT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY STAFFED. AND, UH, THE LEGAL, UH, AND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES FOR WHAT WE WERE LOOKING TO FOCUS ON WAS MUCH DIFFERENT BACK THEN. AND SO, UM, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE, ARE MINIMAL. AND, AND, UH, I CAN TALK TO YOU OFFLINE ABOUT MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION IF YOU'D LIKE. WAIT, YOU WANNA GET A, ANOTHER WAR WITH THAT, THAT JOB PROGRAM? YES, SIR. ALSO, THERE WAS A, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE PRESS TELEGRAM WOULD PRINT, UH, NAMES OF JOHNS THAT GOT POPPED THAT'S ALSO GONE, CORRECT? THAT'S, THAT IS CORRECT. THEY USED TO DO THAT. THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN ANYMORE. UM, THE, UH, THE REALIGNMENT OF CERTAIN CRIMES AND, AND REPORTING CERTAIN CRIMES HAS TRANSITIONED FROM, UM, UH, WHAT WE WOULD PREVIOUSLY REPORT AS VICE OPERATIONS TO MORE OF A SOCIETAL CRIMES QUALITY OF LIFE FOCUS. AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS CHANGED TO ALIGN WITH THOSE, UH, THOSE CHANGES IN REPORTING AS WELL. AND SO THE MEDIA NO LONGER REPORTS THAT INFORMATION ALSO. WELL, SOMETIMES WE SHOULD REVISIT SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS TO SEE WHAT THE, TO SEE WHAT CAN, CAN BE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UM, I WAS JUST GONNA END WITH JUST THANKING ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME. I WAS IMPRESSED. UM, I MEAN, I KNOW YOU ALL CARE, BUT I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COLLEAGUES TO HEAR YOUR VOICES, TO HEAR YOUR STORIES, TO HEAR ABOUT THE IMPACT TO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE. UM, AND NOT JUST, AND TO THINK ABOUT IT FROM A HOLISTIC STANDPOINT, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS, WE HEARD FROM FAITH LEADERS, WE HEARD FROM BUSINESS OWNERS, WE HEARD FROM NONPROFITS, WE HEARD FROM PRINCIPALS, RIGHT? WE'VE HEARD FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, RIGHT? SO IT ISN'T JUST IMPACTING ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE. IT'S IMPACTING EVERYONE. AND IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HEAR YOU ALL COME OUT AND SPEAK YOUR TRUTH, UM, AND MAKE, MAKE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR CITY STAFF, MY COLLEAGUES, THOSE WATCHING UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT ON YOUR LIVES. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UM, I, I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THAT LIKE, THIS IS, THIS, THIS COULD, THIS IS FEARFUL, RIGHT? IS IS SOMEBODY WATCHING ME ON THE, ON THE, ON, ON THE SCREEN, RIGHT? IT'S SOMEBODY SEEING THAT I'M SPEAKING OUT. AND SO I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR RESILIENCE, UM, OVER THE MANY YEARS THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN DEALING WITH THIS. UH, I KNOW I CAN SPEAK, I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE COUNCILWOMAN HERE AND SAY THAT WE ARE STANDING WITH YOU. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. UM, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR UTMOST, ALONG WITH OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES AND OUR MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL AND LASTING IMPACT ON THIS ISSUE. SO AGAIN, FROM MY HEART TO YOURS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT, [03:30:01] THANK YOU. AND FINALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERAL, UH, THANK YOU. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UH, ALL THE SPEAKERS HERE TONIGHT AND, UH, CALL OUT THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS. IT'S, UH, PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU'RE WITH US HERE TONIGHT. UM, I JUST WANT TO STATE SOMETHING FROM THE TESTIMONY I HEARD THAT, UM, I, I'M A LITTLE UNNERVED BY IT. UM, SO I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU WHAT OUR COUNCIL OFFICE POLICY IS ON TAKING PHOTOS AND WE TELL RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO REPORT A CRIME. UM, YOU CAN GIVE A DATE TIME DESCRIPTION, OR HOW ABOUT THIS ONE DIRECTION OF, OF TRAVEL, A PHOTOGRAPH WON'T GIVE THAT, THAT DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. NOW, THE CHIEF MAY SAY RIGHT AFTER I SPEAK THAT, HEY, THE COUNCILMAN'S GOT IT ALL WRONG. WE WANT YOU GUYS TAKING PICTURES. BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT IS OUR, UH, POSITION FROM OUR COUNCIL OFFICE STANDPOINT OR MY POSITION. AND WE ALWAYS TELL RESIDENTS, NEVER PUT YOURSELF IN HARMS WAY BY TAKING A PHOTO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, SO WE HAVE OUR MARCHING ORDERS MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO JUST, UH, A QUICK, SOME QUICK ORDER OF HOUSEKEEPING. I KNOW FOLKS WANT TO GATHER IN THE LOBBY. NOW WILL BE THE TIME TO DO THAT AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL MEET YOU JUST IN A MOMENT FOR A PHOTO. UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP, UH, QUICKLY OUR TWO ORDINANCES. I KNOW THERE'S SOME TIMELY TIMING CONSIDERATIONS HERE. UH, 15. PLEASE [15. 25-54771 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending and restating Chapter 16.43 related to Airport Noise Compatibility, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Attorney         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO AIRPORT NOISE COMPATIBILITY, READ AND ADOPTED AS RED CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER KERR AS A, A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. I CAN MOVE. I, OKAY. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A VOICE MOTION AND SECOND HERE. SO MOVE KERR. SECOND. SUPER KN UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. ALRIGHT FOLKS, IF WE COULD JUST KEEP IT DOWN AS WE, AS WE EXIT, WE HAVE TO, WE JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BUSINESS TO DO. THANKS, CHIEF . UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. UH, WE KNOW THIS IS A SECOND READING, BUT WE'VE, UM, HEARD SOME MISINFORMATION IN THE COMMUNITY, SO WE JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT THIS IS FOR FOLKS. UM, WHILE THE CITY IS LIMITED BY FAA AND NOISE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS LAID OUT BY THE AIRPORT, NOISE AND CAPACITY, YEAH. ALRIGHT, FOLKS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU TO JUST HOLD THE CHATTER AS WE, AS WE HEAD TO THE LOBBY PLEASE. AND THANK YOU. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HEAR ME TALKING WITH, TELL SAYING THIS. THANK YOU TO MY NEIGHBORS. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL MEET YOU IN THE LOBBY. LET'S KEEP THE CHATTER DOWN WHILE WE FINISH THIS MEETING. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE JUST WANNA ADDED SOME CLARIFYING COMMENTS. WE KNOW THIS IS A SECOND READING, BUT THERE WAS SOME, UM, CONFUSION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WE JUST WE'RE GONNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO CLARIFY SOMETHING. UM, WE REQUESTED THIS ITEM SEVERAL WEEKS BACK. AND WHILE THE CITY IS LIMITED BY THE FAA AND NOISE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENT LAID OUT BY THE, THE AIRPORT NOISE AND CAPACITY ACT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UPDATE OUR CITY'S ORDINANCE IN THE WAYS THAT WE CAN WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE GRANDFATHERED STATUS. THE INTENT WAS TO BRING THE LANGUAGE UP TO DATE TO REFLECT MODERN AIRPORT OPERATIONS AND ADJUST FINES TO REFLECT THE INTENDED FINANCIAL DETERRENT ACCOUNTING FOR MODERN INFLATION AS A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS MITIGATING COMMUNITY CONCERNS. AND SO IF I COULD ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, COULD YOU JUST CONFIRM THE CONTEXT OF THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL AS CLARIFY WHAT THIS DOES AND DOESN'T DO? UH, HAPPY TO DO THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO, UH, THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC ORDINANCE THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, AUTHORITY FROM THE FAA TO DO THIS REVISION TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE. UM, SO THE FIRST, THE ONE SUBSTANTIVE THING IT DOES IS IT UPDATES THE FINES. UM, THE FINES WERE FROZEN IN TIME WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED BACK IN THE NINETIES. UM, SO WE HAVE NOW DOUBLED THOSE FINES SO THAT THEY'RE, UM, MORE APPROPRIATE AS A DETERRENT IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE. AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO CONTINUE TO UPDATE FROM HERE FORWARD. THEY'RE NOT GONNA STAY FROZEN LIKE THEY DID ORIGINALLY. THAT'S THE ONE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE. THE OTHER CHANGES ARE ONLY ADMINISTRATIVE. THERE ARE TWO RUNWAYS, UM, THAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS 25, RIGHT. SEVEN LEFT. THAT IS NOW 26, RIGHT? EIGHT LEFT. THE OTHER RUNWAY IS 25 [03:35:01] LEFT SEVEN. RIGHT. IT'S NOW 26. LEFT EIGHT. RIGHT. SO THOSE TWO WERE UPDATED, UM, IN THE ORDINANCE. UM, THERE WERE RUNWAYS THAT ARE NO LONGER USED. THEY WERE CLOSED IN 2016. THAT'S 34 L 16 R, AND 34 R 16 L. UM, SO THOSE WERE OMITTED BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER USED. THE TERM PUBLIC AIRCRAFT WAS UPDATED TO BE CURRENT WITH THE, UM, CURRENT FAA DEFINITION. UH, THE MATTER OF SENDING NOTICES HOW THAT IS DONE WAS UPDATED BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE EMAIL NUS MALE, AND THAT WAS NOT IN EXISTENCE AT THE TIME, AND IT WAS UPDATED TO INCLUDE GENDER SPECIFIC OR REMOVE GENDER SPECIFIC REFERENCES AND MAKE THEM GENDER NEUTRAL. UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK THAT THIS CHANGE IS NOW ALLOWING FLIGHTS BETWEEN 11:00 PM OR 10:00 PM AND 7:00 AM THIS DOES NOT DO THAT. IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO CHANGE AS FAR AS WHEN FLIGHTS ARE ALLOWED AT THE AIRPORT. GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATIONS, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MEMBERS? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. AND 16 REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR ELECTRIC SCOOTERS [16. 25-54985 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Chapter 10 at Section 10.12.020.A and Section 10.38.020 related to the pilot program for electric scooters on the beach path, read and adopted as read.       Office or Department: City Attorney         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ON THE BEACH PATH. RED AND ADOPTED AS RED. THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE KURT CANFIELD, CASSIDY DAVIDSON, OR ISAAC MARTINEZ. OKAY. CASSIDY. SO WE HAVE ONE, I THINK ONE WENT HOME AND I THINK THE OTHER'S IN THE LOBBY, SO. OKAY. SO, UM, BUT I CAN SPEAK FOR, THIS IS FOR CAR LIGHT. UM, WE APPROVE. AND SO WE'RE FOR THIS, UM, WE DO WANT TO POINT OUT THOUGH I AM A DISTRICT, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER, AND I DO WANNA POINT OUT, UM, THIS WILL IMPACT, YOU KNOW, USAGE OF MORE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AROUND CAMPUS. UM, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN ALREADY TWO DEATHS ON ATHERTON. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, CAL STATE LONG BEACH IS SO DANGEROUS, LIKE ALL THE STREETS AROUND IT, SUPER DANGEROUS. SO I WANNA POINT OUT, ALTHOUGH THE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, YES, THEY CAN KILL PEOPLE YEAH. IF THEY'RE GOING FAST, BUT I ALWAYS WANNA REITERATE THAT WHAT'S KILLING US RIGHT NOW ARE SPEEDING CARS. AND SO I KIND OF GOING BACK TO WHAT KURT WAS SAYING, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PILOT PROGRAM OF THE SPEED CAMERAS IN BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE LESS PEOPLE DYING IN THE CITY. UM, INCLUDING MY KIDS WHO GO TO CAL STATE LONG BEACH, UH, UH, TO PLAY SOCCER. AND YEAH, WE USE THE BEACH PATH. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CARE ABOUT LIFE. UM, AND YEAH, I'M FOR THIS AND LESS CARS IN THE CITY WILL BE GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ARE YOU, I CALLED THE NAMES. WHAT IS YOUR NAME? MARTINEZ. ISAAC. ISAAC MARTINEZ. ISAAC, YOU'RE UP. UH, AND THEN MARCEL IS MARCEL OR KURT? HE'S ON, YEAH, HE, OKAY, GREAT. ALRIGHT, SO YOU'LL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER. OKAY. WELL, UH, SAME THING. UH, AS A MEMBER OF CARLITE LONG BEACH, WE KIND OF, UH, CO-OPTED THIS, UH, ORDINANCE TO BRING UP THE, UM, ASSEMBLY BILL ABOUT THE SPEED CAMERAS 6 45. UM, THIS COULD ALSO HELP IN, UH, SOLVING CRIMES FOR HIT AND RUN. UH, THE FIRST, UH, TRAFFIC FATALITY OF DEATH WAS, UH, UH, ENRIQUE GALLEGOS IN, UH, ATLANTIC. AND, UH, 52ND. UH, HE WAS STRUCK BY A WHITE SUV, UH, ON HIS BIKE IN THE BIKE LANE. AND, UH, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WE DON'T KNOW, UM, IF ANYONE'S GOING TO FACE JUSTICE WITH THAT. SO THESE SPEED CAMERAS COULD HELP BECAUSE, UH, SPEED WAS, UM, A FACTOR IN THAT FATALITY. UH, SAME THING WITH, UM, ANOTHER FATALITY THAT HAPPENED ON ATLANTIC AND HARDING, UH, THE SIGN'S COMPLETELY GONE AND, UH, HE, THE PERSON, UH, ENDED UP PASSING AWAY A MONTH AFTER FROM THEIR, UH, INJURIES DUE TO THE CRASH. SO, UH, PLEASE, LIKE KURT MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, WE WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON THAT ASSEMBLY BELT FOR SPEED CAMERAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, BOTH POLICE I, KURT CANFIELD. OH, OKAY. MARCEL . OKAY. NO MORE SPEAKING. OKAY. NO MORE, YOU KNOW, COME ON. NO MORE FOR THE COMMENT. ANYONE COMMENTS? HERE DOESN'T I'M AN AYE. [03:40:11] MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM 10, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN KERR. COUNCILWOMAN SINJA, COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN. RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER [10. 25-55033 Recommendation to request City Manager to collaborate with Long Beach Public Library and other appropriate departments to evaluate options to expand the Long Beach Public Library’s Libby services nationwide and report back to the Council within 90 days.       Office or Department: Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District; Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District; Cindy Allen, Councilwoman, Second District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO COLLABORATE WITH LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY AND OTHER APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS TO EVALUATE OPTIONS TO EXPAND THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARIES, LIVY SERVICES NATIONWIDE, AND REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITHIN 90 DAYS. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A REPORT ON THIS? NO, IT'S MY ITEM. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF COUNCIL MEMBER HAS ANY. UM, OTHERWISE WE DON'T HAVE, WE DO NOT HAVE A REPORT PREPARED. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA, NO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES. THANK YOU, MR. VICE MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE LIBRARY TEAM FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. ACROSS THE NATION, LOCAL PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE INCREASINGLY FACED WITH BOOK BAN CHALLENGES AND ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE CONTROVERSIAL CONTENT FROM THE HANDS OF YOUNG READERS. ATTEMPTS AT CENSORSHIP AND SYSTEMATIC EXCLUSION OF DIVERSE EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES CONTINUES TO RISE. I'M BRINGING THIS FORTH, THIS ITEM TODAY, ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN ALLEN AND COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS TO FORMERLY REQUEST THAT WE WORK WITH OUR LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO EXPLORE WAYS WE CAN EXPAND OUR ONLINE LIBBY SERVICES TO YOUNG READERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PROTECT AND AFFIRM OUR BELIEF THAT YOUTH ACROSS OUR NATION SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND THE RIGHT TO READ. I SAY FORMAL REQUEST AS DR. UH, DIRECTOR DE LEON AND HER LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY TEAM HAVE ALREADY BEGUN RESEARCH ON THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF OUR LIBBY PROGRAM, AS WE AIM TO LEARN FROM THE EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN OTHER CITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS ONGOING WORK AND COMMITMENT FROM OUR LIBRARY STAFF. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT KNOW, LIBBY IS AN ONLINE SERVICE WITH WHICH OUR LIBRARY PARTNER PARTNERS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF DIGITAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING EBOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, AND DIGITAL MAGAZINES, TO ANYONE WITH A LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD. OUR LIBBY PROGRAM ALREADY SERVES THE RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA, WHETHER OR NOT THEY RESIDE IN LONG BEACH BY ALLOWING OTHERS TO SIGN UP FOR AN ONLINE LIBRARY CARD, WHICH ALLOWS THEM ACCESS TO MORE THAN 40,000 TITLES FOUND ON LIBBY. BY EXPANDING THE SERVICE TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA, WE CAN STAND IN DEFENSE OF STUDENTS AND YOUNG READERS WHO ARE LOSING ACCESS TO QUOTE CONTROVERSIAL WORKS AND THEIR FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHAT INFORMATION TO ENGAGE WITH. WE KNOW THAT FEDERAL CUTS TO LIBRARY SERVICES HAS CAUSED CONCERN NATIONWIDE, AND AT LEAST ONE STATE HAS WITHDRAWN FUNDING FOR LIBBY. WE KNOW THIS PROGRAM CAN SHOW THE NATION AND OUR CURRENT FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION THAT WE BELIEVE IN AND DO NOT WISH TO LIMIT THE POWER THAT BOOKS AND INFORMATION HAVE TO GIVE YOUNG MINDS ACCESS TO PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO ALLOW FREE, FREE EXPLORATION OF INTERESTS, IDEAS, AND CONCEPTS, TO PROVIDE YOUTH OF ALL BACKGROUNDS WITH REPRESENTATION THAT HELPS 'EM DEFINE THEIR SELF-IMAGE AND SO MUCH MORE, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN AREAS WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF BOOKS AND IDEAS, OR WHO HAVE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND CAN'T GET TO A LOCAL LIBRARY. WE CAN HELP BE THE BRIDGE TO SEEKING INFORMATION, EXPERIENCING THE WORLD OUTSIDE OF THEIR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS, AND PROVIDING OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH THE TOOLS TO UNDERSTAND AND THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT COMPLEX ISSUES. WE KNOW THIS CITY HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT LIMIT THE TYPES OF STORIES THAT WE SHARE OR THE WAY THAT THEY ARE TOLD. THIS ACCESS SHOULD NOT EXIST WITHIN A BUBBLE. AND BY EXPANDING OUR LIBBY SERVICES TO YOUNG READERS ACROSS THE NATION, WE CAN BE A PART OF A SYSTEM THAT ACT ACTIVELY VALUES THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, THE RIGHT TO ACCESS INFORMATION IN THE IMPORTANCE OF NURTURING A WELL-INFORMED CITIZENRY HERE IN LONG BEACH AND ACROSS THE US I WANNA THANK DIRECTOR DE LEON AND ALL OF OUR LIBRARIANS WHO ARE DOING THIS WORK AND OUR LIBRARY WORKERS AND FOR THEIR CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR ACCESS AND BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS FIGHT, EMPOWERING READERS OF ALL AGES TO CONTINUE TO LEARN AND GROW. UM, AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SORO. YES. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN KERR FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. I'M IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF EXPANDING, UM, SERVICES NATIONWIDE. I THINK THAT NOT ONLY TO EMPOWER, BUT TO ALSO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE, UM, IN WAYS BEYOND THE BARRIERS OF PHYSICAL BOUNDARY IS THAT WITH ACCESS TO INFORMATION, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP AND TO, UM, BE CREATIVE, UM, HAS NO LIMIT WHEN, UM, THERE'S ACCESS TO RESOURCE. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD WITH COUNCILWOMAN SIN DEJA, AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. THANK YOU. WE ADDITIONAL COUNCIL COMMENT NOW. COUNCILOR MCC? YES. UM, COUNCILMAN ALLEN HAS ASKED THAT I READ HER COMMENTS [03:45:01] INTO THE RECORD. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KERR FOR THIS IMPORTANT ITEM. I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT REAFFIRM OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND ACCESS TO ALL LITERARY WORKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'VE SEEN A TROUBLING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF BOOKS BEING BANNED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES. BOOK BANS HAVE BECOME ONE OF THOSE VISIBLE WAYS COMMUNITIES ARE ATTEMPTING TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO DIVERSE STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES. MANY OF THE BOOKS BEING TARGETED SHARE COMMON THEMES ADDRESSING RACE, GENDER, IDENTITY, AND OTHER TOPICS THAT REFLECT CANDID REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THE SOCIETY WE LIVE IN. THESE ARE STORIES THAT DESERVE TO BE HEARD, NOT SILENCED. AND ART IN ALL FORMS SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, NOT RESTRICTED. THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN STEPS TO WEAKEN OUR INTELLECTUAL HERITAGE BY PROPOSING TO ELIMINATE THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, THE ONLY FEDERAL AGENCY DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING OUR NATION'S LIBRARIES. THIS COMBINED WITH THE RISE IN BOOK BAN SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT ACCESS TO DIVERSE INFORMATION IS UNDER THREAT. LONG BEACH HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD BY EXPLORING WAYS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO OUR DIGITAL LIBRARY SERVICES SO THAT EVEN MORE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN STATES WHERE BOOKS ARE BEING BANNED, CAN EXPERIENCE INCLUSIVE AND UNCENSORED LITERATURE. THIS IS HOW WE STAND UP FOR EDUCATION, EQUITY AND FREE EXPRESSION. UH, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. NO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. VOTE. I I MOTION CARRIES. AYE. THANK YOU. UH, ITEM 11, REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, TECHNOLOGY [11. 25-55002 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP DV-24-430 and award to Speridian Technologies, LLC, of Albuquerque, NM (Speridian), a (1) implementation contract for the design, configuration, and implementation of a new Long Beach Builds-Enterprise Land Management System (LB Builds – ELM), including a one-time implementation amount not to exceed $9,270,500, with a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $1,854,100, for a total one-time implementation amount not to exceed $11,124,600, for a period of three years, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and (2) a related maintenance contract for providing ongoing maintenance and support services for LB Builds - ELM, including an annual amount not to exceed $180,000, for a period of five years, with an option to renew for two additional five-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and authorize Speridian as the prime contractor to enter into software licenses with Clariti Cloud Inc., of Vancouver, BC, as necessary for services related to LB Builds – ELM, in an annual amount not to exceed $1,182,600, for the first year of the contract, with annual increases up to five percent, for a period of five years, with an option to renew for two additional five-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into such contracts, including any necessary subsequent amendments;  Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36749 with Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC dba BerryDunn, of Portland, ME, for General Project Management and Organizational Change Management to provide support for 38 months instead of 20, to increase the contract amount by $1,201,750, authorize a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $240,350, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $3,365,700;  Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 37261 with Gartner, Inc. of San Diego, CA, for Quality Assurance Services to provide support for 38 months instead of 20, to increase the contract amount by $1,093,920, authorize a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $218,784, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,572,704;   Increase appropriations by $8,200,000, in the General Services Fund Group in the Technology and Innovation Department, offset by a transfer from the Development Services Fund Group; and Increase appropriations by $8,200,000, in the Development Services Fund Group in the Community Development Department, offset by a release of reserves and funds available. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Community Development; Financial Management; Technology and Innovation         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND INNOVATION. RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD TO CERIDIAN TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE DESIGN, CONFIGURATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW LONG BEACH BILLS ENTERPRISE LAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A TOTAL ONE-TIME IMPLEMENTATION AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 11 MILLION $124,600, AND A RELATED MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR PROVIDING ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND INTO SOFTWARE LICENSES WITH CLARITY CLOUD FOR SERVICES RELATED TO LB BUILD ELM IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1 MILLION $182,600. EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH BARRY DUNN MCNEIL AND PARKER FOR GENERAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,365,700 AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH GARTNER FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICES FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 2,572,704 CITYWIDE. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE A PRESENTATION ON THIS? UH, YES, THERE IS VICE MAYOR. SO IN A SECOND I'M GONNA HAND IT ALL FOR TO, TO MILLER FULLMAN. UM, FOR LEAH AND MYSELF, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON. UM, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE AT THIS MILESTONE AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A BRIEF PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'RE GLAD TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. JAMILA? GREAT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ENTERPRISE LAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ELM SUPPORTS THE PERMITTING, LICENSING AND LAND USE WORK THAT IS CONDUCTED CITYWIDE FOR THE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDERS. THE CURRENT ELM SYSTEM SERVES SEVEN CITY DEPARTMENTS, APPROXIMATELY 500 INTERNAL USERS AND THE MULTIPLE LICENSING, PERMITTING, BILLING, INSPECTION, PAYMENT, AND COLLECTION FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY. THE NEW LONG BEACH BUILDS ELM SYSTEM WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT OUTDATED SYSTEM THAT WAS INSTALLED IN 2007 AND IN NEED OF MODERNIZATION TO, TO BETTER SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS. WHILE THE NEW LB BUILDS ELM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE FOR EFFICIENCIES, INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY, AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CHANGES IN STATE LAW. SPECIFIC AND SPECIFIC DEADLINES FOR ONLINE PERMIT, ONLINE PERMITTING IMPOSED UNDER ASSEMBLY BILL BILL 2234. GREAT. ON OCTOBER 17TH, 2023, STAFF PROVIDED A PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL OUTLINING THE NEEDS FOR AN UPDATED SYSTEM. AT THIS MEETING, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED CONSULTANT CONTRACTS TO TEMPORARILY ASSIST THE CITY IN PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE FOR THE MULTIPLE SCOPES OF WORK COMPLETED OVER THE PAST YEAR AND, AND DURING UPCOMING IMPLEMENTATION. ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS BY GARTNER WAS TO HELP DEFINE CITY NEEDS FOR THE NEW SYSTEM BE INCORPORATED INTO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. AND TO ENSURE THAT THE SCOPE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW CAPABILITIES [03:50:01] IN THE MARKET. A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY PAIN POINTS AND AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT. BARRY DUNN WAS SELECTED TO PROVIDE GENERAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT SERVICES THAT WILL BEGIN DURING IMPLEMENTATION. THE CHALLENGES LB BUILD'S ELM SYSTEMS CAPABILITIES WILL ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES AND IMPROVE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION BY INTEGRATING DATA AND REMOVING SILOS, WHICH WILL BETTER SERVE CUSTOMERS WITH STREAMLINED PROCESSES AND TRANSPARENCY TO APPLICATION TRACKING AND STATUS THROUGH AN ONLINE PORTAL. THE NEW LB BUILDS ELM SYSTEM WILL ALLOW CUSTOMERS SUBMIT TRACK AND UPLOAD DOCUMENTS, PAY AND COMMUNICATE WITH CITY STAFF CONVENIENTLY THROUGH AN ONLINE PUBLIC PORTAL. SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMIT TURNAROUND TIMES ARE ALSO ANTICIPATED TO BETTER SERVE CUSTOMERS AND IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL ATTRACT INVESTMENT INTO THE CITY. THOSE BUILDING PROJECTS DEVELOPING REAL ESTATE AND OPENING BUSINESSES CONSIDER MANY FACTORS IN MAKING THOSE INVESTMENT DECISIONS. THE CITY'S ABILITY TO DELIVER A FAIR, EXPEDIENT, TRANSPARENT, AND PREDICTABLE REVIEW PROCESS FOR PERMITS, ENTITLEMENTS, AND LICENSES IS ONE OF THOSE MANY FACTORS CONSIDERED AS LB BUILDS IS A HIGH PRIORITY CITY PROJECT, THE CITY HAS INVESTED CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW SYSTEM. SOME OF THOSE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EXTERNAL USERS WERE SURVEYED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CURRENT EXPERIENCE AND SOLICIT IDEAS FOR SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS. PREPARATION OF READINESS ASSESSMENT EARLY IN THE PROCESS TO ASSESS THE CITY'S READINESS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ELM SYSTEM AGAINST KNOWN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS, AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EXTENSIVE STAFFING PLAN TO PROVIDE FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION TO SUPPORT TO ENSURE THE RIGHT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PROJECT AND BACKFILL SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, INCLUDING AN EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE, LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE, AND CORE TEAM OF SUBJECT MATTERS ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO GUIDE USERS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CHANGE FROM THE CURRENT STATE OF OPERATIONS TO A DESIRED FUTURE STATE THROUGH COMMUNICATION, ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT, AND A TRAINING STRATEGY. A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR RFP WAS RELEASED IN AUGUST, 2024 TO DESIGN, CONFIGURE, IMPLEMENT, AND PROVIDE ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT FOR THE LV BUILDS ELM SYSTEM. A NINE PERSON SELECTION COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENTS EVALUATED THE PROPOSALS BASED ON THEIR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE. THREE FIRMS WERE SHORTLISTED, INVITED TO CONDUCT AN ONSITE DEMONSTRATION HIGHLIGHTING THEIR SYSTEM CAPABILITIES IN RELATION TO THE FUNCTIONAL NEEDS OUTLINED IN THE RFP IN NOVEMBER, 2024. THE SELECTION COMMITTEE COM UNANIMOUSLY, UNANIMOUSLY SELECTED SIAN TECHNOLOGIES. IAN INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT THE CLARITY SOFTWARE SOLUTION ON THE SALESFORCE PLATFORM PLATFORM. THIS IS A COMMERCIAL OFF THE SHELF ELM SYSTEM THAT HAS THE BENEFIT OF PREBUILT COM COMPONENTS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK THAT COME WITH CUSTOMIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE INABILITY TO SEAMLESSLY IMPLEMENT UPGRADES. HOWEVER, THE SOLUTION IS HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE TO SUPPORT CURRENT, COMPLEX AND UNIQUE CITY REQUIREMENTS AND TO RESPOND TO CHANGING NEEDS IN SERVICE LIFE. THE CLARITY ELM SOLUTION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN SIMILAR ENVIRONMENTS AND CITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. DURING THE SOFTWARE DEMONSTRATIONS, THE SELECTION COMMITTEE WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE SOFTWARE'S OVERALL CAPABILITY. A THREE PHASE ROLLOUT APPROACH IS PLANNED FOR IMPLEMENTATION TO ALLOW INITIAL BUSINESS CAPABILITIES TO COME ONLINE WHILE OTHERS ARE STILL IN DEVELOPMENT. THIS INCREMENTAL ROLLOUT APPROACH SHOULD DELIVER TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO THE CITY IN THE NEAR TERM, THE COMPLETION OF ALL THREE PHASES IS ANTICIPATED OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD, STARTING, UH, IN MAY OR JUNE, UH, 2025. THE PROPOSED MERIDIAN CONTRACT COSTS OVER 15 YEARS ARE SHOWN HERE AND INCLUDE A CONTRACT TO DESIGN, CONFIGURE, IMPLEMENT LB BUILDS OVER THE THREE YEAR PERIOD FROM FY 25 THROUGH TO FY 28, AND UP TO 15 YEARS OF ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, AS WELL AS CLARITY SOFTWARE THROUGH CERIDIAN FY 27 AND 28. INCLUDE THE AMENDMENT SHOWN HERE WITH BARRY DUNN AND GARTNER TO EXTEND THEIR SERVICES DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE THAT IS NOW UNDERSTOOD TO BE 36 MONTHS INSTEAD OF THE PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED 20 MONTHS PLUS AN ADDITIONAL TWO MONTHS [03:55:01] OF POST LIVE SUPPORT. THE TOTAL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION COST FOR LB BUILDS ELM IS PROJECTED AT $43,537,000. THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION COST INCLUDES ALL ELEMENTS REQUIRED TO SUCCESSFULLY GO LIVE, INCLUDING INTERNAL CITY STAFF, SOFTWARE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, CONFIGURATION, AND TESTING. AND THIRD PARTY CONSULTANTS. ONCE THE LB BUILDS PROJECT FORMALLY KICKS OFF THE MAJORITY OF IMPLEMENTATION COSTS THROUGH PROJECT GO LIVE OR CAPITALIZABLE AND ELIGIBLE FOR TAX EXEMPT BOND FINANCING. LONG-TERM BONDS ARE THE MOST APPROPRIATE FINANCING MECHANISM FOR A LONG-LIVED ASSET. LIKE LB BUILDS. CITY STAFF ESTIMATE AN EVENTUAL AN EVENTUAL TOTAL BOND ISSUE OF $41.5 MILLION. AS BROKEN DOWN HERE. CITY STAFF CONTRACTORS AND CONTRACTORS DEDICATED TO IMPLEMENTING THE LB BUILDS ELM SYSTEM WILL TRACK THEIR PROJECT WORK THROUGH WEEKLY TIME SHEETS. SO STAFF CONTRACTORS COST TO THE PROJECT CAN BE ACCURATELY CHARGED AND REIMBURSED TO THE DEPARTMENTS FROM THE EVENTUAL BOND PROCEEDS. THE IMPLEMENTATION COSTS WILL BE INCURRED IN THE GENERAL SERVICES FUND IN THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT FOR DAY-TO-DAY PROJECT COSTS, INCLUDING CONTRACT EXPENSES OFF OFFSET SET BY A COMBINATION OF FUNDING SOURCES COST INCURRED FOLLOWING FORMAL PROJECT KICKOFF AND UNTIL GO LIVE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE BOND PROCEEDS. WHEREAS COSTS INCURRED PRIOR TO KICKOFF HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE FUNDED WITH EXISTING RESOURCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE ON A BOND SALE, 41.5 MILLION WOULD BE 2.53 MILLION. THIS BOND ISSUANCE WILL BE COMBINED WITH THE NEXT TRANCHE OF MEASURE A INFRASTRUCTURE. BONDS CURRENTLY PROJECTED TO BE SOLD IN THE SPRING OF 2026. UNDER THAT SCENARIO, DEBT SERVICE WOULD BEGIN IN 2027. THE BULK OF THE LB BUILDS ELM PROJECT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND. THEREFORE, THAT FUND WILL BEAR THE MAJORITY OF THE COST. THE GENERAL FUND TWO WILL BENEFIT AND THEREFORE STAFF IS PRO PROPOSING THAT TO ITS SHARE OF THE PROJECT'S COST. UH, PROJECT'S COST BASED ON THE PROPORTION OF ACTIVITY AND BENEFIT OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM, THE COST WILL LIKELY BE COVERED 30% BY THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS AND 70% BY THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND. THIS PROPORTION CAN BE VISITED WHEN THE FINAL BENEFIT IS KNOWN. APPROPRIATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR THE INITIAL COST ANTICIPATED AND FY 2025. THEREFORE, CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL IS REQUESTED FOR AN APPROPRIATION TOTALING 8.2 MILLION. STAFF WILL RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL TO REQUEST APPROPRIATIONS AS THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD. APPROPRIATIONS NEEDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION PHASES ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE FUNDED, UM, BY FUTURE BOND PROCEEDS. THIS SLIDE BEFORE YOU SUMMARIZES THE ELM PROJECTED TIMELINE. WE WOULD LIKE TO KICK THE PROJECT OFF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN MAY OR JUNE. THE PHASED IMPLEMENTATION WOULD OCCUR OVER THE THREE YEARS, UH, WITH A PROJECTED PROJECT CLOSEOUT IN THE SUMMER OF 2028. IN SUMMARY, THE LB BUILDS ELM SYSTEM IS DETEN INTENDED TO BE A MODERN INTEGRATED PLATFORM DESIGNED TO STREAMLINE AND ENHANCE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH'S LAND MANAGEMENT PROCESSES. IT WILL REPLACE OUR OUTDATED SYSTEM WITH A MORE EFFICIENT USER-FRIENDLY SOLUTION THAT IMPROVES WORKFLOWS FOR PERMITTING, LICENSES, INSPECTIONS, CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND PLANNING TO BETTER SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS. LB BILL, DLM WILL ALSO ENHANCE PUBLIC ACCESS TO SERVICES, SUPPORT INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION, AND ENSURE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ULTIMATELY IMPROVING THE CITY'S ABILITY TO MANAGE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVELY. THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. CINDY SULLIVAN FROM CERIDIAN, THE SELECTED VENDOR, AND FARUK SAJI FROM CLARITY SOFTWARE ARE ALSO IN ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. OH, HI. IT'S, WE HAD A QUESTION. I . OKAY. WELL I CONGRATULATIONS TO GETTING TO THIS POINT. CAN YOU REMIND US AGAIN HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS TO GET TO THIS POINT AGAIN? SO I GUESS THAT DEPENDS HOW YOU MEASURE. UM, HOW, HOW WOULD YOU MEASURE IT? SO I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY 10 YEARS AND I HAVE DESIRED TO REPLACE OUR NOT VERY FUNCTIONAL SOFTWARE SYSTEM FOR 10 YEARS. UM, WE, UH, WENT THROUGH AN EVALUATION PROCESS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO TO LOOK AT [04:00:01] OUR EXISTING SYSTEM AND ITS SHORTCOMINGS AND HOW WE COULD IMPROVE IT. WE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT, UM, TO DO SO, BUT ULTIMATELY, UM, THE RESULT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THE SHORTCOMINGS. UM, SO OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, UM, LEAH AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. UM, WE FIRST HAD TO GO THROUGH A PROCUREMENT TO GET SOME OUTSIDE HELP AND THAT WAS THE BEST THING WE EVER DID. AND GARTNER CONSULTING HELPED US REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR NEEDS WERE AND WEREN'T AND WHAT THE MARKETPLACE WAS AND SHAPE, UM, THE RFP, UM, THAT ULTIMATELY GOT RELEASED FOR THE SOLUTION ITSELF. UM, WE SPENT THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OR SO GOING THROUGH THE EVALUATION PROCESS, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT, UM, VENDORS AND, UM, KEVIN REAPER'S OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT AND WE DON'T HAVE $40 MILLION SITTING AROUND IN CASH. UM, SO WE HAD TO COME UP WITH A, A FUNDING SOLUTION AND KEVIN AND HIS TEAM, UM, DID THAT. WE PACKAGED IT ALL UP AND BROUGHT IT TO YOU TODAY IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL. YES, THAT WAS A VERY SIZABLE AMOUNT. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR YOURS AND LEAH'S WORK ON GETTING A POINT. 'CAUSE WE GOTTA CATCH UP WITH THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD AND IRVINE. I MEAN, THEY HAD THIS SYSTEM BEFORE US. YEAH. I MEAN, YES, AND, YOU KNOW, CHUCKLES ASIDE, YOU KNOW, THIS SOMEONE APPLYING FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE OR A GARAGE, UH, CERTIFICATE TO SELL THEIR HOME OR TO DO A KITCHEN REMODEL. YOU KNOW, WE DO A THOUSAND OF THOSE, UH, A MONTH, BUT EACH ONE MATTERS. AND THAT MAY BE THAT INDIVIDUAL'S ONLY INTERACTION WITH THE CITY. THAT MAY BE THEIR ONLY INTERACTION WITH GOVERNMENT AND IT, IT SHAPES, UM, THEIR OPINION OF HOW FUNCTIONAL OR NOT WE ARE. IT SHAPES WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA DO A FUTURE PROJECT IN THIS CITY OR NOT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL AND VISIT WITH US, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE TO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE GOOD ONLINE PERMITTING OPTIONS. THIS IS GONNA BE REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE. AND THEN OUR CUSTOMERS ARE, ARE COMMON TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS. THEY'RE DOING WORK IN ORANGE COUNTY, THEY'RE DOING WORK IN CITY OF LA AND WE WILL HAVE THE SAME SOFTWARE AS COUNTY OF ORANGE AND CITY OF LA WHICH IS GONNA PROVIDE SOME COMMONALITY, UM, ACROSS THOSE LARGEST JURISDICTIONS HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND I THINK IS GONNA BE GOOD FOR ALL OF OUR COMMON CUSTOMERS. YEAH, AGREED. THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THAT EVOLVES AND PROGRESS. THANK YOU. NOW, ? YES. UH, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. UM, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW SAID A LOT OF THE THINGS, UH, THAT I WANTED TO REITERATE, BUT I THINK YOU SAID IT CLEARLY, WHEN EVERY INTERACTION PEOPLE HAVE WITH ANY CITY STAFF IS THEIR VISION AND VIEW OF THE CITY IN THAT MOMENT. AND SO WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT FOLKS OF, I HAD TO TALK TO THIS PERSON AND THEN I HAD TO TALK TO THIS PERSON. SO THE STREAMLINING AND THE TEARING DOWN OF SILOS AND BEING ABLE TO ACCESS INFORMATION FROM THEIR OWN HOME AND THEN CALL WITH INFORMED QUESTIONS, I THINK IS A GAME CHANGER. IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE, AS YOU SAID. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON FIGURING IT ALL OUT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? OKAY. NO PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY MORE COMMENT FROM THE COUNCIL? NONE. GO. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. UH, ITEM 12, REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS [12. 25-55000 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute any necessary documents including subsequent amendments, to accept grant funds from the California Department of Parks and Recreation (California State Parks) in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000, for capital improvements at Hudson Park. (District 7)       Office or Department: Parks, Recreation and Marine         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2 MILLION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT HUDSON PARK DISTRICT SEVEN. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE YOU START A VERY BRIEF, VERY BRIEF REPORT, PLEASE. YEAH. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. SO, UH, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE HERE ON THE WEEK OF, UH, EARTH DAY AND A LABOR, OR NOT LABOR DAY, ARBOR DAY, EXCUSE ME, LONG NIGHT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO BRING FOCUS UPON A MAJOR PARK IMPROVEMENT. SO, UH, HUDSON PARK, UM, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR SENATOR LENA GONZALEZ'S, UM, EARMARKING OF THE $2 MILLION. BUT COUNCIL ACTION TONIGHT WOULD BE, UH, TO AUTHORIZE RECEIVING THAT. AND THEN WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT PUBLIC WORKS TO IMPLEMENT A LOT OF REALLY GREAT IMPROVEMENTS TO HUDSON PARK, WHICH WILL INCLUDE UPGRADING THE ATHLETIC FIELDS WITH IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS. UH, WE'LL BE REPLACING THE FREESTANDING RESTROOM AND ALSO, UH, DOING SOME BASEBALL FIELD BACKSTOP IMPROVEMENTS AND SOME MINOR THINGS LIKE INSTALLING [04:05:01] HYDRATION STATIONS AND SUCH REALLY GREAT IMPROVEMENT PACKAGE FOR, UH, THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS ALWAYS ENJOYED HUDSON PARK. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. RICHARD HAS, UM, WHO SAY JOINING JOINING , UM, I'M ALWAYS GONNA UPLIFT, UH, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, PARTICULARLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, THAT LACK THEM. AND SO I'M ELATED TO HEAR ABOUT THE, UM, INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING IN YOUR DISTRICT. UH, VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COUNCIL COMMENTS? ANY OOPS. NO COMMENT. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT. HEARING NONE VOTE AYE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, ITEM 13, PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT [13. 25-54999 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents, including any necessary subsequent amendments, with the California Energy Commission (CEC) to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $3,300,000 to acquire and install charging infrastructure for government fleet vehicles, with a term ending November 30, 2028;  Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Funds Group in the Public Works Department by $1,625,000, offset by CEC grant funds; and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,625,000, offset by the transfer of CEC grant funds from the Capital Grant Fund. (District 1)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,300,000 TO ACQUIRE AND INSTALL CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GOVERNMENT FLEET VEHICLES DISTRICT ONE. THANK YOU, ? YEAH, I JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE PUBLIC WORKS WITH, UM, PORT LONG BEACH FOR, UM, RECEIVING THIS GRANT. IT'S REALLY GONNA HELP WITH MEETING OUR CARBON CARBON NEUTRALITY GOAL, AS WELL AS MEETING OUR CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN GOALS. SO, UM, JUST EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THIS GRANT TO BUILD THE CHARGING STATION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. MEMBER. ANY FURTHER COMING FROM THE COUNCIL? NO. OH, NO. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD FOR VOTE. I AN AYE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. ITEM 14TH, PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACTS WITH VARIOUS CONTRACTORS FOR AS NEEDED PROFESSIONAL [14. 25-55001 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36053 with AKM Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Irvine, CA; Contract No. 36042 with Anchor QEA, Inc., of Seattle, WA (as successor to Anchor QEA, LLC); Contract No. 36043 with Ardurra Group, Inc., of Tampa, FL; Contract No. 36094 with Arup North America Ltd., of Los Angeles, CA; Contract No. 36052 with Atlas Technical Consultants LLC, of Austin, TX; Contract No. 36088 with Buro Happold Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA; Contract No. 36038 with Dewberry Engineers Inc., of Fairfax, VA; Contract No. 36090 with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., of Boca Raton, FL; Contract No. 36045 with HDR Engineering, Inc., of Long Beach, CA; Contract No. with 36089 IDC Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Anaheim, CA; Contract No. 36050 with Kleinfelder, Inc., of San Diego, CA; Contract No. 36046 with KOA Consulting, Inc., of Huntington Beach, CA; Contract No. 36048 with KOA Corporation, of Monterey Park, CA; Contract No. 36054 with KPFF, Inc. dba KPFF Consulting Engineers, of Seattle, WA; Contract No. 36049 with Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., of Parsippany, NJ; Contract No. 36087 with Michael Baker International Inc., of Moon Township, PA; Contract No. 36092 with Moffatt & Nichol, of Long Beach, CA; Contract No. 36044 with Psomas, of Culver City, CA; Contract No. 36047 with Public Works Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA; Contract No. 36051 with Swain Consultants, of Santa Monica, CA; Contract No. 36093 with Tetra Tech, Inc., of Pasadena, CA;  and Contract No. 36091 with WSP USA Inc., of Ephrata, PA, as successor to Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions Inc., for as-needed professional engineering services, to increase the aggregate contract amount by $10,000,000, for a revised aggregate contract amount not to exceed $100,000,000. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR A REVISED AGGREGATE CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100 MILLION CITYWIDE. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY KURT, SECOND BY RICK . ANY COMMENTS? KURT? NOPE. C NO. OKAY. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT, NO COMMENT. GO BY VOTE. I'M AN AYE. I. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY, THANK YOU. WE DID THE, UH, TWO ORDINANCES THAT WERE GENERAL FOR COMMENT NUMBER TWO. ANY COMMENTS? YOU HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS, PLEASE STEP UP. CHRISTELLE, DOBROSKY, [ 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. ] MARIO DS, ISAAC MARTINEZ. LEONARD IRVIN, YOU MAY BEGIN HONORABLE. UM, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PERSONS. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE, MY USUAL SUBJECT, WHICH IS HOMELESSNESS. UM, THE, UH, I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND, UH, OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT ARE HOMELESS AND A COUPLE OF 'EM HAVE WHO HAVE RECENTLY PASSED AWAY. WE NEED PERMANENT, UH, HOUSING, NOT JUST TEMPORARY SHELTERS. UM, I AM, UM, UH, GOING BACK AND FORTH. UH, I'M TRYING TO GET A SENIOR HOUSING, ET CETERA, THAT TAKES SEVEN TO 10 YEARS ON A WAITING LIST AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. UM, THEY, THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS ALL THE TIME HERE, BUT I DON'T SEE ANYTHING REALLY BEING DONE. IT ALSO, IT'S VERY MUCH A, A RACE ISSUE BECAUSE OF COVENANT DEEDS, REDLINING, [04:10:01] AND THE CREATION OF GHETTOS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. ARE ARE ANY OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH THESE COVENANT DEEDS ARE WHERE PEOPLE AGREE NOT TO RENT TO AFRICA, UH, NOT TO SELL THEIR HOMES TO AFRICAN AMERICANS, LATINOS, LATINOS, JEWISH PEOPLE, MORES, MOORES, ET CETERA. YEAH. THUS THE, THEN THE REAL ESTATE PEOPLE SWOOP IN AND SAY, THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE CAN'T SELL 'EM WITHOUT THESE. OH, SOMEBODY'S MOVING IN. SO THEY GO BUY UP THE PROPERTIES. PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR. THE REDLINING IS WHERE YOU CAN'T GET A MORTGAGE IF YOU'RE IN A CERTAIN AREA BECAUSE OF THE COVENANT DEED. YEAH. SO WE NEED PERMANENT HOUSING. I JUST CAME FROM THE UNDERSTAFFED LIBRARY TO GET HELP WITH THE COMPUTER AND THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE THERE TO DO IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. UM, NEXT PLEASE. MARIO DIAZ. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS MARIO DIAZ. THIS IS MY NAME DIAZ SHORT FOR DIAZ SALAZAR. UH, I HAVE A SOLUTION, A PROPOSAL, UH, FOR SOLVING THE PROSTITUTION ISSUE. UH, THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT I CAME IN FOR. I CAME IN TO SUGGEST THAT THE COVANTA FACILITY BE REOPENED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GARBAGE. THERE'S TOO MUCH IMPORT OF OVERPACKAGED GOODS. WE'RE OBVIOUSLY IN A CONSUMERISTIC CULTURE AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RECYCLING OR, OR, UM, ANYWAY, SO HOW CAN COVANTA AND PROSTITUTION COME TOGETHER? UH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A JOKE. I CAME UP WITH THIS JUST HERE IN THE MEETING, BUT, UM, I CAME UP WITH, UH, RE RENAME IT, CALL IT A AND ANDRIA, WHAT WOULD THAT STAND FOR? THAT WOULD STAND FOR INTERNATIONAL PLACE OF LEGAL, ADULT AND RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTIVITY. SO YOU COULD HAVE A LEGAL PLACE WHERE SEX WORKERS THAT WANNA DO THAT FOR A LIVING, HAVE A PLACE TO WORK, AND THE JOHNS HAVE TO CHECK IN AS THEY WOULD AT A MOTEL. AND ANYONE WHO TAKES GARBAGE TO THE FACILITY, THAT CAN BE TURNED INTO KEY KILOWATTS. WELL, MAYBE THE JOHNS WILL GET A DISCOUNT AND, AND, AND THAT DISCOUNT CAN BE GIVEN TO THE SEX WORKERS. I DON'T KNOW, IT'S KIND OF A SILLY SLAPSTICK IDEA REALLY, BUT IT'S JUST AN IDEA. I MEAN, WHY NOT TAX IT, MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT. UM, SPEAKING OF MAKING MONEY, UM, YEAH, I ACTUALLY, UM, JUST CAME TO SAY HELLO AND, AND, AND APOLOGIZE FOR NOT OPENING UP THE CODE ENFORCEMENT LETTER THAT I GOT. UM, AND, AND I WAS HAPPY TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR BOOTH. UM, IT WAS A FUN VIBE OUT THERE EARLIER TODAY. UM, UH, AND SO I MET MARGARET FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND, AND, UH, SOME COOL YOUTH PEOPLE. UM, AND THE, UH, JAZZ ANGELS WERE REALLY COOL ALSO. UM, BUT, UH, GOING BACK TO MY PLACE, UM, YEAH, I MIGHT SCARE MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UM, MY FRIEND FROM IRAN TELLS ME, HEY, JUST THE WAY, UM, UM, UM, THE ADVANTAGE SUITE, UM, VESSEL TAPPED INTO, UH, AN IRANIAN SHIP AND, AND, AND, AND, UH, THE IRANIAN, UM, UM, FOLKS ENDED UP, UH, CONFISCATING THE OIL CARGO. I, I MIGHT HAVE TO PUT A SIGN WHEN, IF I AM READY TO SELL TO CHEVRON AND SAY, HEY, FOR EVERY PARTAKING FROM MY 69 FORD VAN IN THE BACKYARD, EVERY BROKEN WINDOW ON THE HOUSE, UM, THAT PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY ARE DOING, UM, EE EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE A MILLION. SO, SO I, I, I PROBABLY, UM, UM, WILL, WILL, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST CHECK UP THE PRICE. MY FRIEND REYNA TELLS ME, HEY, THAT'S NOT FAIR, MARIO. WHY SHOULD EVERYBODY PAY FOR THE MISDEEDS OF A FEW? AND GOD BLESS HER SOUL, SHE'S RIGHT. SO, UH, IN THE END, I HAVE TO ASK GOD TO HELP ME ONE DAY AT A TIME AND, AND I DO PLAN TO WORK TOGETHER WITH, UH, WITH, UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE, AND THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. AND, UH, PLEASE EXCUSE MY SLAPSTICK IDEA ON, ON THE COVANTA THING, BUT YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMENTS. NEXT, PLEASE. MARTINEZ, MS. MARTINEZ. UH, GOOD EVENING. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY STAFF ARE STICKING THROUGH. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG DAY. UM, I NOTICED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD ABOUT ITEM NINE THAT THE LUXURY INN, UM, HAD ABOUT 50,000 CALLS IN [04:15:01] TWO YEARS. SO, UM, I'M HERE JOINED BY MY NEIGHBOR OF THE 6,000 BLOCK OF OLIVE AVENUE IN DISTRICT NINE HOWDEN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, WE HAVE 60 50 AND 60 52 OLIVE AVENUE. WHO HAS BEEN, UM, IT'S A NUISANCE, UH, PROPERTY. UH, LIKE I SAID, WE ALREADY HAVE OVER 200 CALLS. UH, WE DID BRING THIS UP, UH, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S ATTENTION, UM, AT THE COFFEE WITH THE COP. BUT SINCE THEN, UH, WE'VE HAD, UH, A CAR, UH, THROWN INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK AND SET UP A FIRE. UH, OUR NEIGHBORS ARE STILL LIVING IN LIKE CAPTIVITY PRETTY MUCH. UH, THE AFTER THE FIRE, UH, THE POLICE TOLD US NOT TO CLEAN UP BECAUSE THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED EVIDENCE. AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS, UM, OCEAN CLEANUP WOULD COME TO, UH, PICK THAT UP. AND MAYBE BECAUSE IT WAS EASTER HOLIDAY WEEKEND, UH, THEY NEVER SHOWED UP. SO AROUND MONDAY IS WHEN WE ENDED UP CLEANING UP, UM, THAT, UH, EVIDENCE. SO, UM, I HAVE HEARD THAT IN NORTH LONG BEACH AND MAYBE IN OTHER PARTS OF LONG BEACH, THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES, LIKE, OH, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ONE OF THOSE HOUSES. SO WE'RE JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO, UH, RAMP UP THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT, UH, PROGRAM FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT. UH, WE DO KNOW THAT THIS PROPERTY HASN'T PAID TAXES IN OVER FIVE YEARS. UH, WHETHER OR NOT THE OWNER IS STILL ALIVE, UM, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ISSUES HAPPENING SPECIFICALLY AND, UH, HAD TO DO WITH ANYTHING FROM, FROM, UH, SEX TRAFFICKING TO, UH, DRUG SELLING. UH, WE HAVE CHILDREN THAT PLAY IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME AND WE HAVE CARS SPEEDING UP AND DOWN. UM, THOSE SAME, UM, TINTED BLACK SUVS THAT ARE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MOVING, UH, SEX WORKERS OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. UM, IT'S BEEN GETTING WORSE. SO, UH, WE JUST WANNA KNOW, WE JUST WANTED TO PUT ON RECORD THAT THAT IS A PROBLEM NUISANCE PROPERTY AND WE WANT SOME SORT OF RESULT WHERE WE CAN FEEL SAFE AND NOT, UM, HAVE TO FEAR BEING IN OUR HOMES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? LEONARD IRVIN? LEONARD IRVIN? NONE. OKAY. WE ARE NOW AT ANNOUNCEMENT GERMAN. I HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT I REPORT ON. THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE [ANNOUNCEMENTS] IN MEMORY OF FOR THE WORKS EMPLOYEE JASON PERON. JASON JOINED THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN 2018 AS A CONSTRAIN INSPECTOR IN THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DIVISION OF THE ENGINEERING BUREAU, AND WOULD RECOGNIZE BY ITS COLLEAGUES FOR WORK ETHIC, PROFESSIONALISM, AND DEEP TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE. JAMES HAD A PASSION FOR THE OUTDOORS CAMPING AND HIKING, AND WAS SAYING TO BECOME A CERTIFIED ACCESS SPECIALIST BECAUSE OF HIS COMMITMENT TO ADVOCAT FOR ACCESSABILITY AND EQUITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. JASON WAS AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC SERMON AND WILL BE GREENLY MISSED OUR HEART GOING WITH FAMILY OF FRIENDS. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THIS MEETING IN BE ANOTHER DR. LEONARD SUNRISE WAS THE NEIGHBOR GOING 7 19 53 AND SUNSET ON APRIL 11TH, 2025, ORIGINALLY FROM SANGA CITY, PHILIPPINES. NA FOND NEVER FORGOT HIS ROOTS AS CFO OF, HE SERVED FILIPINO TOWN IN LOS ANGELES AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE FILIPINO OF THE FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS HERE IN LONG BEACH, HE HELPED PRESERVE AND UPLIFT FILIPINO HONOR EVERY INCH IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. HE ALSO LIVED WITH COMPASSION AS PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE PACIFIC UNION OF ALL AND DRUNK PROGRAM. CHANGING LIVES THROUGH CARE AND COMMITMENT. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS WISDOM, HIS KINDNESS. AND I SET AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US, MY DAUGHTER WITH DR. S, FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND LOVED ONES. HE WILL BE DEEPLY BEST. FINALLY, I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY, [04:20:01] I REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS SANTA TWO SATURDAYS FROM NOW ON MAY 2ND, NO MAY 3RD, UH, THE THIRD DISTRICT WILL BE HOSTING A MARIACHI FESTIVAL AT VETERANS PARK WORK. PLENTY OF FUN, PLENTY OF MUSIC, PLENTY OF FOOD. BRING YOUR CHILDREN. LET'S HAVE FUN. AND . HI. THANK YOU. UH, NU IS NEXT. OH, I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE A LIST IN FRONT OF ME. IT'S RIGHT HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER . THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. UH, THIS EVENING I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT, UM, TO CLOSE THIS EVENING'S MEETING IN HONOR OF SANDRA CHANEY RICHARDSON. UH, TONIGHT'S MEETING, I'M CLOSING IN HER HONOR, SANDRA CHANEY RICHARDSON, A MOTHER, A WIFE, FRIEND, AND TREASURE DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, RESIDENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBER. SANDRA'S PASSING CAME AFTER MULTIPLE HOSPITAL STAYS BROUGHT ON FROM, UM, SUDDEN, UH, ISSUES RELATED TO HER HEALTH. SHE WAS A YOUNG 42 YEARS OLD. I HAD THE HONOR OF GETTING TO KNOW SANDRA CHANIE BETTER, UH, MOST RECENTLY DURING MY TIME AS A CITY COUNCILWOMAN. BUT CHANIE WAS A DEAR FRIEND TO MY FAMILY. FOR SEVERAL DECADES YOU'D FIND CHANI IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT BE AT A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING OR AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. AND IN EACH OF OUR INTERACTIONS, I WAS TOUCHED BY HER SPIRIT, LOVE FOR OTHERS, AND COMMITMENT FOR IMPROVING HER NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT HER TAKING ON A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE LONGWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND BRING LASTING CHANGE TO THE DISTRICT. I KNOW SHE PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN HERE TONIGHT. UH, ALONG WITH HER NEIGHBORS REGARDING OUR ITEM THAT WE SPOKE ON, ON ITEM NINE TO SPEAK OF HER VALUES AND VISION FOR THE LONGWOOD COMMUNITY. HER HEART AND GENEROSITY MADE OTHERS FEEL EMPOWERED TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SHE WENT ABOUT ADVOCACY WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING A WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR HER SON. SHE WAS A TRUE LEADER WHO RECENTLY HAD JOINED THE EDUCATION TEAM AT MILLIKEN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE LEAVES BEHIND HER LOVING HUSBAND, DEANDRE RICHARDSON, HER 2-YEAR-OLD SON, EXTENDED FAMILY, AND A WHOLE HOST OF FRIENDS. THANK YOU SANDRA CHANEY FOR SHARING YOUR LIGHT WITH ALL OF US. YOU ARE A BELOVED AND CHERISHED WOMAN AND WILL BE DEARLY MISSED. THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. UH, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. UM, JUST A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS. UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ATTEND THE MICHELLE OBAMA NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY COMMUNITY GARDEN FEEDBACK MEETING ON MONDAY, APRIL 28TH FROM FIVE TO 6:30 PM THIS WILL BE HELD AT THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY. UH, WE'RE GONNA BE DISCUSSING, UM, THE, UH, THE GARDEN THAT'S OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY AND RE-ENVISIONING, UH, THE WAY IT'S GONNA LOOK AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE JOIN US ON MONDAY. UH, ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ATTEND THE UPTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CLEAN DAY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT HOWTON PARK AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE. AGAIN, THAT IS SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH. UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE MUSIKA UH, ANGELIKA COMMUNITY CONCERT ON SATURDAY APRIL 26TH FROM 12 TO 1:00 PM THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY, UM, AGAIN AT 58 70, UH, ATLANTIC AVENUE. PLEASE JOIN US AT THE, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM FOR A CAPTIVATING PERFORMANCE WITH ANDREW WADE AND ASHLEY SALINAS ON VI ON THE VIOLIN, OR IN THE VIOLAS, JOINED BY ALISON LEDECKY ON THE HARPS ACCORD PERFORMING BAROQUE MASTERPIECES. UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE EVENTS, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES, THANK YOU MR. VICE MAYOR. AS TODAY'S EARTH DAY, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY INVITING ALL RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE WITH A VISIT TO WILLOW SPRINGS PARK THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH FROM NINE TO NOON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY NATURE CHALLENGE, EXPLORE LONG BEACH'S MOST RECENTLY DEDICATED PARK TO HELP IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT THE LOCAL PLANTS AND WILDLIFE FOUND IN ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST NATURAL SPACES. ADDITIONALLY, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LONG BEACH'S ROLE IN THE GLOBAL CITY NATURE CHALLENGE AT RANCHO CERRITOS THIS WEEKEND. ATTEND ANYTIME BETWEEN 10:00 AM AND 5:00 PM THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH THROUGH MONDAY, APRIL 28TH. YOU CAN VISIT AND EXPLORE THE NATURAL PLANTS AND WILDLIFE THAT THRIVE ON THE HISTORIC GROUNDS. UH, I INVITE YOU TO OUR DISTRICT FIVE COMMUNITY MEETING THURSDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 PM AT WARDLOW PARK RECREATION CENTER. AND LASTLY, I INVITE YOU TO ANOTHER CD FIVE ACTIVITY THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH, THE AMBITIOUS RECORD [04:25:01] FAIR FROM NOON TO 6:00 PM STOP BY AMBITIOUS ALES AT 4 0 1 9 ATLANTIC AVENUE TO SHOP AND SWAP RECORDS WHILE ENJOYING A LIVE VINYL DJ SET AND LOCALLY BREWED BEER WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU CUSTOMER. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A, A SHOUT OUT AND A THANK YOU TO MY STAFF MEMBERS, UH, ISABELLE, ANNA AND SLAIN WHO SURPRISED ME TONIGHT WITH THESE BALLOONS BEHIND ME. UH, TONIGHT IS MY 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF SERVING, UH, ON THIS BODY. UM, I'M SORRY I COULDN'T MENTION IT EARLIER, BUT IT WAS NOT AN AGENDA ITEM AND THE CITY ATTORNEY WOULD'VE STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS HAD I BROUGHT IT UP. SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN TO STAFF AND, UH, GO FORTH. THANK YOU CON DUNCAN. WELL, YOU STOLE MY CONGRATULATORY THUNDER FOR YOUR 10 YEARS SERVING THE COUNCIL AND SERVING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, I THINK. OH, THERE YOU GO. THERE'S A NICE PICTURE THAT YOUR STAFF ACTUALLY, UH, BROUGHT TO THE CITY CLERK. SO LOOK AT THAT. OH MY GOODNESS. UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS AND I USUALLY DON'T SAY THIS, BUT GO FORTH. WELL, THANK YOU. AND THAT PHOTO OF DON KNABE SWEARING ME IN THAT WAS ACTUALLY ON CINCO DE MAYO. SO TODAY IS THE DATE OF MY OFFICIAL SWEARING IN BY THE CITY CLERK, BUT THAT WAS A CEREMONIAL SWEARING IN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TRIVIA. VERY NICE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER LATTER REMARKS? NICE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL HERE. WE DONE MEETING'S ADJOURNED. GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.