* 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. CALL [00:00:01] THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE TO ORDER FOR MAY 6TH, 2025. UM, MADAM CLERK, UM, PLEASE CALL ROLL [CALL TO ORDER] COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. PRESENT VICE CHAIR. ALLEN CHAIR. [ROLL CALL] SORROW. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR. UM, ALAN COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, SO, SO LET'S, UM, GET, LET'S MOVE TO OUR FIR. WELL, FIRST I WANNA JUST BEFORE WE START, JUST WELCOME, UH, COUNCILWOMAN [1. 25-55235 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Economic Development and Opportunity Committee meeting of Tuesday, October 22, 2024.         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] SJA AND, UM, VICE CHAIR ALLEN, AND SPIRIT TO OUR FIRST, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY MEETING IN 2025. UM, AND SO NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE FIRST ITEM. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE FIRST ITEM? ITEM ONE IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE MEETING OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, OCTOBER 22ND, 2024. OKAY. WE HAVE A, A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM? IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM NOW. NO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY, THANK YOU. LET'S, UH, VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WONDERFUL. LET'S GO TO THE SECOND AND FINAL, ALMOST FINAL ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA. ITEM [2. 25-55236 Recommendation to receive and file a discussion regarding the Economic Development and Opportunity Committee’s vision and strategic priorities.         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TWO IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE'S VISION AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DIRECTOR BEAU MARTINEZ, UM, TO DO TO, TO, TO KICK US OFF ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. UH, CHAIR, UH, SORROW AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ZENDEJAS BO MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO HAVE HERE OUR, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUREAU MANAGER SLASH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK. I'M RE WHO'S JOINING ME TODAY, AND SO WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND SO, JUST WANTED TO JUST GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT, UM, TO THE COMMITTEE. UM, OUR MISSION IS CREATING EQUITABLE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKERS, INVESTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS. UH, WE ARE MADE UP OF FIVE BUREAUS, AND THE FOUR BUREAUS I HAVE LISTED HERE IS, UH, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. SO I'D LIKE TO THINK ABOUT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION, ATTRACTION, SMALL BUSINESS, NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETPLACE AREAS, WORKING WITH OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, WORKING WITH ENTREPRENEURS. THIS IS THE ONE THAT REALLY JUST GOES OUT THERE AND WORKS WITH OUR LEGACY BUSINESSES, AND IT'S A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE, UH, BUREAU AND WORKING ON A LOT OF COOL PROJECTS FROM LEVEL UP ALB TO THE VIP PROGRAM AND, AND, UH, INVESTING IN OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS TO CREATE MORE, UH, CLEAN AND SAFE AREAS AS WELL AS SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVATIONS. AND THEN THE SECOND AREA, UM, IS OUR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. SO THINK ABOUT IT FROM ATTRACTING AND GROWING INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO WE MANAGE ALL THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE ASSETS FROM ACQUISITIONS TO DISPOSITION CONCESSION AGREEMENTS, UM, AS WELL AS ONGOING MAINTENANCE. AND ALSO WORK WITH A LOT OF OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS AS WE LOOK TO LEVERAGE NOT ONLY CITY OWN ACCESS, BUT ALSO OTHER COMMERCIAL AREAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE WORKFORCE AND TALENT, UH, WHICH IS LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK THAT WENT THROUGH A REBRANDING. AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WORKFORCE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE CREATE A, HOW DO WE CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LONG BEACH TO BE A MAGNET FOR 21ST CENTURY TALENT? SO THAT REALLY STARTS ON LOOKING AT HOW WE FOCUS IN ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FROM AN ADULT PERSPECTIVE, A YOUTH PERSPECTIVE, BUILDING THE FUTURE PIPELINE AND WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS TO CONTINUE TO, UH, GROW TALENT WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND THEN THE OTHER AREA WE HAVE IS THE WATERFRONT, UH, AREA, WHICH IS PURE AGE. SO THINK ABOUT IT FROM A PERSPECTIVE ON HOW DO WE BUILD AND LEVERAGE ON OUR WORLD CLASS WATERFRONT AND OUR VIBRANT DOWNTOWN AND CONTINUE THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT EACH OF THESE AREAS THROUGHOUT THEIR CITY, WHETHER IT'S THE WATERFRONT, DOWNTOWN NORTH, LONG BEACH, MIDTOWN CENTRAL LONG BEACH, THE WEST SIDE, THE WEST SIDE PROMISE TO EAST LONG BEACH, WE KNOW THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT AREAS. WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND DEVELOP OUR CITY INTO THE FUTURE. AND THEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT BUILDING AN ECONOMY, WE WANNA BUILD AN ECONOMY WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT AS WE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO WORK, NOT ONLY THIS COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO FOCUSING ON PROJECTS, INITIATIVES CITYWIDE. AND AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE OF OUR CITY, WE ARE ARE GUIDED BY A CLEAR VISION. AND THAT VISION IS TO BUILD NOT JUST FOR TODAY, BUT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT GROWTH IS TO BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUSIVE, [00:05:01] WE'RE EQUITABLE, AND BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CITY. WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO CREATE A CITY WHERE EVERYONE, INCLUDING A RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY, HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. WHERE EQUITY AND INCLUSION ARE NOT JUST PRINCIPLES, BUT PRACTICES THAT GUIDE US AS WE MOVE LONG BEACH FORWARD. THIS THIS MEANS DEVELOPING VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS, REVITALIZING AND ENERGIZING OUR UNIQUE AND COOL COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS, SOME MORE SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AS THE BACKBONE OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. IT ALSO MEANS BUILDING A STRONG TALENT PIPELINE THAT PREPARES OUR WORKFORCE FOR THE INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE. AND THIS IS WHAT, HOW WE WILL CREATE A RESILIENT ECONOMY. AND BY ENSURING EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR CITIES HAS SEAT AT THE TABLE AS WELL AS A VOICE AT THE TABLE, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS, TOOLS TO SUCCEED. WE KNOW IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THINGS DON'T HAPPEN NIGHT, OVERNIGHT. THEY DO HAPPEN OVER TIME, BUT IT REALLY TAKES CLEAR, UH, VISION AND A CLEAR GOAL TO GET US WHERE WE'RE AT. AND IT REALLY STARTS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, PEOPLE. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US, WE ALSO HAVE WHAT WE CALL THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE, IT FOCUSES ON TARGET INDUSTRY SECTORS AS WELL AS PLACEMAKING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THAT'S IN FRONT OF US, THINK ABOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AS ALL OUR GLOBAL ASSETS. WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR GLOBAL ASSETS HERE IN LONG BEACH, WE HAVE LAND, WE HAVE SEA, WE HAVE AIR AND SPACE. AND WHEN YOU SEE, THINK ABOUT THE LAND PERSPECTIVE. WE'VE GOT GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AND NEIGHBORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE HAVE, WE HAVE C SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE AND ACCESS TO THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE, YOU THINK ABOUT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S IN FRONT OF US THERE FROM A, UH, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AS WELL AS JOBS PERSPECTIVE. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT AIR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AMERICA'S COOLEST AIRPORT, WHICH IS OUR REGIONAL AIRPORT, WHICH IS A BIG ANCHOR IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF JOBS AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY THAT RUNS THROUGH OUR AIRPORT. AND THEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SPACE, YOU THINK ABOUT SPACE SPEECH, RIGHT? YOU THINK ABOUT AEROSPACE AND AVIATION, YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE COOL COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF SPACE SPEECH. AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE AROUND SPACE SPEECH IS WE REALLY HAVE ENGAGED THEM AS PARTNERS TO THE CITY. BECAUSE IF YOU TALK TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE AT SPACE SPEECH, AND YOU ASK 'EM WHY LONG BEACH, THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU IT'S ABOUT THE TALENT, TALENT AND TALENT. AND IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE EPE SPEED AND PREDICTABILITY THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DOES FOR THEM AS, AS FAR AS ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET AND RED, NOT THE RED TAPE. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE, WE ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY? HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY OUR CITY REVENUE STREAMS AND HOW DO WE PREPARE OUR CITY FOR THE FUTURE? AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS IS THE ALLEY 28 OLYMPICS. AND AS WE ALL KNOW THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST VENUE CITIES, UH, FOR THE OLYMPICS. WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING 11 EVENTS AS WELL AS PARALYMPIC EVENTS, AND DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY WE LEVERAGING THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE OLYMPICS, BUT ALSO LEAVING A LEGACY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND THEN WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT SMALL BUSINESS IS BIG BUSINESS WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND WE HAVE REALLY PUT A BIG EFFORT IN DELIVERING FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND OUR WORK IS NOT DONE YET. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU THINK OF THEM AS THEY'RE NOT ONLY THEIR ENTREPRENEURS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO WEALTH GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR FAMILY. THEY ALSO CREATE JOBS IN OUR, IN, IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEY ALSO CREATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S UNIQUE AND COOL AND AUTHENTIC ABOUT OUR DOWNTOWN AND OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETPLACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND THEN THE FINAL THING IS WE THINK ABOUT AS WE GROW LONG BEACH TOGETHER, IS WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ABLE TO CONTINUE TO TELL OUR STORY. HOW DO WE TELL OUR STORY FROM EVERY ROOFTOP ACROSS LONG BEACH ABOUT WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE, CALL AUTHENTIC AS A CITY, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE FOCUS ON OUR TARGET INDUSTRY SECTORS? HOW DO WE FOCUS ON TALENT AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BUILD A AN INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY MOVING FORWARD? AND THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE HERE. AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MORE IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT MEANS TO BUILDING A GLOBAL CITY AND A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE, RIGHT? AND AS I TALKED ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, AND FOR THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE AND THOSE YET TO COME, IS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON TALENT RETENTION, TALENT RECRUITMENT AS GROWN, AS WELL AS GROWING A PIPELINE FOR THE FUTURE. AND THAT ALL STARTS WITH THE LONG, LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK. AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY COOL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT WE WANNA CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY ON AS WE THINK ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR WORK. AND THAT INCLUDES ADULT SERVICES. WE HAVE AN ADULT, UH, WORKFORCE, UH, CENTER IN, UM, THE NEAR THE AIRPORT. WE HAVE A YOUTH SERVICES CENTER, UM, WHICH IS LOCATED IN, IN, IN MIDTOWN AND, UH, CENTRAL LONG BEACH. AND WE PROVIDE A LOT OF BUSINESS SERVICES. AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE NOW AND GOING FORWARD, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON, AGAIN, [00:10:01] EQUITY INCLUSIVE AND BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CITY FOR THE FUTURE. UM, WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UM, AT THE END OF, AT THE END OF THE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING. OKAY. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ. AND THANK YOU JAIME, UH, FOR BEING HERE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, THAT, UH, WE CONTINUE TO SEE YOU AS YOU'RE IN YOUR NEW ROLE. I KNOW YOU GET PULLED, YOU'RE, UM, HAVE A LOT TO GET UP TO SPEED ON. UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AS THE CHAIR OF, UM, NEW CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE, UM, MY VISION IS YOUR VISION, OUR CITY'S VISION, UM, WHAT YOU JUST SHARED, WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CREATE A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY WHERE ALL RESIDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM EQUITABLE ECONOMIC, UM, OPPORTUNITIES. SO THANK YOU BO FOR LE LAYING OUT THAT FRAMEWORK AND REMINDING US AGAIN, I KNOW THAT, UH, YOU LIVE, EAT, AND SLEEP, UH, GROW LONG BEACH, AND I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE. I KNOW IT'S A LOT FOR A MIGHTY SMALL TEAM, AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE GROW LONG BEACH PLAN. IT'S REALLY INCLUSIVE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR ASSETS AND POTENTIAL FOR OUR CITY, UH, TO BE ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL. UH, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THOUGH THAT WE ARE MINDFUL OF THIS VERY UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIME. I THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GRADUALLY GROW AND BE CERTAIN THAT, UM, WE CAN WITH OUR PLAN AND THAT WE ARE ENSURING THAT ALL OUR RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE INCLUDED. BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW, THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE LONG BEACH WIN SO MUCH IS THAT WE ARE SEEING POTENTIAL, UM, LOSSES, UH, AND AND I, AND THAT MEANS LOSS OF JOBS, LOSS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND INVESTMENTS, RIGHT? AND, AND THAT THAT'S OFF NOT JUST LONG BEACH, BUT ACROSS THE NATION. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE EMPHASIS AROUND, UH, OPPORTUNITY AND RESILIENCY, UM, BECAUSE THAT, WHILE WE ARE NOT FEELING IT YET, I THINK THAT WE CERTAINLY WILL. AND SO THAT IS WHY I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, AS CHAIR, WE FOCUS ON FOUR THEMES, UM, THAT WILL GUIDE OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THIS COMMITTEE. AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THINK ABOUT INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH. WE CERTAINLY CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT BUSINESS RESIDENTS CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT BUSINESSES AND HAVING JOBS, AND INVESTORS CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT PEOPLE WHO WANNA OPEN BUSINESS. SO WE'RE ALL TIED TOGETHER, BUT MAKING SURE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE DO IT IN AN INCLUSIVE MANNER AND TO GROW, UM, INCLUSIVELY. AND THE OTHER IS, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH YOU THAT SMALL BUSINESS IS BIG BUSINESS, BUT A SMALL BUSINESS CAN'T BE A SMALL BUSINESS UNLESS THEY START SOMEWHERE AS A ENTREPRENEUR. AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DO UPLIFT SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO MICRO ENTERPRISES, WHICH SOMETIMES STARTS AS AN IDEA AND A HUSTLE AND THEN GROWS TO BECOMING A STOREFRONT. AND THAT IS DEFINITELY MORE WHAT WE WANNA SEE, AS WELL AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY, WHICH WE JUST DISCUSSED, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THIS CLIMATE, BUT ALSO PARTNERSHIP ALIGNMENT. SO I'LL GO INTO THAT, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT I MEAN ABOUT EACH OF THESE FOCUS AREA. AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT TO MY, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBER HERE TO OFFER COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK. UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INC THAT THERE ARE MUCH MORE TO, LIKE, THERE ARE BIG VISIONS FOR OUR CITY, AND WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT OUR PROJECTS, UH, IN DOWNTOWN THE WATERFRONT. AND, AND I AGREE THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT MANY OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY FEEL THAT THEY'RE NOT PART OF THAT, UM, GROWTH STORY. AND SO I WOULD JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I TAKE THE OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE TO UPLIFT THOSE EXISTING SUCCESS STORIES AND THOSE EXISTING OPPORTUNITIES, UM, AND ENSURING THAT WE ALSO LIFT UP OTHER, UM, PARTS OF OUR DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY. AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HEAR BACK FROM THE FEASIBILITY OF THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ZONE THAT'S PROJECTED TO BE IN NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST LONG BEACH, BECAUSE IT REALLY SHOULDN'T MATTER THE ZIP CODE. ALL OF OUR PARTS OF OUR CITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THESE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND HOPEFULLY THROUGH THE ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING DISTRICT, WOULD WE GENERATE, UM, UH, FINANCING MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO GROW AND BILL AND INVEST IN THOSE AREAS. PROGRAMS LIKE AS JUST MENTIONED, VACANCY TO VIBRANCY. WE CAN'T HAVE SMALL BUSINESS OPENING STOREFRONT IF WE ALSO DON'T CONSIDER HOW WE START SUPPORT THEM AS ENTREPRENEURS IN THE EARLY STAGES. AND ALSO, AGAIN, USING ARTS CULTURE HISTORY AS, UM, POWERFUL REVITALIZATION TOOL AND PLACEMAKING TOOL. SO PEOPLE WANNA OPEN THEIR [00:15:01] BUSINESS IN THE BUSINESS CORRIDOR OF THOSE RESPECTIVE AREAS. UM, THIS IS ALSO IN MIND THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE THESE PARTS AS POTENTIAL HUBS FOR THE OLYMPICS. SO WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, LIFTING THEM OUT IN THE FOREFRONT. AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT IN, AS WE UPLIFT THIS MICROENTERPRISES AND SMALL BUSINESSES, LOOKING AT THE SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE I INTRODUCED EARLIER, LOOKING AT, UM, LEGACY BUSINESS PROGRAM, WE CAN SUPPORT AND UPLIFT IN WAYS TO MAINTAIN THOSE BUSINESSES, EVEN IF OWNERS ARE NOT ABLE TO. AND LOOKING AT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO REC FOR MICROENTERPRISES, AS WELL AS THE RECENTLY RELEASED REPORT ON HOW WE CAN EXPLORE EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR VENDORS. I CERTAINLY AM AWARE THAT WE HAVE A SIDEWALKING VENDING PROGRAM, BUT I ALSO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE JUST DON'T LIVE IN IT, JUST SIDEWALKS AND TO CONSIDER OTHER AVENUES FOR ACTIVATIONS IN PART OF OUR CITY. THIRD, THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY IS CERTAINLY AROUND LONG BEACH WIND AND HAVING, UM, MR. GU GUTIERREZ LEAD IT IN THE FOREFRONT. UM, BUT ALSO I THINK THAT WE WANNA CONSIDER, UM, WAYS THAT WE'RE ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE, ADULTS, AND ALSO PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO, UH, ADULTS IN VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL LEVELS AND LANGUAGE ABILITY. UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONSIDER ALL OF THOSE FACTORS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING, GETTING A FULL REPORT BACK, UH, AT A LATER TIME. AND LASTLY, UH, LOOKING AT PARTNERSHIP IN ALIGNMENT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER. AS WE SHARED EARLIER, WE JUST CANNOT DO THIS IN A VACUUM OR IN ISOLATION. UH, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE, UH, PARTNERSHIPS AMONGST OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS, SUCH AS LONG BEACH CENTER FOR ECONOMIC INCLUSION, LONG BEACH ACCELERATOR, AND LONG BEACH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP. I ALSO HAVE HANDOUTS, SO THEN YOU CAN HAVE KIND OF A SNAPSHOT TOO. SO I'LL HAND THAT TO YOU BOTH. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS GIVEN TO YOU, BUT, UM, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE NOTES, UM, FIERCELY WITHOUT MISSING SOMETHING. BUT, UH, THIS IS SOME I, I'M, I KNOW THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A MEETING ON EACH OF THESE I ITEMS, BUT I THINK THAT AS LONG AS I'M CHAIR LIKED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS COMPONENTS OF THESE, UH, CATEGORY AND, UM, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED. UM, RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE HEADING INTO VERY UNCERTAIN TIME, I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR OUR CENTRAL, AT LEAST FOR MY DISTRICT IN THAT TIMES ARE ALREADY BEEN TOUGH. AND, UM, AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PANDEMIC, UH, IT WILL BE TOUGHER, UH, FOR THEM. AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A PLAN OR AT LEAST A, A WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS IT. SO, UH, WITH THAT, I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS COMMITTEE AND DIRECTOR MARTINEZ AND MR. GUTIERREZ, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, TEAM AND, AND ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HAND IT OVER TO SEE MY COLLEAGUE, A MEMBER, UM, COUNCILWOMAN SAND, HAD ANY COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO ADD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR. UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU DIRECTOR MARTINEZ AND, UM, HI MEGAN JARRIS FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR THESE PRESENTATIONS. UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, CHAIR SORROW FOR, UM, GOING OVER OUR VISION PLAN. I THINK THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED AT THE MOMENT THAT IT'S NEEDED THE MOST. I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF ALL AREAS OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A THRIVING E ECONOMIC, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE WHOLE CITY AS A WHOLE. I THINK THAT SOME OF THE KEY ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN LIFTED IN ALL OF THESE SECTIONS FOR OUR VISION ARE HIGHLY IMPORTANT. UM, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE GOING INTO, UM, BEING THE STAGE FOR THE WORLD WITH LA 28. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOT ONLY SHOW OFF OUR CITY, UM, SHOW WHAT LONG BEACH CAN DO IN THE ECONOMIC, UM, INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO, UM, SHOW THE CITY, UM, THAT OUR RESIDENTS, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, AND EVERY PERSON MATTERS, AND THAT THEY'RE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE, UM, IN, IN BUSINESS, UM, ALL ACROSS THE CITY. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, MY, MY FOCUS AND I KNOW, UM, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ, YOU CONTINUOUSLY SAY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, UM, A CITY THAT WANTS TO ROLL OUT THE RED [00:20:01] CARPET FOR YOU AND NOT, NOT THE RED TAPE. AND I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT, I LOVE THAT SAYING, AND I LOVE THAT ENERGY THAT YOU BRING TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. UM, BECAUSE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED. WE AND OUR BUSINESSES NEED TO FEEL THAT AS WELL. AND I THINK THAT BY FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE KEY ITEMS HERE ON OUR VISION PLAN IS GONNA HELP US REALLY, REALLY SOLIDIFY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR BUSINESSES, WHETHER THEY'RE, UM, SMALL OR BIG. AND I LIKE WHERE YOU SAY SMALL BUSINESS IS BIG BUSINESS BECAUSE IT TRULY IS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY INVESTED IN OUR CITY AND REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR CITY AND WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND WANT OUR CITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS WELL. SO I THINK THAT OUR EMPHASIS IS ALWAYS SHOULD BE ON HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA BE HERE, UM, FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS. AND I LOVE THE LEGACY BUSINESS PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT MAY NOT, UM, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE, BUT TO FIND WAYS ON HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM. UM, MICRO BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN, UM, SUCH A, UM, A GAME CHANGER FOR MANY, MANY, MANY, UH, BUSINESS OWNERS HERE IN OUR, IN OUR CITY. AND I THINK THAT FOR PUTTING MORE EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING THOSE KIND OF BUSINESSES, UM, IS ALSO GOING TO BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. AND LEVERAGING OUT ANY HELP THAT WE GET OR ANY, UM, OPPORTUNITY THAT WE GET WITH LA 28 TO UPLIFT THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY THE MICRO BUSINESSES. I THINK THAT THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT AS WE GO INTO THOSE YEARS. UM, ALSO, UM, THE WORK WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, LIKE CHAIR SORROW SAID, WE'RE GONNA NEED THIS MORE THAN EVER RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF, OF WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW. SO IT'S GONNA BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, UM, THOSE ADDRESSED AND BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT FOR THOSE THAT ARE ONE, LOOKING FOR A JOB TWO, UM, TRYING TO, UH, CREATE OR, YOU KNOW, BECOME A NEW BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, A CLEAR PATHWAY ON HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR BUSINESS, AND TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY OPEN A BUSINESS, BUT HAVE A BUSINESS IN THE CITY WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE AND THE COMMUNITY CAN BE THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THEM BEING HERE. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT. UM, I ALSO, UM, AGREE VERY MUCH WITH, UH, ALIGNING PARTNERSHIPS. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES, UM, THAT WE CAN BE DOING WORK IN SILOS AND, UM, AND DOING GREAT WORK, BUT I THINK THAT AS THE EARS ARE COMING, AS WE GO MORE INTO GROWING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT VERY MUCH. AND WE'RE DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF BRINGING EVERYBODY IN RIGHT NOW, AND I'M LOVING TO BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT AND ACTUALLY SEE THAT, UM, FIRSTHAND. SO I LOVE THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, BEING THE COUNCILWOMAN THAT REPRESENTS, UM, THE DOWNTOWN AREA, IS THE REMARKABLE, UM, TURNAROUND THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE QUEEN MARY. I KNOW THAT WE WENT INTO THAT LOOKING AT IT AS, UM, TAKING A BIG RISK. NOW WE KNOW THAT THAT RISK THAT WE TOOK, UM, REALLY PAID OFF. AND I'M HOPING THAT, UM, THAT'LL BE THE SAME THING, THAT IN A YEAR OR TWO WE COULD SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT THE ANTHEM THEATER. AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, UM, THAT I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT, UM, WHEN THE ANTHEM THEATER COMES, THAT WILL BE MONEY THAT'S GONNA BE GENERATED, AND THAT'S GONNA BE GIVEN OR PUT BACK INTO OUR GENERAL FUND. AND THAT WAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT, UM, THAT ARE COMING AND, AND THAT WE ALREADY DO WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS WORK. THANK YOU CHAIR FOR THIS VISION, AND I AM SO EXCITED TO GET TO WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SINHA. APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS AND SUPPORT ON, UH, THE STRATEGIC PRIOR FOCUS AREAS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR. [00:25:01] UM, YOU KNOW, TODAY'S A SHORT COMMITTEE MEETING TO INTRODUCE THE, THE VISION AND THE PRIORITIES. SO WE'RE GONNA, WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES, SO WE WANTED TO JUST, UM, GIVE BO A TI A CHANCE, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ, IF YOU WANTED TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS, UM, BEFORE I MOVE IT OVER TO PUBLIC COMMENT. NO, I'D JUST LIKE TO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, GIVING US, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY THE VISION AND STRATEGIC FOCUS FOR, UM, THE COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. I MEAN, I GREW UP IN DENVER SPORTS NEIGHBORHOOD. I GREW UP IN PUBLIC HOUSING, AND IF I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO ME, I AM A PERSON THAT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. I WAS PART OF A SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM DURING MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, YOU KNOW, I LIVED IN RECREATION CENTERS, PLAYED LOTS OF SPORTS AND BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL, KEPT ME OFF THE STREETS, AND I WAS ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE AS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT, UM, FIRST ONE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, FIRST ONE TO GRADUATE FROM, UH, UNDERGRADUATE, FIRST ONE TO GRADUATE FROM GRADUATE SCHOOL. I ALSO GOT A, A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE UNITED STATES HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ONE OF, UH, FIVE THAT WERE GIVEN, UH, FOR MY MASTER'S PROGRAM TO INTRODUCE, YOU KNOW, MORE, MORE MINORITY PEOPLE OF COLOR TO URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE AND CITY BUILDING TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. AND SO FOR ME, WHEN YOU WANNA PULL OUTTA MY HEARTSTRINGS, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE WE BUILD AN INCLUSIVE ECONOMY WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES. UM, I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUS AND, AND TOO HARD AND KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM MY BACKGROUND WILL ONLY HELP OTHERS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS WE TRY TO POSITION OURSELVES FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. YEAH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT STORY. AND I'M SURE JAIME ALSO HAS A STORY AS WELL AND MANY OTHERS. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY WHAT I LIKE US TO LIVE UP BECAUSE, UM, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY IS DOING GREAT WORK. IT'S JUST WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DISCUSSING THAT AND, AND SHARING THAT, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE INTEGRATING IT INTO PARTS OF OUR CITY AND THAT PEOPLE DO SEE IT. I THINK, UM, WE TALK IN TIME AND TIME AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT SHARING THOSE STORIES AND, UM, BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT TO KNOW THAT WE COULD BE DEVELOPING ANOTHER BEAU MARTINEZ RIGHT NOW THAT COULD SERVE AS DIRECTOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE. UM, AND THAT'S WHAT, THIS IS WHY I WANNA MAKE SURE WE THINK ABOUT HOW, UH, PRIORITIZING THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND SO I, I'M GONNA, UM, WRAP THIS UP AND SEE IF THERE'S, SO WE WILL BE COMING BACK, UH, WITH ONE OF THESE, THESE ITEMS THAT'S JUST BEEN MENTIONED AROUND FOCUS AREA. AND SO, UM, MADAM CLERK, I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF WE HAD ANY, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE WRAP UP. IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM NOW. GOOD AFTERNOON, THANKS FOR LISTENING. UM, MY NAME IS EDMUND VELASCO. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE MUSICIANS UNION IN ORANGE COUNTY AND LONG BEACH. UM, WE, UH, ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOING ON, UH, ESPECIALLY SURROUNDING THE OLYMPICS. MM-HMM . AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, BECAUSE, UM, BECAUSE A LOT OF MUSICIANS WILL BE ENGAGED, HOPEFULLY IN THE STREET FAIRS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THE CITY, UH, PUTS ON, UM, A, UH, A PREVAILING WAGE FOR THOSE, THOSE TYPES OF, UH, THAT TYPE OF WORK. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS, AT LEAST FOR MUSICIANS AND, AND THE ARTS IN GENERAL, A LOT OF THE WORKERS IN THE ARTS ARE NOT PART OF THE MAINSTREAM ECONOMY BECAUSE WE ARE CONSIDERED INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, SOMETIMES CORRECTLY, SO, SOMETIMES NOT. BUT, UM, WE WANNA ENSURE THAT THOSE MUSICIANS WHO ARE DOING THE WORK, BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BRINGING THE CONGRESS, UM, AND, AND TANGENTIALLY EMPLOYING PEOPLE EITHER THROUGH PARKING ATTENDANTS, BABYSITTERS, RESTAURATEURS, UH, BARS, ALL THOSE PEOPLE GET MORE WORK, MORE TRAFFIC IF THERE'S MUSIC GOING ON. AND RIGHT NOW, THERE'S, IT'S BASICALLY THE WILD WEST. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CITIES THAT HAVE ASKED, UM, SOME OF OUR MEMBERS TO PLAY FOR FREE BECAUSE IT'S GOOD EXPOSURE. AND I TEACH 'EM THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DIE FROM EXPOSURE, YOU KNOW, SO WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. WE WANT PEOPLE TO THRIVE. WE WANT THRIVING ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY IN, IN, IN LONG BEACH. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT YOU GUYS ARE THINKING ABOUT THE MICRO, UM, UH, ENTREPRENEURS WE ARE, THEY THE DEFINITION OF, SO, UM, I DO HAVE, UH, A DRAFT OF A, UH, PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCE, UM, THAT I CAN GIVE TO YOU, UH, TODAY, [00:30:01] JUST SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN SEE THE CITY OF RICHMOND AND RIGHT NOW IS, UM, ENGAGING IN THESE TALKS. UM, WE ARE ALSO ENGAGING INTO SEVERAL DIFFERENT OTHER, UH, CITIES IN ORANGE COUNTY, AND SOME HOPEFULLY GONNA ENGAGE MORE IN LA COUNTY. BUT I THINK THAT THE, IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE ARTS, WE REPRESENT 7.5 OF CALIFORNIA'S GDP, AND YET OUR WORKERS ARE GENERALLY NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE MAINSTREAM. WHEN COVID HIT, A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS HAD NO UN UNEMPLOYMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL 10 99 WORKERS, AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THOSE PEOPLE TO PANDEMIC, UM, ASSISTANCE, UH, UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO GET THEM NOT ONLY TO BE 10 99 WORK, UH, NOT 10 99 WORKERS, BUT W2, BUT ALSO IF WE CAN GET THE, THE FLOOR SET SO THAT THEIR WAGES WON'T GO BELOW THAT. THAT'S WHAT A PREVAILING WAGE IS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FLOOR. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CEILING. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET PAID FAIRLY FOR THEIR WORK. THANK YOU, SIR, WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN? EDMUND VELASCO EDMUND. UM, MY TEAM IS SITTING RIGHT THERE. IF YOU WANNA, UM, TALK TO THEM AND GIVE THEM THE MATERIAL AND THEN THE CONTACT INFORMATION AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING HERE. UM, AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, CREATE CREATIVE ECONOMY IS ONE OF OUR, UM, GROW LONG BEACH GOALS, SO DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. WITHOUT, IF THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING ADJOURN CHAIR, CHAIR, CHAIR, CHAIR. WE NEED TO VOTE. OH, OH, YEAH. SORRY. I WAS EXCITED TO CLOSE IT WITH A GAVEL. UM, YEAH, LET'S VOTE TO RECEIVE ON FILE , UM, SCREEN. I THINK SCREEN. GIMME A VERBAL IF YOU LIKE. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. AND THEN WE STILL HAVE NON-AG AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, AND IF THERE'S ANY NON AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT, IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON A NON AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM NOW. [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Economic Development and Opportunity Committee on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.] THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT HERE. ALL RIGHT, WELL THEN NOW I OFFICIALLY NOW I CAN FINALLY DECLARE OUR MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU . * 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.