* 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. [00:10:04] ALL [00:10:04] RIGHT, [00:10:04] FOLKS. IT IS TUESDAY, JUNE 17TH. LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD. WELCOME TO THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEETING. LET'S, UH, CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER WITH ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCILWOMAN . PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. HERE. COUNCILMAN SUBINA. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. PRESENT VICE MAYOR ANG COUNCILWOMAN THRASH AND TUCK. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA ASK VICE MAYOR URANGA TO LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M NOT GONNA ASK FOR YOUR INDULGENCE THAT WHEN YOU TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, THINK NONE OF YOURSELF BUT OF OTHERS, BECAUSE WE NEED A LOT OF HELP. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE. PLEASE STAND. YOU'RE ABLE. PUT YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART AND REPEAT AFTER ME. MY PLEASURE. TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WI IT STANDS NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALLEN AND KERR WON'T BE JOINING US THIS EVENING. UH, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS. LET'S START WITH OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, PET ADOPTION. LET'S INVITE OUT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. THIS IS WHAT WE DO ONCE A MONTH WHEN WE INVITE OUT OUR ANIMALS FROM OUR LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SHELTER, AND WE HIGHLIGHT THEM. AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE. WE USED TO DO THIS PRE PANDEMIC. WE BROUGHT THIS BACK, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE, THE PETS, THE [ ACS PET ADOPTION] INCREDIBLE PETS WE DO HAVE, UH, IN OUR VILLAGE. SO THEY ARE COMING FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. OH, I'M GONNA HAVE SOME FUN WITH THIS ONE. . HELLO, ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE MAYOR. MY NAME IS ALMA FROM LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY OUR AWESOME VOLUNTEER, ROBERT AND OUR SHELTER PET OF THE MONTH. THIS IS POKEY. PLEASE MEET POKEY . THIS GENTLE AND SHY PITBULL PUPPY WAS BROUGHT TO ALBAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. HE'S ABOUT TWO MONTHS OLD AND WILL SOON BLOSSOM INTO A PLAYFUL, CUDDLY PUPPY WHEN HE SETTLES IN WITH HIS FOREVER FAMILY. IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TAKE ON THIS REWARDING ADVENTURE OF RAISING A PUPPY, PLEASE COME VISIT OUR SHELTER TO ADOPT POKEY. WE'RE OPEN FROM WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY, STARTING AT 10:00 AM I'LL TAKE POKEY FOR A WALK. , KEEP GOING. THANK YOU, . AS THE 4TH OF JULY APPROACHES, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO PROMOTE OUR FOSTER THE FOURTH EVENT. EVERY YEAR, ANIMAL SHELTERS SEE A SPIKE IN INCOMING DOGS, BECAUSE PETS OFTEN GET SCARED BY FIREWORKS. THE LOUD NOISES AND BRIGHT FLASHES CAN CAUSE ANIMALS TO PANIC AND RUN INTO ROADWAYS OR UNSAFE AREAS, PUTTING BOTH THE ANIMALS AND DRIVERS AT RISK. WHEN SHELTER ADMISSIONS INCREASE, SUDDENLY IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE TO FIND ENOUGH SPACE FOR ALL THE ANIMALS. AT ALBAS, OUR MISSION IS TO SAVE EVERY HEALTHY AND TREATABLE ANIMAL. BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR KENNELS ARE OVER CAPACITY. YOU CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE BY VOLUNTEERING TO FOSTER A DOG OR CAT TEMPORARILY. FOSTERING CREATES MUCH NEEDED SPACE FOR OUR NEW INCOMING ANIMALS DURING THE HOLIDAY, AND PROVIDES A SAFE, CALMING ENVIRONMENT FOR PETS IN NEED. YOUR SUPPORT NOT ONLY HELPS THE SHELTER, BUT ALSO HELPS FAMILIES WHO MAY BE SEARCHING FOR THEIR LOST PET AND GIVES THOSE ANIMALS A CHANCE TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR LOVED ONES. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GIVE, HOW YOU CAN GIVE A SHELTER DOG OR CAT A SAFE AND LOVING HOME THIS HOLIDAY, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE@LONGBEACH.GOV SLASH ACS. LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ANIMAL MEDICINE PROJECT OR CAMP ARE TEAMING UP TO BRING YOU LOW COST VACCINE AND MICROCHIP CLINICS JUST IN TIME FOR THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY. REMEMBER, A HEALTHY PET IS A HAPPY PET, AND MICROCHIPPING CAN BE A LIFESAVER IN CASE THEY GET LOST DURING THE FIREWORKS. THIS CLINIC IS AN ONGOING EVENT AND IS AT BECKS EVERY MONDAY AND SECOND AND FOURTH FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. EACH CLINIC IS FOR THE FIRST 60 PETS, NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY. TO VIEW DETAILS, INCLUDING A MORE ACCURATE SCHEDULE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, LONG BEACH.GOV/ACS, [00:15:03] CALIFORNIA AND LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL LAW REQUIRES THAT ALL CATS AND DOGS OVER THE AGE OF FOUR MONTHS TO BE LICENSED AS A RABIES CONTROL MEASURE. IF YOUR PET ISN'T LICENSED YET, GETTING THEIR LICENSE IS SIMPLE. YOU CAN APPLY EITHER ONLINE OR IN PERSON AT LB LB ANIMAL CARE, LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND ALL YOU NEED IS PROOF OF RABIES VACCINE AND THE SPAY NEUTER CERTIFICATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PET LICENSING OR TO START THE PROCESS, PROCESS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE@LONGBEACH.GOV SLASH ACS. LET'S HEAR FOR OUR INCREDIBLE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES PROGRAM, ALL THE GREAT, VERY MUCH VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND POKEYS A GREAT, A GREAT PUPPY. UH, UH, POKEY MIGHT HAVE MADE SOME FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE. I THINK POKEY CHANCES OF GOING HOME WITH A LONG BEACH FAMILY ARE PRETTY HIGH, I WOULD SAY YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING, UH, THIS, UH, INCREDIBLE WORK, BUT ALSO COMING, INCLUDING OUR CITY COUNCIL ONCE A MONTH IN THIS PROGRAM. LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO OUR OUR SECOND AND FINAL PRESENTATION THIS EVENING, CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE, HISTORIC DISTRICT, 30 YEAR RECOGNITION CEREMONY. THAT'S RIGHT. UH, WE WANNA INTRODUCE AND BRING UP MARGARET MADDEN, UH, TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND, UH, THE, THE COMMUNITY. AND MICHELLE, UH, ECKHOFF, PLEASE COME FORWARD. [ CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT 30 YEARS RECOGNITION] SO COOL. GOOD EVENING. MARION CITY COUNCIL. I'M MARGARET MADDEN FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ON BEHALF OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, IT'S MY PLEASURE TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT FOR 30 YEARS OF NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS, MORE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS THAN ANYONE, UH, ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP IN THE CITY. CONGRATULATIONS. PASTOR VILLAGE VILLAGE. WE, WE DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AS PART OF THE CITYWIDE MAYE SPRING CLEANING INITIATIVE, UM, TO LOOK AT, UM, WHO HAD DONE THE MOST CLEANUPS IN ALL THE YEARS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT, UM, WAS, UH, HAS AMAZING STATISTICS THAT I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU. SINCE 1992, THEY'VE HOSTED 312 NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS, AND THEY'VE REMOVED 200, I'M SORRY, 2,808 TONS OF TRASH AND DEBRIS FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, FROM OUR SIDEWALK STREETS AND ALLEYS OVER THOSE YEARS. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE, UM, THEY WERE ALSO PART OF THIS C CITY'S SECOND ANNUAL CITYWIDE MACE SPRING CLEANING INITIATIVE. AND WE WORKED WITH 14 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, UM, DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, UM, AND 290 VOLUNTEERS CITYWIDE FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, UH, REMOVED 108 TONS OF TRASH AND DEBRIS FROM OUR STREETS, ALLEYS, AND SIDEWALKS. SO I WANNA THANK ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS FOR THEIR HARD WORK. UM, I THINK THAT THERE'S A VIDEO. ARE THEY ABLE TO SHOW IT? MY NAME'S JIM MOKI. I'M WITH HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES, WORKING WITH CRAFTMAN BARS. I COULD TRACE BACK. THEY HOLD THE RECORD WITH OUR DEPARTMENT FOR DOING THE MOST CLEANUPS AND THE LONGEST PROGRAM SINCE WE'VE HAD THE PROGRAM GOING. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THIS LITTLE PLAQUE TO SHOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY, BUT ALSO FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WE WANNA HAVE TELL MICHELLE. THANK YOU. ALL YOU ALL DESERVE. MY NAME IS MICHELLE AARON ECKHOFF, AND I'M THE CO-CHAIR OF CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT. BEFORE MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THIS HOUSE, WE WERE CLEANING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY THAT WAS DOING IT. AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE AT THAT TIME IF WE HAD A DUMPSTER. I DON'T THINK SO. BACK IN 89, 90, 91. AND BEHIND OUR HOUSE IS AN ALLEY BETWEEN EIGHTH STREET AND NINTH STREET. SO WE LIVE ON EIGHTH STREET. THERE WAS SO MUCH TRASH, IT WAS LIKE THIS DEEP ALL AROUND, BACK BEHIND OUR HOUSE AND DOWN THE ALLEY. AND WE WERE JUST OUT THERE JUST THROWING IT INTO THE BACK OF JOSE'S TRUCK. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE DUMPED IT BACK THEN, BUT WE DUMPED IT SOMEPLACE. AND IT JUST INSPIRED ME. LIKE WE JUST, WE, WE ALSO, BESIDES CLEANUPS, WE STARTED, OUR HUSBANDS MAINLY STARTED, UH, STARTED TAKING OFF THE GRAFFITI WELL BEFORE THERE WAS GRAFFITI ABATEMENT IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND IT SURPRISES ME THAT EVERY TIME WE DO THIS, THAT DUMPSTER'S USUALLY FULL. MY WIFE AND I FIRST GOT INVOLVED, UM, WE MOVED HERE A FEW YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN, [00:20:01] IN CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE AND STORAGE DISTRICT, UH, MET US RIGHT AWAY AND TOLD US ABOUT THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS. AND SIMPLY EXPLAINED TO US THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO MEET OTHER NEIGHBORS AND ALSO TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE, UH, THE WELFARE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO INVITE MICHELLE AARON DECOFF TO SHARE A FEW REMARKS. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. MAYOR. UH, MY NAME IS MICHELLE AARON DECOFF. I AM THE CO-CHAIR OF CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT. AND, UH, WE STARTED THIS CLEANING JOURNEY JOURNEY OVER 40 YEAR, 30 YEARS AGO. SORRY. AND DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING RIGHT OVER OVER THERE, , CRAFTSMEN, UM, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD A CLEANER AND SAFER PLACE. IF I CAN GIVE ANY ADVICE TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING TO ORGANIZE AND IMPROVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT IS THIS CONSISTENCY, LONGEVITY AND RESOURCES. BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR CLEANUP EFFORTS. MONTHLY, QUARTERLY. IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO HAVE JUST A ONE-OFF EVENT LONGEVITY. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET USED TO THE ROUTINE AND FOR PARTICIPATION TO INCREASE. FINALLY, RESOURCES. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER. THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER AND THE CLEAN TEAM. UM, BOTH ARE GREAT PLACES TO START AND THEY HAVE ACCESS TO EVERYTHING THAT A NEIGHBORHOOD COULD NEED. ON BEHALF OF CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT, I THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE OUR LITTLE CORNER OF LONG BEACH A MUCH NICER PLACE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO, UH, MICHELLE, BEFORE YOUR COUNCILWOMAN WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING, BEFORE I DO, I'LL JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, UH, JUST WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, INCREDIBLE, UH, FIRST DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE. THANK YOU. WE, FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AS I'VE BEEN MAYOR, WE'VE CONVENED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT OF ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LEADERS. UH, YOU ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED. YOU ARE ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING AN EXAMPLE AND FOR SHOWING OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS HOW TO STEP UP AND SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND HELP THE ORGANIZE. AND ALSO, UH, MARGARET MADDEN, WHO'S SORT OF THE, THE SORT OF THE, UH, COORDINATOR OF ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN THE CITY. WHAT WOULD WE BE IN LONG BEACH WITHOUT THE WORK THAT MARGARET MADDEN'S DOING? GREAT. AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM'S HERE FOR BOTH OF YOU. GREAT. COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, YOU'VE GOT YOUR RESIDENTS HERE. THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU, MARGARET, FOR ALL YOUR, YOUR WORK IN HELPING, UM, WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, VERY PRIDEFUL MOMENT FOR ME. UM, COMMUNITY CAN BE BUILT IN MANY WAYS, BUT A KEY FACTOR, LIKE YOU SAID, MICHELLE, IS CONSISTENCY. CRAFTSMAN VILLAGE, HISTORIC DISTRICT IS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE FIRST DISTRICT, BUT ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT ONES. AND I THINK THAT YOU SAID IT PERFECTLY IN YOUR REMARKS. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK AND ADVOCACY FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. YES, THANK YOU. UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW, UH, OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE. SO IF YOU GUYS WOULD JUST STAND UP. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. JUST TO BE RECOGNIZED FROM CRAFTSMAN'S VILLAGE SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, DEDICATION AND CONSISTENCY. NOT ONLY DO YOU GUYS PROVIDE, UM, CLEAN AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY, BUT YOU ALSO THINK AB ARE THINKING ABOUT WAYS THAT YOU CAN BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, LIKE THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN THAT WE HAVE. UM, TAMALES ON TOLEDO, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS DURING CHRISTMAS TIME. UM, SO MANY OTHER EVENTS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE. UM, OF COURSE ONE OF THE MOST RECENT ONES THAT I HAVE TO BRAG ABOUT IS THE LITTLE LIBRARY AT OUR LITTLE PARK THAT WE HAVE. I MEAN, THAT'S SUCH A PRIDEFUL JOY, AND YOU GUYS REALLY DESERVE THIS, UM, THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. UM, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE WHOLE CITY VERY PROUD, BUT ESPECIALLY DISTRICT ONE. THANK YOU. PINK ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM AND THEM. YOU WANNA COME FORWARD, UH, THE COUNCILWOMAN AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER. YES. AND JOSE, RIGHT IN THE CENTER. YEAH, RIGHT IN THE CENTER. HOW'S IT GOING? NICE TO SEE YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. I AM HERE. YEAH, I USUALLY TAKE PICTURES, BUT IT'S OKAY. [00:25:01] IT'S ME. I'LL DO IT. YOU CAN TAKE PICTURES. OH, YOU GUYS HAVE A REALLY NICE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A RESULT. HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? WE NEED SOME PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE. THAT EVERYONE LAST CALL. LAST CALL. OKAY. . ALL RIGHT. OVER HERE. 1, 2, 3 ON ONE MORE . THANK YOU. WAIT, DID YOU BLINK? OH, YOU'RE GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD. THANK YOU. OH, YOU'RE ALL RIGHT. LET'S, UH, TAKE UP THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE. OKAY. WE NEED A MOTION. AND SECOND FROM THE COUNCIL ON CONSENT. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECONDED. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT? THERE'S TWO SPEAKERS. OKAY. VIVIAN SHAMA AND JANINE S PLEASE COME FORWARD. MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY STAFF AND PUBLIC. I'M VIVIAN SHIMOYAMA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, AND I ALSO HAVE A BUSINESS IN LONG BEACH. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE LONG BEACH ACCELERATOR. I'M HERE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT ITEM NUMBER 13, WHICH AUTHORIZES A CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE LONG BEACH ACCELERATOR OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO RECEIVE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT FOR OUR LONG BEACH TECH CENTER. THE LONG BEACH ACCELERATOR WAS FOUNDED AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BLUEPRINT. OUR ORGANIZATION WAS [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 31.)] DEVELOPED AS A MODEL PRI PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, A P THREE, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AN INVESTMENT PARTNER, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND CAL STATE UNIVERSITY, THE INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. UM, AS THE ACCELERATOR IS BUILDING OUR STARTUP TECH ECOSYSTEM, WE HAVE A GLOBAL VISION WITH LOCAL IMPACT. WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY HUB FOR OUR CITY. UM, WE PARTNER WITH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TECH ECOSYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GLOBAL PRESENCE. THE ACCELERATOR HAS SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, WHICH ARE CO COHORT BASED BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM. WE'RE BUILDING AN AI TECH COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ON BOARD TO ADOPT AI, AS WELL AS LOOK AT NEW METHODS TO BE ABLE TO ENHANCE JOBS. UM, WE ALSO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL ACUMEN FOR OUR GROWING SMALL BUSINESSES. AND WE'RE THE ORGANIZERS FOR THE FIRST LONG BEACH TECH WEEK, WHICH WILL BE SEPTEMBER 22ND TO THE 26TH OF THIS YEAR. WE HOST, WE'RE GONNA HOST OUR SECOND ANNUAL INVESTOR AND FOUNDER SUMMIT. THE CORE VALUES ARE TO INVEST IN DIVERSE FOUNDERS. WITH THE 46 COMPANIES THAT WE'VE INVESTED IN, WE'VE RAISED OVER 34 MILLION IN FUNDING THE GEN, THE REVENUE HAS BEEN GENERATED AT 13000068% OF OUR FOUNDERS IN THE COHORTS HAVE BEEN DIVERSE FOUNDERS. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY KNOWS, AND THAT WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE WORK WITH THE CITY. UH, 5.5 MILLION FOR STARTUP TECH COMPANIES HAS INVEST, INVEST INVESTED IN NOT ONLY THE EQUITY IN THE COMPANIES, BUT ALSO OUR LBA ORGANIZATION. I WANNA THANK THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING WITH US AS WE APPLIED FOR THE GRANT FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO CENTER FEINSTEIN'S OFFICE. A SPECIAL THANKS TO TYLER BONANO, CURLEY, MARY TORRES, AND THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNER FROM WHEN WE STARTED. WHEN WE FIRST APPLIED, JOHN KEISER WAS THERE WITH US, AS WELL AS, UM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM. UM, JEANETTE CHRISTIAN WORKED WITH US FROM SENATOR FEINSTEIN'S OFFICE. WE TOOK A WHOLE TEAM OF PEOPLE TO BRING A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO INVEST IN OUR CITY, AS WELL AS OUR LONG BEACH TECH CENTER. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I KEEP YOU INFORMED ABOUT THE TECH CENTER AND KEEP YOU INFORMED ABOUT HOW WE BUILD NOT ONLY OUR NATIONAL, OUR STATE, OUR LOCAL, BUT THE TECH ECOSYSTEM RIGHT HERE IN IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, VIVIAN. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, JANINE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M SPEAKING ON CONSENT CALENDAR, ITEMS ONE AND FIVE RELATED TO THE FUNDS YOU'RE PROVIDING THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER OF LONG BEACH. AS YOU [00:30:01] MAY RECALL, IF YOU REMEMBER ME, I OBJECT TO THE CITY SUBLEASE WITH SPACEX ON THE BASIS THAT THE COMPANY'S CEO HAS A HISTORY OF SPEECH AND POLITICAL ACTION AGAINST THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY. THE MAN HAS BOUGHT HIS POWER TO TRANSFORM MINDS AND LEGISLATION WITH MONEY MADE IN COLLABORATION WITH THIS CITY. THE FUNDS FOR THE CENTER ARE MEANINGLESS COMPARED TO THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE SUBLEASE. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO TERMINATE THE SUBLEASE BASED ON IDEOLOGY, EVEN IF THE IDEOLOGY IS A LIFE AND DEATH CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE. SO I WILL SPEAK TO OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SUBLEASE DISCRIMINATION. LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SPACEX OF SEX DISCRIMINATION, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, GENDER DISCRIMINATION, AND RETALIATION BASED ON THE SAME AS IT RELATES TO THE SUBLEASE PROVISION REQUIRING NO DISCRIMINATION. THERE WERE SO MANY EXAMPLES THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO COVER THEM DURING MY ALLOTTED TIME. I COULD SPEND THE REST OF MY TIME TELLING YOU MORE ABOUT THAT AND COME THE REST OF THE SUMMER AND TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT. THE WOMEN AND TRANS NON-BINARY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE COME FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE CULTURE OF SPACEX IS ONE OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND DISCRIMINATION REPORTING ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COVENANTS. THE DOCUMENTATION I RECEIVED FROM MY RECORDS REQUEST ON THE REPORTING BY SPACEX FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COVENANTS WAS A BIT OF A MESS. MOST OF THE REPORTING WAS UNDATED, BUT THERE IS DOCUMENTATION THAT SPACEX DID NOT PROVIDE REPORTING FOR 2021 UNTIL AFTER REPORTING FOR 2022 WAS DUE, AND SPACEX WAS REMINDED BY THE PORT TO PROVIDE THE REPORTING FOR BOTH YEARS. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE SUBLEASE INSURANCE. THE SUBLEASE REQUIRES SPACEX TO MAINTAIN INSURANCE OR SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS. THERE ARE FIVE TYPES OF INSURANCE NAMED THE RECORDS I WAS PROVIDED BY. THE CITY SHOWED A LAPSE IN MID 2024 IN FOUR OF THE FIVE TYPES. THE WATERCRAFT POLICY ALSO LAPSED FOR A MONTH IN 2021, UNLESS WE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE HANDWRITTEN NOTES AS PROOF OF INSURANCE. DID SPACEX CEASE OPERATIONS DURING THESE LAPSES? I ALSO NOTED IN THE WATERCRAFT POLICY THAT THE DEDUCTIBLE AND THE COVERAGE LIMIT WERE THE SAME AMOUNT WITH NO INDICATION OF SELF-INSURANCE AS WAS PRESENT IN SOME OF THE OTHER POLICY TYPES. I AM NOT AN INSURANCE EXPERT, SO I SURE WOULD NEED AN EXPLANATION OF HOW THAT POSSIBLY COMPLIES WITH THE INTENT AND THE LETTER OF THE SUBLEASE. I FEEL YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. VIOLATION HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WE'RE NOW MOVING IN A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE 10 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. MAYOR, WE NEED TO VOTE. OH, WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. NOW LET'S QUEUE UP GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE. ALRIGHT. UH, I'LL LIST YOUR NAMES. PLEASE COME FORWARD WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME. UH, 10 SPEAKERS. CARL KEMP SILVA NEHA, UH, SEAN KENDORF, LAURIE LOGAN, LAURA FOY, MANSOUR ACH, UH, JULIANA PER YEAR. ASH BRADY, [ 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. ] DARRELL TERRELL, AND JOSE NAVARRO. PLEASE COME FORWARD, MR. KEMP. MR. CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL JUNETEENTH FIFTH ANNUAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. I JUST WANTED TO COME AND SAY, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. WE HAD A FANTASTIC, UH, WEEKEND FOR JUNETEENTH. WE HAD A RECORD CROWD, UM, COULD BARELY SEE A BLADE OF GRASS, AND YET WE HAD NO INCIDENTS THAT REQUIRED SECURITY AT ALL. AND THERE, THERE WAS JUST AN OVERFLOW, UH, OF JOY AT THE EVENT. UM, FOR FIVE STRAIGHT YEARS, WE'VE HAD THIS EVENT, UM, ONCE ON PINE AVENUE, UH, AND, UH, FOUR YEARS AT RAINBOW LAGOON. AND WE THANK COUNCILWOMAN, UM, ZENDEJAS FOR, UH, OPENING UP THE FIRST DISTRICT TO US. WE APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST WANTED TO COME AND GIVE SOME SPECIFIC THANK YOUS. UH, TODAY. UM, ONE, I WANT TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS. THIS IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER ARMY THAT PUTS THIS, UH, EVENT TOGETHER. UM, FOLKS WHO ONLY GET PAID, UH, BY THE JOY THEY SEE ON THE FACES WHO, UM, COME TO OUR EVENT. UH, SO I WANNA THANK SPECIFICALLY THE VOLUNTEERS, UH, ON THE CORE TEAM. UH, MICHELLE GILL IMANI ON, UH, JALEN GUTIERREZ, CLARA RANDOLPH, JEREMY SCRUGGS, LAUREN SIMPSON, UH, KAT KAT BRAMAN, [00:35:01] UH, AND RASHINA YOUNG. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR MAJOR SPONSORS. UH, WITHOUT THEM, UH, THIS EVENT COULD NOT HAPPEN, UH, BECAUSE IT IS A PREDOMINANTLY FREE EVENT FOR THE PUBLIC. UH, OUR MAJOR SPONSORS THIS YEAR, UH, WERE VISIT LONG BEACH. UH, LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, DISNEYLAND RESORT, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, CAL STATE LONG BEACH, AND COMPTON COLLEGE. UH, AND FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE MEMBERS, UH, BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON, YOU'VE BEEN A MAJOR SUPPORTER, UH, SINCE YOUR TIME AS VICE MAYOR, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, THE FIRST SUPPORTER WE HAD, UH, WAS COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MARY IN DEJAS, WHO I'VE KNOWN SINCE CAL STATE LONG BEACH, GO BEACH. UM, UH, COUNCILMAN CINDY ALLEN, COUNCILWOMAN MEGAN KERR, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, DR. SOLI SORO, COUNCILWOMAN TORTU COUNCILMAN, UH, ROBERTO URANGA. UH, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, DR. COUNCILMAN, DR. JOANI, RICKS OTI. I THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT. UH, AND, AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE, UH, BEEN ABLE TO COME OUT TO THE EVENT. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU THERE. UH, THIS HAS BEEN, UM, THIS HAS BECOME THE LARGEST BLACK CULTURAL EVENT IN THE CITY. 51 SECONDS. THIS HAS BECOME THE LARGEST BLACK CULTURAL EVENT IN THE CITY, UH, AND AN ANNUAL DESTINATION FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. UH, AND IT'S A SIGNATURE EVENT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND THIS YEAR WE EVEN HAD SOMEONE PROPOSE, UH, TO HIS FUTURE WIFE ON STAGE. WOW. NICE. UH, PEOPLE, PEOPLE MAKE THIS AN ANNUAL TRADITION, UH, AND COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU. UH, WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM. WE THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT. WE THANK FIRE AND POLICE. UH, CHIEF, UH, WE APPRECIATE HAVING, UH, YOU THERE. UM, WHETHER IT'S, UH, ON THE CLOCK AND, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, AS PART OF SPECIAL EVENTS OR AS PART OF OUR, UM, THE RECRUITMENT TEAM OR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM, WE'D LOVE IT WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE TIME TO COME OUT AND WOBBLE WITH US. WE KNOW YOU GUYS ARE BUSY THIS YEAR, BUT WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR, UH, AND ESPECIALLY, UH, WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO TASHA TANAKA, UH, AND LEAH, UM, AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM, YOUR TIME HELPING US TOGETHER. SO, THANK YOU ALL. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. HAPPY ALL. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS SILVA, THEN. SEAN. HELLO. WHOA. HELLO EVERYBODY. UM, I WANNA THANK, UH, THE CITIZENS OF THE WORLD, UM, HUMANS OF THE WORLD. I'D LIKE TO START OFF SAYING IS I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. YES. PALESTINE. YES. ISRAEL IS COMMITTING A GENOCIDE. AND WE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND HUMAN MEMBERS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD ARE WATCHING WHAT THE MAYOR OF OUR BEAUTIFUL LONG BEACH CITY HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT. YES, THE GENOCIDE, YOU MAY CONSIDER THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE A NON-ISSUE NOW. BUT WHEN ANOTHER MAYOR IS VOTED INTO THAT VERY SEAT, YOU'RE SITTING IN AND YOUR POSITION AND POWER ARE RETIRED, YOU WILL HAVE TO FACE THE FACT THAT YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON WERE ACTIONLESS DURING A GENOCIDE THAT IS BEING BROADCASTED IN THE PALMS OF OUR HANDS. AND I HOPE I HAVE THE BODY'S UNDIVIDED ATTENTION BECAUSE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXHIBITING, AND I, I DON'T, I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING OFF OF SCRIPT, BUT MY HANDS ARE SHAKING. THERE'S A GENOCIDE. A LOT OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE HAVE CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF IF WE CAN JUST TAKE CARE OF THIS HUGE ISSUE. ONE OF THE ACTIONS IS TO UPDATE THE PROCLAMATION SUPPORTING THE PERMANENT, UH, HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE IN GAZA THAT WAS PASSED, UH, BY LONG BEACH, UH, ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2023. WE, THE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE FOR THE WORLD TO KNOW THAT LONG BEACH DOES NOT SUPPORT THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. AND THIS IS WHY I ASK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON, TO TAKE ACTION NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE FOR YOU. PALESTINIANS ARE BEING STARVED AND MURDERED EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE URGE YOU TO HAVE A VETTING PROCEDURE FOR THE LONG BEACH INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM, SUCH AS, AND WHAT YOU'VE SUPPORTED THE LBA AND THE LAUNCH BA BEACH COALITION TO PREVENT ANY BUSINESS STARTUP SUPPORT THAT HAS ANY TIES OR ANY ASSOCIATIONS WITH COUNTRIES BEING ACCUSED OF COMMITTING GENOCIDES SUCH AS ISRAEL AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND LEGAL BODIES STATING THAT ISRAEL IS COMMITTING A GENOCIDE. AND BY ME, BECAUSE I HAVE A PHONE AND IT'S AN OLD ONE AND I CAN STILL SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER, I GUESS I, I HAVE MORE TO SAY, [00:40:01] BUT PLEASE LOOK INTO YOUR HUMANITY. PLEASE, PLEASE, I LIKE TO TAKE THE REST OF MY TIME FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE DEATH THAT IS BEING COMMITTED IN PALESTINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SEAN KENDORF. AFTER SEAN IS LORI LOGAN. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M REVEREND SEAN. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. I WAS HERE, UH, LAST MEETING IN OPPOSITION TO SPACEX, MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE MAN BEHIND IT. ELON MUSK, WE KNOW IS NO SECRET THAT HIS NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH FASCISM. AND HIS LACK OF CONCERNS FOR OTHERS IS VERY CONCERNING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND FRANKLY, THE WHOLE COUNTRY. UH, LAST TIME I GAVE YOU A LIST OF THINGS THAT I DON'T TRUST ABOUT THIS MAN, AND HERE'S A COUPLE MORE. I DO NOT TRUST A MAN WHO BASICALLY PITCHED HIMSELF INTO THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY DEPARTMENT, LAUGHING WITH OUR CURRENT CORRUPT PRESIDENT ABOUT BEING THE GREATEST CUTTER OF JOBS. I DO NOT TRUST A MAN WHO THREATENS TO FIRE HIS EMPLOYEES FOR EVEN TALKING ABOUT FORMING UNIONS. I DO NOT TRUST A MAN WITH SO LITTLE INTEGRITY. I'M NOT REALLY AN ACTIVIST. THIS IS FAIRLY NEW TO ME. I'M A SPIRITUAL LEADER, AKA MINISTER, AND I'VE BEEN LEADING MY CONGREGATION FOR 23 YEARS. SPIRITUAL INTEGRITY IS SO, SO IMPORTANT TO US. IT'S A DRIVING FORCE. WE WORK WITHIN SHARED LEADERSHIP AND CON AND CONSENSUS, WHICH IN ACTION MEANS TO US THAT EVERY VOICE HAS VALUE. EVEN IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE SOMEONE'S COMING FROM, EVEN IF I THINK SOMEONE'S EXAGGERATING, EVEN IF SOMEONE I DON'T AGREE WITH, OUR INTEGRITY REQUIRES THAT WE LISTEN, NOT PASSIVELY, NOT PATRONIZINGLY WITH A HEART THAT WANTS TO LEARN. AND I SAY THAT TO SET UP THIS BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED THAT IN ORDER TO LEGALLY RELEASE LONG BEACH FROM THAT CURRENT CONTRACT WITH SPACEX, THERE MUST BE A BREACH OF THE CONTRACT ON THEIR SIDE. WELL, I'M ALSO LEARNING THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN BREACHES MOSTLY REGARDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT TOWARD WOMEN. IT'S A BIG DEAL THROUGHOUT HISTORY. THIS IS OFTEN BRUSHED OFF AS WOMEN BEING, OH, WE'RE JUST TOO SENSITIVE OR OVEREXAGGERATING OR EVEN MAKING STUFF UP. BUT FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, THESE WOMEN DESERVE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I'M NOT REALLY RELIGIOUS, I'M SPIRITUAL IN MY BELIEF, WOMEN ARE EQUAL TO MEN IN GOD'S CREATION AND DON'T DESERVE TO BE DISMISSED. THIS IS THE MAIN POINT FOR ME. YOUR ACTIONS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SEND TWO POWERFUL MESSAGES. ONE, WOMEN, WE HEAR YOU. WE DON'T JUST DISMISS YOU AND TWO, SPACEX OWNER AND EMPLOYEES, WE'RE NOT LETTING YOU GET AWAY WITH IT. POWERFUL POTENTIAL. DON'T YOU THINK I ASK AGAIN? DO WE REALLY WANT A PERSON WITH SO LITTLE INTEGRITY THIS'S INVOLVED IN THIS CITY? I DON'T MY WORDS. AGAIN, I DON'T TRUST HIM. AND WOMEN DESERVE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SEAN. NEXT IS LORI AND LAURA. LAURA. THANK YOU, SEAN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LORI AND GOOD EVENING TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I LIVE IN FIRST DISTRICT IN THE WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, WHICH HAS A FOCUS OF BECOMING A GREENER AND SUSTAINABLE PORT. THE LONG BEACH VOTERS APPROVED FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE INNER AND OUTER HARBOR IN 1924. THIS MANDATE HAS RESULTED IN INVESTMENTS IN MODERN, EFFICIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE FACILITIES. ON THE OTHER HAND, ELON MUSK AND SPACEX COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE LONG BEACH ENVIRONMENT BECOMING GREENER AND SUSTAINABLE. THE EPA ISSUED ISSUED AN ORDER LAST MARCH TO ELIMINATE UNPERMITTED DISCHARGE. SPACEX EVENTUALLY AGREED TO PAY $145,000 CIVIL PENALTY OVER THE CLEAN WATER ACT ALLEGATIONS. ACCORDING TO EPA FILED FROM JANUARY 15TH TO 2025. SPACEX WASTE INCLUDES SMALL PARTICLES OF ERODED MATERIAL GASES AND AEROSOLS AND POST EROSION SLURRY. THIS TOXIC HAZARDOUS WASTE PRODUCT IS HARMFUL TO THE LONG BEACH ENVIRONMENT AND EMPLOYEES AT THE SPACEX PLANT. IN ADDITION, STAR BASE HAS FACED MULTIPLE EPA VIOLATIONS AT THE SITE IN SOUTH TEXAS, PRIMARILY FOR DISCHARGING WASTEWATER INTO WESTLANDS WITHOUT THE PROPER PERMITS. [00:45:01] THESE VIOLATIONS OCCURRED DURING TESTING AND LAUNCHING OF THE SPACESHIP ROCKET. THESE EVENTS HAVE LED TO FINES AND LEGAL ACTION. STAR BASE WAS FINED BY THE EPA FOR CLEAN WATER ACT VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING A 148,000 PENALTY. ALSO IN BOCA CHICA, TEXAS, THERE IS CONCERNS ABOUT HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE ROCKETS. CONTAMINANTS, POLLUTANTS INCLUDE DEBRIS DISPERSED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, WATER POLLUTION AND HARM TO ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE IN LONG BEACH SPACE X WASTE INCLUDES A GAS AND AEROSOL MIXTURE OF D ELECTRIC FLUIDS. THIS MIXTURE DECOMPOSES INTO A BYPRODUCT OF GASES THAT CAN BE HAZARDOUS TOXIC CON CONCENTRATE IN THE AIR. IN ADDITION, HYDROGEN GAS IS PRODUCED AND IT CAN BE EASILY IGNITED BY SPARKING OUR OPEN FLAMES. THE LONG BEACH PORT COMMUNITY RESIDENTS DON'T NEED THIS ILLEGAL MIXTURE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS AND GASES IN THE AIR THAT THEY BREATHE. YOU MUST CUT TIES WITH SPACEX BECAUSE SPACEX, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF POLLUTING THE LAND, WATER, AIR ECOSYSTEM, AND WILDLIFE LONG BEACH PORT IS THE LANDLORD. AS THE LANDLORD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOXIC WASTE OF ITS TENANTS, THE CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH WILL BE STUCK WITH A BILL FOR CLEANING UP THIS MESS IN YEARS TO COME. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT IS LAURA, THEN MONSOUR. HI. THANKS SO MUCH FOR HEARING US. UM, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. I'D NEVER COME TO CITY COUNCIL BEFORE, UH, FEBRUARY WHEN THE SHOCK OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD LED ME TO COME HERE. UM, AND LIKE I SAID, LAST TIME, WE'RE LEARNING ON THE FLY. I'LL PICK IT UP WHEN I'M DONE . AND IT'S BEEN THIS INTERESTING PROCESS OF LEARNING ABOUT WHAT IS REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY AND PARTICIPATING IN IT, AND THE FEAR AND THE TERROR THAT WE MIGHT LOSE IT. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, TWO DEMOCRATS WERE JUST SHOT, ONE WAS KILLED. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE ARRESTS TAKING PLACE. WE'RE LIVING IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. ANOTHER UNPRECEDENTED TIME. THIS IS NO FUN. IT'S TERRIFYING. UM, ICE, WHAT ELSE CAN I EVEN SAY? A MAN WHO SELLS FLOWERS IS NOW MISSING. EVERY DAY WE'RE ALL GETTING THESE TEXT THREADS OF, HAVE YOU SEEN, DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION? OUR CITY IS TERRIFIED AND WE ALL FEEL THE BREWING OF A CIVIL WAR. AND ANYONE WITH A BRAIN AND A HEART KNOW CAN WE KNOW THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING. SO REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FAILED US. THE DEMOCRATS DID NOT STOP THIS. THE GUY HAS HOW MANY FELONIES, AND YET HE'S PRESIDENT. YEP. SO WE'RE WATCHING THIS. WE'RE WATCHING THE DEMISE OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR DEMOCRACY IN REAL TIME. AND THERE'S THIS FORUM FOR US TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU GUYS. AND THERE'S A MAN WHO BANKROLLED THIS AND WE KNOW WHO HE IS. HIS NAME IS ELON MUSK. AND FOR THAT, THAT POINT, YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK THERE WAS A PROTEST OUTSIDE. I KNOW YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CITY. IT'S OBVIOUS. AND I KNOW THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE TERROR THAT'S OUT IN THE STREETS. YOU CAN'T HAVE CAMBODIA TOWN HERE. WE, WE ARE A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS. WE KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU, YOU CAN'T CONTROL DONALD TRUMP AND YOU CAN'T CONTROL ICE, BUT YOU CAN CONTROL WHO YOU DO BUSINESS WITH AND, AND YOU'RE NOT SUBJECT TO LEGAL LIABILITY BASED ON THE BREACHES OF THAT CONTRACT THAT WE FOUND. AND THE QUESTION IS, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA WISH YOU HAD DONE? ARE YOU GONNA WISH THAT YOU FACILITATED AND ENABLED THE FASCIST DEMISE OF OUR NATION AND OUR WORLD? OR ARE YOU GONNA WISH THAT YOU DID WHAT YOU REALLY COULD? IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR ANY OF YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AT THIS EXTREMELY HISTORICAL MOMENT IN TIME. AND YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS MONSOUR. AFTER MONSOUR IS JULIANA. UH, DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS MY REMARKS TO CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH, INCLUDING YOU ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS. UH, IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO REPORT TO YOU. IF YOU ATTENDED THE RALLY NO KINGS [00:50:01] DAY RALLY ON SATURDAY THE 14TH, THEY WERE CLOSE TO 12 TO 15,000 CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH RALLYING ON OCEAN BOULEVARD FOR MILES ON END. AND THEY WERE OVER 2100 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE AND ORGANIZED BY MORE THAN A HUNDRED ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING INDIVISIBLE AND REFUSE. FASCISM GROUP. AS THE PREVIOUS, UH, CITIZEN OF LONG BEACH, MADE A COMMENT THAT WE ARE HERE FACING ICE, FACING RATES ON FAMILY. THIS IS A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY. EVERYBODY IS HERE IN LONG BEACH. ALL THE HYPHENATED AMERICANS ARE HERE. WE NEED TO SUPPORT CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH. NO WORK WITH ICE. NO RATES, NO ICE RATES, NO TAMPERING WITH THE BUSINESSES OF LONG BEACH. THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE ONES THAT RUNNING THE SOCIETY. LONG BEACH CITY RELIES HEAVILY ON THE SMALL BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, THIS AND THAT. UH, THE TWO MOST UBIQUITOUS HANDWRITTEN SIGNS WERE WE PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS ASSIGNED TO SAY NO ICE RATES HERE. AND THE OTHER ONE WAS, NO ONE IS ILLEGAL ON THE STOLEN LAND, WHICH WHICH OPPOSES HOMEGROWN WHITE SUPREMACY, WHITE SUPREMACY AND FASCISM IN THE UNITED STATES. SO PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE WERE THERE, ESPECIALLY MEXICANOS AMERICANOS ATTENDED THE RALLY AND WORE THEIR PROUD FLAGS. ALSO, PEOPLE WERE KAFIS AND WAVE PALESTINIAN FLAGS IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIANS. I'M GONNA CUT CHASE TO MY, THE REST OF MY, UH, COMMENTS. BUT I DO WANT TO PRESENT TO CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH. I HAVE NO FINANCIAL INTEREST IN BOOKS, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, UH, THIS CIVIC SELF RESPECT, A TITLE OF THE NEW BOOK BY RALPH NADER AND RALPH NADER IS ONE OF THE HUNDRED MOST IMPORTANT FIGURES OF AMERICAN HISTORY. SO FOR THOSE WHO JUST ATTENDED THE RALLY, PLEASE CONTINUE PICK A ONE, TWO, PICK ONE OR TWO SUBJECTS THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART AND STAY FOCUSED AND LET'S STAY ACTIVE. TIME HAS, HAS CONCLUDED CLASSES IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JULIANA, THEN ASH. HI, MY NAME IS JULIANA PIER. I WAS BORN IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA IN 1961. AND I LOVE MY CITY, AND I THINK EVERYONE THAT'S HERE DOES TOO. AND I AM HERE TO REGISTER MY CONCERNS ABOUT SPACEX. I WOULD SPECIFICALLY LIKE TO LIMIT THEIR GROWTH AND HOPEFULLY DIMINISH THEIR FOOTPRINT IN LONG BEACH. LONG BEACH IS KNOWN AS SPACE BEACH. WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF OTHER, UM, AEROSPACE AND SPACE ROCKET BUSINESSES HERE IN THE UNI AND IN LONG BEACH. AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OVERREACH OF ELON MUSK'S ABILITY TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. AND ALSO I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT STARLINK. AND IF HE SO CHOSE, HE COULD ACTUALLY OVERRIDE THE CONTROL OF PERHAPS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES. I THINK HE'S A FECKLESS CHARACTER AND HE'S DANGEROUS. AND THE REASON I SAY HE'S DANGEROUS IS BECAUSE HE PUTS PROTOTYPES OUT ONTO THE STREET BEFORE THEY'VE BEEN TESTED. WE HAVE CYBER TRUCKS THAT HAVE HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS. WE HAVE A, UM, STEEL PANELS FALLING OFF ON THE STREETS. WE HAVE, UM, FOUR DAYS AGO IN AUSTIN, THERE WAS A TEST OF THE SELF-DRIVING TESLAS, AND THEY FAILED TO STOP FOR A CHILD SIZED DUMMY. THIS WAS FOUR DAYS AGO IN THE NEWS. THEY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE A CHILD SIZE DUMMY. AND OF COURSE, UM, THAT WAS A FAILURE. UH, THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY WORRIES ME IS THAT WE KNOW THAT HE'S A BAD NEIGHBOR. IF YOU TALK TO BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, ANYONE IN TEXAS, THERE IS IN THE PRESS A STATEMENT THAT HE IS A BAD NEIGHBOR. HE'S FECKLESS, UM, IN THE TOWN OF STAR BASE IN TEXAS. UM, THEY REALLY WANT TO CREATE BASICALLY A, A CON A COMPANY STORE. WE ALL REMEMBER THIS, RIGHT? UM, HE WENT IN THERE, UM, AND NOW HAS POLITICAL POWER AS A CITY TO CLOSE DOWN THE BEACHES WHEN THEY WANT. UM, THEY'RE THE ARBITRATORS OF WHEN IT'S SAFE TO CLOSE THE BEACHES AND CLOSE DOWN THE ROADS. [00:55:01] NOW, NOW, TEXAS GAVE THEM THAT PRIVILEGE, HOWEVER, THEY GOT THAT BY PUTTING IN EMPLOYEES THERE. AND THOSE EMPLOYEES VOTED. AND I KNOW LONG BEACH IS A FAR STEP AWAY FROM THAT, BUT HE'S DANGEROUS. HE'S FECKLESS, HE PUTS THINGS OUT BEFORE TESTING THEM. THEY FALL FROM THE SKY, THEY FALL ON THE STREETS. UM, I LOVE MY CITY AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE COMPETITION IN THE SPACE RACE, IN AVIATION. IT SHOULDN'T ALL GO TO ELON MUSK. SO, UM, I'M SUPER NERVOUS MY FIRST TIME PUBLICLY SPEAKING. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE COMPLICATED DECISIONS TO MAKE, BUT PLEASE, PLEASE TRY TO DIMINISH AND DO NOT LET THIS FECKLESS, UM, DANGER TO DEMOCRACY CONTINUE TO GROW IN LONG BEACH. AND, AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY FOR 12 MINUTES. THANK YOU. OR 12 SECONDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS ASH BRADY, THEN DARYL TERRELL. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN REX. UH, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I GET TO BUSINESS, I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU. YOU DO A LOT FOR THIS CITY. I SEE YOU, WE WORK TOGETHER. MARY, I LOVE YOUR YOUR AQUARIUM NIGHTS. I LOVE THIS CITY. I LOVE THE CITY COUNCIL. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I FEEL LIKE I YELL AT YOU ALL THE TIME. SO I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU FIRST NOW TO BUSINESS. SO LAST WEEK I SPOKE ABOUT THE TOXIC WORKPLACE CULTURE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS COMING OUT OF SPACEX TONIGHT. LET'S REITERATE WHY THIS MATTERS. IN 20 22, 8, CALIFORNIA BASED EMPLOYEES WERE FIRED BY SPACEX, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM WHO WAS WORKING RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. AFTER THEY CIRCULATED AN OPEN LETTER CALLING ELON MUSK'S BEHAVIOR A DISTRACTION AND EMBARRASSMENT TO THE COMPANY, FOLLOWING REPORTS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. MUSK'S PUBLIC RESPONSE, OF COURSE, WAS A JOKE, A PENIS JOKE. UH, THOSE EIGHT WORKERS FILED THE LAWSUIT IN JUNE OF 2024 IN THE CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT. THEIR CLAIMS INCLUDED HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT, RETALIATION, FAILURE TO PREVENT HARASSMENT, GENDER DISCRIMINATION, AND WRONGFUL TERMINATION. NOW, THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT ALLEGATIONS. THE LAWSUIT DESCRIBES A CULTURE WHERE ENGINEERS CASUALLY NAMED EQUIPMENT, THINGS LIKE OUTSKIRT CAMERA, WHERE MECHANICAL PARTS WERE REFERRED TO AS TOADS AND SLS. SO THIS IS THE STUPIDEST NAME. AND WHERE WOMEN AND QUEER FOLK WERE ROUTINELY DEMEANED IN COMPANY MEETINGS, ONE ENGINEER REPORTED A COLLEAGUE FOR REPEAT, UH, FOR REPEATEDLY BRINGING UP SEXUALLY EXPLICIT TOPICS, INCLUDING INVITING HER TO A SEX PARTY. HR TOOK NO ACTION, AND THAT COLLEAGUE WAS PROMOTED. ANOTHER WOMAN, AN ENGINEER WHO WORKED RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH, SAYS THAT SHE LEFT SPACEX IN 2021, RIGHT WHEN THAT LEASE STARTED. FOUR YEARS OF UNADDRESSED HARASSMENT. SHE DESCRIBES MEN HUGGING WOMEN WITHOUT CONSENT, STARING AT THEM WHILE THEY WORK AND TREATING EVERY ENCOUNTER AS A DATING OPPORTUNITY. AGAIN, HR DID NOTHING. ANOTHER PLAINTIFF SAID THAT ELON MUSK MADE A LEWD SEXUAL CHARGE COMMENT ONLINE, AND SHE OVERHEARD MA UH, MALE COLLEAGUES TAKING, TALKING ABOUT WOMEN'S BREAST AT WORK. WHEN SHE RAISED CONCERNS WITH THIS MANAGEMENT, SHE WAS TOLD SPACEX IS ELON. ELON IS SPACEX, THIS MAN AND THE COMPANY. WE GAVE HIM PUBLIC LAND, A MAN AND THIS COMPANY WHO ENCOURAGES TOXIC SEXUALLY CHARGED WORK ENVIRONMENTS. A MAN IN A COMPANY WITH A GROWING HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION. SEPARATELY, THERE IS A $250,000 PAID TO THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WHO SAID MUSK EXPOSED HIMSELF AND THEN PROPOSITIONED HER FOR A WORKPLACE MASSAGE. SHE WAS SILENCED WITH, GUESS WHAT? AN NDA. WHEN I SEE THE CITY COUNCIL, I LOOK AT THE MAJORITY OF YOU ARE WOMEN. WOMEN WHO I WOULD ASSUME AND WANNA FEEL TO ENSURE THE WOMEN OF LONG BEACH FEEL SAFE TO COME TO WORK. WHO CAN FEEL SAFE SHOWERING IN THEIR LIVING SPACES? WHY DO WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF WOMEN SITTING ON CITY COUNCIL IF WE'RE NOT HERE TO PROTECT THEM? WHY DO WE HAVE A WOMEN'S COMMISSION IF WE'RE NOT HERE TO HELP THE VERY WOMEN THAT THIS MAN COMPLETELY TARGETS? I AM GOING TO MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT THAT I CAN RAISE MY HAND AND I CAN ASK EVERY WOMAN IN HERE IF THEY'VE EVER BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THE WORKPLACE. AND I GUARANTEE YOU EVERY SINGLE WOMAN WILL RAISE THEIR HAND. THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE ELON MUSK IN PLACES LIKE THIS. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO STOP HERE. TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. OKAY, SECTION 27. THANKS ASH. ALRIGHT, DARRYL AND THEN JOSE. UM, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DARRELL TERRELL. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF RENO VALLEY IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY SINCE MAY OF 2022, I HAVE TIRELESSLY, UM, TO HELP COMMUNITIES ACROSS STATE, ACROSS THE STATE TO CONFRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS. I'VE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE ADOPTION OF WHAT I CALL THE ONE AND DONE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNLAWFUL POSSESSION ORDINANCE IN BOTH RIVERSIDE AND FRESNO COUNTIES AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY ALONE. WE, ALL OF OUR 28 CITIES ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT ORDINANCE. AND IN YOUR COUNTY, 22 CITIES HAVE ADOPTED THIS ORDINANCE. NOW, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE, AND LET ME EXPLAIN WHY. STATE LAW AB 6 41 [01:00:01] ALLOWS YOUR POLICE OFFICERS TO CHARGE THS WITH ILLEGAL AUTOMOBILE, AUTOMOBILE DISMANTLING WHEN THEY ARE CAUGHT WITH NINE OR MORE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WITHOUT A DISMANTLING PERMIT. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT CREATES AN ILLEGAL LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS A THIEF TO STEAL UP TO EIGHT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND NOTHING HAPPENS TO 'EM. SO WHAT, SO WHAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD DO, IT WOULD ALLOW YOUR OFFICERS TO ENFORCE THE THEFT OF CRIMES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE ONE OR NINE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. AND, BUT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS, THIS IS ABOUT REAL PEOPLE. ON FEBRUARY 25TH IN BEAUMONT, UM, HEIGHTS, A MAN TRIED TO STOP AT THIEF OUTSIDE HIS HOME, WHO HE, HE WAS TRYING TO STEAL HIS CATALYTIC INVERTER. IF YOU LOOK AT MAY 25TH AND SANTA CLARITA, MR. OZ AND HIS NEIGHBORS WERE VICTIMS OF BROAD DATE LIGHT OF PEOPLES OF STEALING HIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AND SO THESE, THIS IS, AGAIN, IT'S NOT A JUST NUMBERS. YOU GOTTA THINK ABOUT PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY WHO DO, WHO USE THEIR CARS TO GO TO WORK IF SOMETHING, GOD FORBID, HAPPENS TO THEIR CAR THAT NO LONGER COULD, COULD GET TO WORK, PICK UP THE KIDS OR, OR OTHER THINGS IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. AND WE AS A CITY HAVE, WE HAVE TO GET TOGETHER WITH OTHER CITIES LIKE MY CITIES AND ALSO IN THE COUNTY OF VENTURA AND LET'S SEE WHO ELSE, UM, AND ORANGE COUNTY AND KERN COUNTY ARE READY TO DO THEIR FIRST READING OF THIS ORDINANCE. SO I'M ASKING YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE CANNOT, CANNOT ALLOW SACRAMENTO TO DO WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE BECAUSE IT'S TOO MANY PEOPLE DEPEND ON THE AUTOMOBILES. AND IT'S, AND WE COULD BE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, OUR FINAL SPEAKER, JOSE NAVARRO, UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING ME SHARE. UM, I COME FOR THE, WE HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT IN THE SHELTERS GOING THROUGH ROUGH TIMES, UM, ESPECIALLY GINA KIM. SHE HAS, UH, A PLASTIC ANEMIA. SHE HAS, UH, SEIZURES AND, UM, I GUESS RIGHT NOW SHE'S HAVING ONE. THAT'S WHY SHE COULDN'T COME IN HERE, ESTABLISH BULLYING OTHER SENIORS. AND, UM, ACTUALLY THEY PUNCHED THEM. AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD, UH, WAY TO ESTABLISH BOTH TO BE ACTING TOWARDS THOSE THAT NEED HELP. AND, UM, THEY THREATENING HER RESIDENTS TOO. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I, I STAND UP FOR HER AND I GOT PUNCHED AND I GOT KICKED OUT. 'CAUSE OF AB RAPIST THAT'S IN THERE STILL. AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE. INSTEAD OF HIM BEING OUT, I'M THE ONE WHO GOT KICKED OUT. UM, GINA, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WALKED OUT 'CAUSE SHE COULDN'T TAKE ALL THAT PRESSURE, ALL THAT BULLYING. AND RIGHT NOW SHE'S IN, UH, OUTSIDE THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, SLEEPING IN THE STREETS WHILE THAT PERSON IS INSIDE. THANK YOU. RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THAT CONCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. AGAIN, WE, THIS IS, UH, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, 10 SPEAKERS AT THE VERY BEGINNING, THREE MINUTES, UH, UNLIMITED, UH, NO CAP ON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS AT THE END OF THE MEETING. UH, BUT, UH, FOLKS CAN COME HERE AND SAY, UH, WHATEVER ISSUES THAT THEY WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR, OR, UH, IN SOME THINGS, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY TAKE UP, FOLKS DO LISTEN. AND, UH, AND YOU ALSO HAVE KEY STAFF HERE. SO AT TIMES STAFF WILL SORT OF PULL FOLKS TO THE SIDE ON ISSUES, HOMELESSNESS, SAFETY, WHATEVER, AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA. UH, WE HAVE A HEARING TONIGHT, HEARING ITEM 32, PLEASE. AND THIS ITEM WILL NEED AN OATH REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD, CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GRANT AN ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT WITH CONDITIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT WITH DANCING TO JT WATSON, L-L-C-D-B-A, EVENTS ON PINE, LOCATED AT 140 [32. 25-55541 Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and grant an Entertainment Permit with conditions for entertainment with dancing to JTWatson LLC, DBA Events on Pine located at 140 Pine Avenue, Suite 300, Long Beach, CA 90802. (District 1) Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] PINE AVENUE, SUITE NUMBER 300, DISTRICT ONE. OKAY, YOU AND EACH OF YOU DO SOLEMNLY STATE THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE AND THE CAUSE NOW IMP PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. SO HELP YOU GOD. OKAY, MR. DOMINIC KEARNEY. TYLER, YES, WE HAVE JUNIE SALCITO, OUR [01:05:01] BUSINESS SERVICES OFFICER TO PROVIDE THE REPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE YOU. TONIGHT IS AN APPLICATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT WITH DANCING FOR EVENTS ON PINE. THE ESTABLISHMENT IS LOCATED AT ONE 40 PINE AVENUE, SUITE 300, AND OPERATES AS A HALL RENTAL. ALL APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, POLICE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HAVE REVIEWED THE APPLICATION AND HAVE PROVIDED THEIR RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS AS CONTAINED IN THE HEARING PACKET. THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT A SHOULD BE NOTED FROM THE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS. SECTION ONE, THE PERMITING MUST PROVIDE ALL RENTERS WITH A COPY OF THE APPROVED PERMIT, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A COPY OF THE APPROVED CONDITIONS OF OPERATION. TWO, IT SHALL BE LEFT TO THE PERMITEES DISCRETION TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF SECURITY NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE VIOLATIONS OF LAW AND ANY OTHER DISTURBANCES ARISING OUT OF, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ITS BUSINESS OPERATIONS. SHOULD THE PERMITEES OPERATIONS GIVE RISE TO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN COMPLAINTS, CALLS FOR SERVICE, THE PERMITEE SHALL INCREASE SECURITY AS DIRECTED BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE. THREE. THE PERMITEE SHALL NOT CONVERT THE HALL RENTAL OR ANY PORTION THEREOF INTO A PUBLIC DANCE NIGHTCLUB. ALL ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES SHALL BE RESTRICTED TO PRIVATE GATHERINGS. THE PERMITEE SHALL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO RENT THE HALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING A CONCERT DANCE OR DISC JOCKEY EVENT, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND FOR THE PERMITEE SHALL MAINTAIN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, ORDINANCES, AND STATED CONDITIONS. IN THE EVENT OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS PERMIT AND YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT, THE MORE STRINGENT REGULATION SHALL APPLY. I, ALONG WITH COMMANDER ERIC FERNANDEZ FROM THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THIS CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU, JUDY. UH, WE HAVE, UH, BOARD COMMENTS. THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. YEAH, THERE ARE NO BOARD COMMENTS. OKAY. THEN THIS, UH, HEARING IS NOT CLOSED. UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL? NO. OKAY. OKAY. SEE, SORRY. SEE NONE. VOTE COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY, THANK YOU. ITEM THREE, FOUR, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. MAYOR RICHARDSON, COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN. RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES TO ESTABLISH A ONE YEAR ENTERTAINMENT ZONE PILOT PROGRAM IN THE DOWNTOWN DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. AND RETURN TO [34. 25-55620 Recommendation to direct City Manager to work with the Police Department, Economic Development, Special Events, and other relevant departments and offices to establish a one-year Entertainment Zone (EZ) pilot program in the Downtown Dining & Entertainment District and return to council by the next available City Council meeting with recommendations outlining City processes and tools currently available such as street closure, open alcohol, and event permits, and immediate steps to develop a management plan and any required ordinance changes amending Title 5 of the Long Beach Municipal Code and other sections as needed pursuant to California Senate Bill 969, with a target of allowing a pilot to begin in the Summer of 2025.       Office or Department: Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District; Rex Richardson, Mayor; Cindy Allen, Councilwoman, Second District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] COUNCIL BY THE NEXT AVAILABLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINING CITY PROCESSES AND TOOLS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE SUCH AS STREET CLOSURE, OPEN ALCOHOL AND EVENT PERMITS AND IMMEDIATE STEPS TO DEVELOP A MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ANY REQUIRED ORDINANCE CHANGES. AMENDING TITLE V OF THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND OTHER SECTIONS AS NEEDED PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 9 6 9 WITH A TARGET OF ALLOWING A PILOT TO BEGIN IN THE SUMMER OF 2025. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO, UH, THIS IS, UH, AN ITEM THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DOWNTOWN. IT'S DOWNTOWN'S AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR OUR CITY. AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WAYS THAT THE STATE CAN HELP SUPPORT MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. IN THE DOWNTOWNS THAT HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, FEWER PEOPLE COME TO WORK IN THE OFFICE SPACE. THAT MEANS FEWER PEOPLE ARE SITTING INSIDE THE RESTAURANTS, WHICH LEADS TO CLOSURE OF RESTAURANTS AND, UH, ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. THE WAY YOU SUPPLANT THAT, THE WAY YOU SORT OF REPLACE THAT IS BUILDING MORE HOUSING IN YOUR DOWNTOWN AND CREATING A 24 HOUR ECONOMY AND BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO YOUR DOWNTOWN. IT CREATES A UPWARD LOOP. WE'VE DONE MUCH OF THAT ON HOUSING. WE SET A GOAL TO BUILD 5,000 UNITS. WE BUILT 6,500 UNITS IN THAT WIN IN THAT WINDOW OF TIME. SO WE'RE AHEAD OF MANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN TERMS OF, UH, ADDING THE RESIDENTIAL ELEMENT. BUT WE HAVE TO DO MORE AROUND THE 24 HOUR ECONOMY, SPECIAL EVENTS, UH, LARGE SCALE EVENTS, UH, TOURISM TO HELP SUPPORT, UH, UH, THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR DOWNTOWN. UM, YOU, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THERE'S A REALLY BUSY SCHEDULE AHEAD FOR THE SUMMER. YOU'VE GOT THINGS LIKE WARPED TOUR, CALI VIBES JUST, JUST LEFT. YOU'VE GOT A DAY TRIP THIS WEEKEND. THESE ARE, THESE ARE LARGE SCALE EVENTS THAT'LL BRING, UM, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO OUR CITY. EVEN, UH, JUST WARP TOUR IS 85,000 PEOPLE PER DAY. BUT UNLESS THOSE FOLKS ARE COMING INTO THE, THE CORE OF THE DOWNTOWN AND SUPPORTING [01:10:01] THE RESTAURANTS, IT'S HARD TO TURN THAT INTO A REAL ECONOMIC REALITY. SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH SOME OF THE MAYORS ACROSS, UH, ACROSS, UH, THE STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER MATT HANEYS LED A COALITION OF CITIES AND MAYORS TO LOOK AT NEW, NEW IDEAS, UH, TO BRING MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY INTO THE DOWNTOWN. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CALIFORNIA BIG CITY MAYORS ON A PACKAGE LEGISLATION. ONE IMPORTANT STRATEGY THAT SUBMERGED FROM THOSE DISCUSSIONS IS THAT THE STATE HAS NOW ALLOWED CITIES TO ESTABLISH SAFE AND PERMITTED AND REGULATED ENTERTAINMENT ZONES, UH, WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, SECURITY AND PROTOCOLS, BUT ALLOW OPEN CONTAINER AND OTHER THINGS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF, UH, THE DOWNTOWN. UH, THERE ARE TWO CITIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED THESE PILOTS. SAN FRANCISCO AND SANTA MONICA. SANTA MONICA ON THE THIRD STREET PROMENADE, WHICH HAS HAD SOME CHALLENGES. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS AND WE WANNA EXPLORE DOING THIS IN LONG BEACH. UH, ESTABLISHING A PILOT HERE. UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD CERTAINLY, UH, WORK WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICE, THE COMMUNITY, AND, AND MAKE SURE YOU IDENTIFY A, A SAFE SPACE TO, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND WORK WITH, UH, THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ASSOCIATES. UH, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THE ENERGY, THE EXCITEMENT AROUND THIS IS PALPABLE. THE COUNCILWOMAN HAS BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE, UH, FOR THIS. AND WE DO THINK THAT THIS COULD BE A, POTENTIALLY A REALLY STRONG THING TO REALLY HELP IDENTIFY, UM, LONG BEACH AS A SORT OF A TOURISM DESTINATION, A MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION. UH, THE WAY THAT YOU MIGHT LOOK AT NASHVILLE AS MUSIC CITY OR, OR AUSTIN. UM, AS, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, A LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL. THEY HAVE SIXTH STREET, RAINY STREET, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT AREAS THAT ARE REALLY CENTERED ON MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MUSIC HISTORY IN OUR CITY, BUT IT MAKES IT HARD FOR LOCAL SORT OF, UH, LOCAL, UH, SMALLER BANDS AND OTHERS TO ACTIVATE. SO AN ENTERTAINMENT ZONE CREATES SOME ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO DO SO. SO, UH, I WANNA PASS IT TO, UH, THE COUNCILWOMAN OF THE FIRST DISTRICT, UH, TO SHARE HER, HER THOUGHTS AND SUPPORT ON THIS COUNCILMAN'S IN DEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WITH YOU. UM, FOR OUR DOWNTOWN, THERE'S A GENERAL FEELING AS WE APPROACH BIG EVENTS SUCH AS, UM, THE OLYMPICS OR THE PARALYMPICS THAT ARE COMING HERE TO LONG BEACH. UM, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE OUR, OUR DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, UH, MORE AND MORE TOURIST DESTINATION AS YOU JUST MENTIONED. AND THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR LONG BEACH. IT MEANS MORE REVENUE FOR THE CITY, BETTER BUSINESSES, AND MORE AMENITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS. HOWEVER, THE PRINCIPLE INTENT REMAINS, HOW DO WE MAKE LONG BEACH A BETTER CITY TO LIVE IN OUR, UM, LIVE IN FOR OUR RESIDENTS? I THINK THAT THIS ENTERTAINMENT ZONE CAN BE FUN AND INNOVATIVE AND IT WILL BE A, A SOCIAL OUTLET FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. LIKE THE TRUTH IS THAT OUR SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY HAS STRUGGLED TO RESUME POST PANDEMIC SO MUCH TIME IN ISOLATION HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FOSTER COMMUNITY. AGAIN, PEOPLE WANT TO BE OUT, PEOPLE WANT TO BE IN COMMUNITY. SAN FRANCISCO, GRAND RAPIDS AND MANY OTHER CITIES PRESENT GREAT EXAMPLES OF HOW MUCH LIFE CAN, UH, ENTERTAINMENT ZONE BRING TO A CITY. OUR DOWNTOWN IS ALREADY PART OF A CITY'S ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR, AND I FIND IT TO BE IDEAL, AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT ZONE PILOT PROGRAM TO HAPPEN. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THIS IS TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE PAST PANDA POST PANDEMIC. WE MUST BE CREATIVE AND THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX WHILE MAINTAINING SAFETY AND ABIDING BY THE LEGAL MANDATES. I WANT TO THANK DTLB ALLIANCE FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP IN THIS INITIATIVE, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL BE A GOOD THING FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH INTU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA MAKE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS. I WANNA THANK YOU AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MARY ZENDEJAS, UH, MAYOR, IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTING WITH OTHER MAYORS AND REGIONS NATIONALLY TO IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES FOR OUR DOWNTOWN. UH, WE HAVE BIG PLANS AROUND ENTERTAINMENT AND SO THIS DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ENTERTAINMENT ZONE, UH, CREATES A DYNAMIC ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION OPPORTUNITY THAT CAN RESHAPE, UH, FOLKS' VISIONS ABOUT OUR, UH, DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH. UM, I SEE AND HEAR CLEARLY THAT THOSE MAIN OBJECTIVES INCLUDE EXPANDING UPON SIGNATURE EVENTS, DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN DOWNTOWN LONGER, THEREBY ENGAGING IN THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES AND CREATING A THIRD PLACE SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT PLANNED GATHERINGS AS WELL AS OTHER ENTERTAINMENT THROUGH TEMPORARY AND IN PLANNING, WHICH WE LIKE TO CALL EPHEMERAL, AS WELL AS PERMANENT STREET SCAPE IMPROVEMENTS. [01:15:01] AND I'M SO DELIGHTED TO SEE SOME OF MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS AND VENUES AND DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH SUPPORT THIS. UM, AND SO WITH THAT, I HAD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER OTTI. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT, UM, THINKING ABOUT CREATIVE WAYS, UM, TO, TO ACCESS AND HARNESS, UM, THE HARD WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE TO PROMOTE OUR DOWNTOWN, UM, AND INCREASE ECONOMIC VIABILITY, SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING THOUGHTFUL IN THINKING ABOUT THIS. UH, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR ME AND JUST A CLARIFICATION. SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE IDEA IS THAT WE ARE THEN DIRECTING STAFF THEN TO PUT TOGETHER AND PLAN, UM, THE EVALUATION, IMPLEMENTATION AROUND A PILOT. IT'LL COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR US TO REVIEW, AND AT THAT POINT WE'RE THEN WE'LL DIRECT, UM, THE STAFF TO THEN START THE PILOT PROGRAM. THE ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM IS THAT, AM I UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY? I'M SORRY. GIVE IT TO ME AGAIN. OKAY. SO IS WHEN I READ THIS, ARE WE THEN DIRECTING STAFF TO THEN DESIGN THE PILOT PROGRAM? THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND THEN AT THAT POINT THEY'LL THEN START THE ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM. YEAH, I THINK AN ORDINANCE HAS TO BE CREATED TO ALLOW THIS, SO THAT ORDINANCE HAS TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL IS MY, MY, MY BELIEF. UM, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN MOVE FASTER THAN THAT? 'CAUSE WE KIND OF ACTUALLY WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS GOING THIS SUMMER. AND IF I MAY, UH, MAYOR, I THINK THE INTENT WAS TO USE THE PILOT PROGRAM DURING, THAT'S THIS SUMMER, THAT'S AS THE STUDY TO INFORM THE ORDINANCE. THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEN AFTER, AND THEN GET WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, EVALUATE IT, SEE HOW IT'S COMING, AND THEN BRING TOGETHER AN ORDINANCE. I THINK THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO THEN MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT IS, AND I'M GONNA PUT ON MY LITTLE DR. JOANIE HAT HERE, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, I LOVE PILOTS. UM, IS, I KNOW IN HERE WE TALK ABOUT ASSESSING THE SUCCESS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT ZONE. AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF COMMENTS HERE ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION. SO THEN I GUESS THE QUESTION BECOMES, UM, AND THIS IS A FOLLOW UP, I THINK TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER THRASS AND TOOK WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, AROUND HOW WE'RE ASSESSING IT. SO WHEN I WAS READING THE ITEM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS INTERESTED IN IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SUCCESS, UH, AROUND A PILOT THAT WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE FACT THAT WE DEFINITELY WANNA DO THIS. WHAT DO YOU THINK, THINK, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WANNA LOOK AT, UM, IN OUR DOWNTOWN TO DETERMINE THAT? SO I THINK THE IDEA HERE IS, UH, CREATE, UM, A SPACE TO GENERATE MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES. UH, SO ONE METRIC COULD BE, HAS IT TURNED INTO MORE, UH, REVENUE TO THE BOTTOM LINE? WHEN MORE FOLKS ENGAGE WITH THE RESTAURANTS, THE BARS, UH, IT CREATES, UH, REVENUE FOR THE CITY THROUGH SALES TAX AND, AND OTHER MECHANISMS. AND IT CREATES A LARGER, UM, SORT OF WAY FOR US TO TEST OUT HOW WE HANDLE LARGE EVENTS MOVING FORWARD. PULL 'EM OUT OF JUST LIKE, LET'S SAY THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OR THE QUEEN MARY, AND PULL 'EM INTO THE DOWNTOWN MORE SO THAT YOU CAN EXTRACT MORE ECONOMIC, UH, VALUE. SO THIS COULD BE ONE OF A FEW STRATEGIES TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE DOWNTOWN CORE TO ACTIVATE IT. I THINK ANOTHER THING WE WANNA WATCH IS SAFETY. UM, IT'S MY BELIEF THAT AN ACTIVE CORRIDOR IS A SAFE CORRIDOR. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ON A CORRIDOR, IT MAY LEAD TO MORE VAGRANCY CHALLENGES WITH HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THAT SPACE. SO YOU HAVE TO DO MULTIPLE THINGS. YOU HAVE TO DO OUTREACH, YOU KNOW, STRATEGIES, PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT ALSO FIGURE OUT CREATIVE WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ON THE CORRIDOR. COUNCILWOMAN, YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THE THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE OUT OF THIS PILOT? YES, YES. I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. UH, MAYOR, I THINK ONE OF OUR MAIN THINGS IS WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, FOOT TRAFFIC IS INCREASED, THAT, UM, COMMUNITY IS BUILT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT OUR BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA ARE SUCCESSFUL AND THRIVING AND, UM, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO CREATE NEW REVENUE FOR THIS CITY. UM, BUT THAT ALSO IS PART OF, OF THE PLAN, UM, HOW WE EVALUATED. I KNOW THAT, UM, WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, UM, OUR DOWNTOWN BID, DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE, UM, THEY HAVE A MANAGEMENT PLAN TOO THAT WAS ATTACHED IN THE ITEM. AND SO THAT, UM, THAT'S GONNA HELP GUIDE US AND HOPEFULLY HELP CITY STAFF TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE AND COME BACK WITH AN ORDINANCE OF WHAT WAS LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROJECT AND PILOT PROGRAM. AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS A PILOT ALLOWS YOU TO SEE IF YOU LIKE THE PROGRAM BEFORE YOU MAKE IT A PERMANENT PROGRAM. SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER? YEAH, NO, THAT WAS IT. I JUST, UM, UH, THINKING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WORKS A LOT IN, IN AN ACADEMIC SPACE, OF COURSE, UH, IN PILOT PROGRAMS, UM, I'M ALWAYS VERY, VERY INTERESTED AND ENGAGED WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THAT WE START OUT WITH THOSE MEASURES THAT WE WANT AT THE BEGINNING, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHAT I WANT IS A SUCCESSFUL PILOT PROGRAM THAT REALLY INFORMS, [01:20:01] UM, A POTENTIAL ORDINANCE, UM, AND THEN ALSO MAKE SURE WE CAN DEMONSTRATE VALUE TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS DOWNTOWN, RIGHT? MM-HMM . SO RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, TOURISTS ALIKE. UM, AND SO I'D REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU, LIKE YOU SAID, TO, TO REALLY DIG IN DEEP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WITH, WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE SO THAT WE MAKE SURE WHEN WE COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL, WE CAN DEFINITELY MAKE THE ARGUMENT FOR WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, UM, IN GENERAL FOR THE STRATEGY DOWNTOWN. ABSOLUTELY. UH, BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION, ONE OF ONE, ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS WHEN I VISIT, UM, CITIES, UM, MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE A REALLY VIBRANT ENTERTAINMENT LIKE DISTRICT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO IT, YOU KNOW, NASHVILLE HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE FIVE TO SIX YEARS, NOT, I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN A MUSIC CITY AND COUNTRY MUSIC FOR YEARS, BUT REALLY THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND A LOT OF IT WAS A LOT OF FOCUS ON ONE CORRIDOR, BROADWAY. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ACTIVATED ROOFTOP BARS, THEY'VE CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL MUSICIANS WHO AREN'T ON TOUR TO COME AND PLAY FOR, YOU KNOW, PLAY AND GET ACCESS TO THESE VENUES. PEOPLE ARE DOING BACHELORETTE PARTIES THERE, CALL IT NASH VEGAS. I MEAN, IT'S, NASHVILLE'S REALLY TURNED IT AROUND. AUSTIN'S, YOU KNOW, A GREAT EXAMPLE TOO, AS I MENTIONED, RAINY STREET, UH, SIXTH STREET. AND SO I THINK LONG BEACH HAS A POTENTIAL TO, I MEAN, OUR DOWNTOWN IS WALKABLE. YOU'VE GOT RESTAURANTS, UH, YOU ALREADY HAVE A BIG DRAW WITH CONVENTIONS AND CONCERTS, BUT WE'RE STILL HAVEN'T CLAIMED OUR SPOT ON THE WEST COAST. THERE IS NO REAL MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION ON THE WEST COAST, GIVEN WE'RE EVEN IN THE HEART OF THE ENTERTAINMENT, SORT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS THE, IS IS THE CENTER OF THE EARTH FOR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT RIGHT NOW. WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR SHARE THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD. SO IT'S GONNA TAKE A FEW STRATEGIES. THIS ISN'T GONNA BE THE ONLY STRATEGY HERE, RIGHT? BUT THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF 'EM TO FIGURE OUT WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO FOR LIVE MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT AND OTHER THINGS. THIS DISTRICT MAY BE ONE OF MANY TOOLS THAT WE EXPLORE. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'M GONNA DEFER TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROPOSAL IS SUPPORTED BY RESIDENTS LIVING DOWNTOWN. BUT I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A REPORT BACK ON WHAT AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WOULD LOOK LIKE. UM, SO THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR DATA FROM AN ACTUAL TEST. TEST. YES. OKAY. SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEY RELATE WHETHER IT WAS REPORT OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS. UM, I, I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT OUR POLICE RESOURCES. DO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE POLICE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM? IT ADDS HOURS, UH, THAT BUSINESSES ARE OPEN. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE DTLB AND THE BIDS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, BUT HAVING THE RESOURCES IS IMPORTANT. UM, AND IF WE DON'T HAVE EXISTING RESOURCES AVAILABLE, WHAT WOULD NEED TO BE ADDED TO MAKE SURE WE AREN'T REDUCING POLICE RESOURCES IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS? FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW IN THE EAST DIVISION WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME FILLING THE GRAVEYARD OVERTIME, UH, VOLUNTARY OVERTIME POSITIONS TO WORK THE BARS. SO I ASSUME THAT THE DOWNTOWN AREA WOULD HAVE THE SAME CHALLENGES. UM, I WAS GONNA ASK FOR THAT IN A REPORT BACK, BUT CHIEF ISH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. UM, SO IN TERMS OF RESOURCES, I ALWAYS ASSESS THE TOTALITY OF THE ENTIRE CITY, NOT JUST ONE SPECIFIC AREA. ANYTIME YOU ADD ANY TYPE OF EVENT TO THE CITY, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE AN ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. SO PART OF THE ASSESSMENT, UH, FOR SPECIAL EVENTS IS HOW MANY EVENTS DO WE HAVE? HOW DOES THAT IMPACT, UH, THE AVAILABLE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE? SO WE CAN MAINTAIN OPTIMAL SERVICES IN THE CITY FOR PATROL RESPONSE CALLS FOR SERVICE RESPONSE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS. UH, I DON'T PULL OFFICERS OUT OF CALLS FOR SERVICE TO STAFF SPECIAL EVENTS. THAT'S PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS. SO CITY SPECIAL EVENTS SUBMITS THIS, UH, A PROPOSAL TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE REPORT BACK ON WHAT A SECURITY PLAN WOULD LOOK LIKE, HOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MEET, UM, THE CRITERIA THAT WE LAY OUT IN THAT PLAN AND IF IT'S FEASIBLE OR NOT. SO, UM, WHENEVER THERE ARE EVENTS LIKE THIS OR PROPOSALS LIKE THIS, UH, I USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND HOW TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT WE HAVE, IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT THIS BODY DECIDES THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH. AND SO, UM, HOW IT WILL IMPACT US. I CAN TELL YOU THAT ANY ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD IS GOING TO IMPACT US RIGHT NOW, BUT WE FIND WAYS TO, TO MAKE IT WORK AND TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS. AND, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT, THIS IS KIND OF GOING OFF TOPIC, BUT EVEN THE, THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE, WE'RE SEEING THAT WE'RE BEING PULLED IN OTHER DIRECTIONS, NOT JUST OUR INITIAL, [01:25:01] UH, PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE OR CALLS FOR SERVICE RESPONSE. SO IT'S A BALANCE AND UH, IF THERE IS A, A CRITICAL NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, THEN, UH, I VOICE MY CONCERNS RELATED TO SPECIAL EVENTS AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A CRITICAL SAFETY NEED THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO. SO IT'S, IT'S AN ONGOING ASSESSMENT. SO I'M ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE AND IMPRESSED BY THE FACT THAT THE PLANS ARE PUT IN PLACE WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES. UM, THAT'S WHAT THE COMMANDERS DO. COMMANDER BENSON DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THAT. AND YOU DO OF COURSE TOO. UM, PART OF THE REPORT DOES SAY THAT THE BUSINESSES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THEIR PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECURITY. SO THEY ACTUALLY GIVE THAT TO YOU. I, IS THIS GOING TO BE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK? I MISSED THAT. NO, I THINK, I THINK THE IDEA, YOU, YOU DO A SCOPE, A REALLY TIGHT SCOPE ON YOUR PILOT, OKAY. AND YOU TEST THAT, RIGHT? THIS ISN'T A FULL SCALE PROGRAM. THEY'RE PROPOSING, THEY'RE SAYING THIS SUMMER IS A GREAT SUMMER TO TEST IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY BIG SUMMER THIS YEAR. NEXT YEAR'S GONNA BE EVEN BIGGER WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT POTENTIALLY FIFA AMPHITHEATER AND OTHER THINGS. THE SUMMER AFTER THAT IS SUMMER PRE OLYMPICS, AND THEN THE SUMMER AFTER THAT IS 18 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC EVENTS. SO IF THERE'S ANY TIME TO TEST SOMETHING NEW, YOU STARTED SMALL AND TIGHT. IT WON'T BE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, I DON'T THINK YOU, I DON'T THINK IT WILL. IT MAY NOT EVER BE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. OKAY? IT MAY BE A WEEKEND PROGRAM. I THINK THE CONTEXT WILL BE THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND THE COUNCIL PERSON TO KIND OF SHAPE WHAT WORKS FOR THAT CORRIDOR. GREAT. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S ENVISIONED THE REPORT BACK AND DATA. AFTER A FEW TEST EVENTS COMES BACK, COUNCIL HAS MORE FULL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SCOPE OF WHAT AN ORDINANCE WILL LOOK LIKE. AND THE BUSINESS, UH, INVOLVEMENT IN THIS IS TO WORK WITH PD TO, SO A PLAN IS SCOPED OUT BECAUSE THE BUSINESSES ARE ALSO PARTICIPATING SPECIAL EVENTS, RIGHT? UH, WITH THE SECURITY PART OF THIS. YES. SO RIGHT NOW FOR THE PILOT, THE, WE ENVISION IT GOING THROUGH THE SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING TEAM AND THEY WOULD WORK WITH PRESUMABLY AUSTIN AND D-T-L-D-T-L-B. AND THEN WE WOULD CREATE THE PLAN, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THE FULL SCOPE. AGAIN, TASHA AND HER TEAM WILL WORK WITH BOTH CHIEFS ON THEIR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. AND THEN WE WOULD ISSUE A PERMIT IF ALL OF THE PARAMETERS MET WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT. THAT'S WHAT WE ENVISION THE PILOT DOING. IT'S NOT A, THIS AREA IS OPEN TO PROGRAM WHATEVER YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY. AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH OUR USUAL PERMITTING PROCESS AND THERE ARE TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD TO NOT BE ABLE TO ISSUE PERMITS BECAUSE WE CAN'T MEET PUBLIC SAFETY OR OTHER NEEDS. AND SO THAT MIGHT BE A REALITY IN THIS CASE TOO, BUT I THINK THAT ALSO ALLOWS US TO BUILD INTO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO AN ORDINANCE. SOME OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE MIGHT BE FACING, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, STAFFING LEVELS FROM EITHER CHIEFS AND THEIR DEPARTMENTS. SO BASICALLY WE WILL START WITH THE PILOT. AN EVENT WILL GO OUT, MODIFICATIONS WILL HAPPEN, THE NEXT EVENT AND SO ON. AND, AND DTLB IS GOING TO BE HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THEIR BUSINESSES WHO HAVE AGREED TO PARTICIPATE AND TAKE CARE OF SECURITY WITH THEIR PATRONS AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. CORRECT. AND THEN ONE THING I WANNA ADD IS ANYTHING ALCOHOL RELATED STILL HAS TO ABIDE BY A, B, C REGULATIONS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SPECIAL EVENTS IN FILMING WILL ALSO ENSURE IS PART OF THE PLAN AND SIGNED OFF AND GOOD TO GO. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE GREAT QUESTIONS. I THINK THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO WAS READ A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF COUNCILWOMAN CINDY ALLEN, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. UM, AND SHE SAYS, I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING COUNCILWOMAN IN DEHA AND MAYOR REX RICHARDSON FOR THEIR COLLABORATION ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. A PROPOSED ENTERTAINMENT ZONE PILOT PROGRAM IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO REINVIGORATE DOWNTOWN BY GIVING OUR BARS, RESTAURANTS, BREWERIES, AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, NEW WAYS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC. WITH THIS UPCOMING LONG BEACH ANTHEM THEATER, THE PROGRAM OFFERS A UNIQUE CHANCE TO EXISTING EVENTS AND WITH LOCAL ECONOMY, ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, BRINGING MORE PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN BEFORE AND AFTER EVENTS, AND EXTENDING THEIR TIME SPENT SUPPORTING NEARBY BUSINESSES. WE'VE SEEN SIMILAR PROGRAMS THRIVE IN CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND SANTA MONICA. AND WITH THIS RECENT PASSAGE OF SB 76, CALIFORNIA [01:30:01] HAS NOW PROVIDED A CLEAR FRAMEWORK FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT ZONES WHERE OUR ENTERTAINMENT ZONES CAN OPERATE WHILE MAINTAINING STRONG SAFEGUARDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THE BILL OUTLINES STRICT REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS DESIGNATED BOUNDARIES, CONTAINER RESTRICTIONS ID, VERIFICATION, AND PROHIBITIONS OF ON OUTSIDE ALCOHOL, ENSURING THESE ZONES ARE WELL REGULATED AND RESPONSIBLY MANAGED. THIS ALIGNS WITH THE CITY'S 2030 STRATEGIC VISION, WHICH EMPHASIZES UPLIFTING LONG BEACH'S UNIQUE CULTURE, HISTORY, AND ART AS A PATHWAY TO INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH. BY PILOTING THIS PROGRAM, NOW WE CAN TEST AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR ACTIVATING OUR PUBLIC SPACES, SUPPORTING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS, AND CREATING A MORE VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE, AND RESILIENT CITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT OUR NEXT STEPS. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, BEFORE WE GO TO SECOND ROUND OF COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL, WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED WITH SEEK SPEAK, SAM PINA AUSTIN MATOYER, AND ALEX ESCOBAR. PLEASE COME FORWARD. UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL TONIGHT. MY NAME IS SAM PINA, UH, AS CHAIR OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE AND PROUD TO VOICE OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED ENTERTAINMENT ZONE PILOT PROGRAM. THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY OF OURS FOR OVER A YEAR, AND FOR GOOD REASON, PINE AVENUE AND THE PROMENADE ARE HOME TO SOME OF OUR MOST VIBRANT RESTAURANTS AND BARS. THEY DESERVE TOOLS THAT HELP THEM THRIVE, ATTRACT FOOT TRAFFIC, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE ACTIVE AND INVITING DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE. THE ENTERTAINMENT ZONE PILOT IS A STRATEGIC STEP FORWARD. IT GIVES US A FRAMEWORK TO SAFELY ALLOW OPEN CONTAINER CONSUMPTION DURING PERMITTED EVENTS, ACTIVATING OUR STREETS, CELEBRATING CULTURE, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY LONGER, EXPLORE MORE, AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE PLAN IS THOUGHTFUL WITH CLEAR BOUNDARIES, SAFETY MEASURES, AND COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT. IT'S NOT ABOUT CREATING CHAOS, IT'S ABOUT CREATING ENERGY, ECONOMY AND OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO CITY STAFF, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR ENGAGING IN THIS CONVERSATION WITH US AND TO ALL THE PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO HELP SHAPE IT, LET'S CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH A DESTINATION THAT'S BOLD, INCLUSIVE, AND BUILT FOR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, AUSTIN. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AUSTIN VENTURA, PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE. UH, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON, AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN CINDY ALLEN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM. UM, AS ARE OUR BOARD CHAIR, SAM HAD MENTIONED THIS HAS BEEN A INITIATIVE OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE FOR THE LAST YEAR IN SOME CHANGE. UM, WE'VE TALKED WITH BUSINESS OWNERS ON PINE AVENUE, THE PROMENADE. WE'VE TALKED WITH RESIDENTS ON THE PROMENADE IN THE PINE AVENUE AREA TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS. AND WE BELIEVE THAT A PILOT PROGRAM THAT IS SPECIFIC TO EVENTS ONLY IS THE BEST WAY TO TEST THIS OUT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LIKE, WHAT ARE OUR METRICS, IT'S LOOKING AT WHAT IS PEDESTRIAN FOOT TRAFFIC? WHAT DO OUR VACANCY RATES LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS BUSINESS STABILIZATION AND, UH, SALES TAX REVENUE LOOK LIKE FOR THOSE BUSINESSES? WHAT IS BUSINESS PERCEPTION OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING? THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'D BE LOOKING AT AND TESTING OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, AS WELL AS THE SAFETY AND CLEANLINESS CONCERNS. WE HEARD THAT FROM RESIDENTS. THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER'S LEAVING THE SPACE, THEY AREN'T THROWING THEIR CUPS AWAY AND LEAVING THEM ON THE STREET. THEY'RE NOT OVERLY INTOXICATED. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'LL WANNA CHECK WITH OUR, OUR PARTNERS AT PD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T AN UPTICK IN THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES AND THAT RESIDENT COMPLAINTS REGARDING CLEANLINESS AREN'T SEEN AN UPTICK AS WELL. UM, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GONNA PROVIDE A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEAN INTO THE IDEA THAT DOWNTOWN AND THE CITY OF LONG BEACH CAN BE AN ENTERTAINMENT HUB. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE, THE EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP BETWEEN THE LARGE SCALE EVENTS LIKE WARP TOUR, LIKE DAY TRIP, HOW DO WE CREATE A SPACE THAT KEEPS PEOPLE IN THE DOWNTOWN WHEN THEY'RE WALKING FROM THE CITY PLACE PARKING STRUCTURES AND THEY'RE GOING TO THE GRAND PRIX. HAVING THE PROMENADE ACTIVE WITH THIS TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT ZONE IS A GREAT WAY TO CAPTURE THEIR ON THE WAY BACK OR ON THE WAY TO THE EVENT. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FAMILY FRIENDLY AND SMALL EVENTS THAT WE CAN DO ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN THE PROMENADE SPACE, HOW DO WE WORK WITH SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES TO CREATE A HOME? SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY. UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE THE FIRST CITY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. UNFORTUNATELY, WE MIGHT BE THE SECOND CITY, BUT WE WILL BE THE MOST UNIQUE AND FUN CITY [01:35:01] IN TERMS OF THAT ENTERTAINMENT ZONE, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT TONIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ALEX. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALEX ESCOBAR. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LONG BEACH AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN THE EAST VILLAGE ARTS DISTRICT. I ALSO SERVE ON THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCES EVENTS COMMITTEE AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED ENTERTAINMENT ZONE PILOT IN DOWNTOWN DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. LAST THURSDAY, I VOLUNTEERED AT TASTE OF DOWNTOWN PINE AND PROMENADE. I SOLD A HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH OF TASTE TICKETS, MUCH MORE THAN THAT. THIS IS JUST A FAMILY SPECIFIC STORY. UM, AND THIS FAMILY WAS FROM OUT OF TOWN AND THEY, THEY ASKED ME WHERE THEY WANTED, WHERE THEY SHOULD START. SO I GUIDED THEM STRAIGHT TO SAKE. SECRET LA COUNTY'S ONLY SAKE SPECIALTY SHOP AND TASTING ROOM RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN. GREG HAPPENS TO ALSO BE A FRIEND OF MINE, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY GREAT THING TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THIS FAMILY. THAT SPONTANEOUS CONNECTION IS WHAT MAKES THESE EVENTS SO SPECIAL. VISITORS DISCOVERING SOMETHING UNEXPECTED AND BUSINESSES GETTING THE EXPOSURE THEY DESERVE. IF WE WANNA SEE MORE OF THAT, MORE PEOPLE WALKING THE PROMENADE AND MORE UNIQUE LOCAL SPOTS LIKE SAKE SECRET, THRIVING, WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO BE PART OF THESE EXPERIENCES, NOT HARDER. AND THE PROPOSED ENTERTAINMENT ZONE PILOT DOES JUST THAT. IT CREATES A SHARED SPACE WHERE LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN SERVE PEOPLE DIRECTLY, WHERE ART, CULTURE AND HOSPITALITY INTERSECT IN A WAY THAT FEELS UNIQUELY LONG BEACH. I'D ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF THIS PROPO PROPOSAL, AGILE AND COLLABORATIVE. IF WE CAN PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY INPUT AND ALLOW TRUSTED PARTNERS LIKE THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE TO HELP SHAPE IMPLEMENTATION, WE'LL BE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL CUS SUMMER AND A CITY PREPARED FOR THE LA OLYMPICS IN 2028. AS YOU DISCUSSED THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A PILOT PROGRAM VERSUS A PERMANENT PROGRAM, IT GOT ME THINKING TOO OFTEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCESSES AND REGULATION GET IN THE WAY OF US ULTIMATELY ACHIEVING THE THING. WE ALL WANNA SEE A REVIVED DOWNTOWN, A SPACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND A THRIVING BUSINESS CORRIDOR THAT MAKES LONG BEACH A SPECIAL PLACE. I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THE ENTERTAINMENT ZONE AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRATIC PROCESSES OF MEASURING A PROGRAM WE ALL KNOW IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITY, ESPECIALLY LEADING UP TO THE OLYMPICS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VOTE IN SUPPORT OF AN ENTERTAINMENT ZONE IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL GO BACK TO BEHIND THE RAIL. THREE MORE COUNT. COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER VY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I THINK ACTUALLY, UH, THE EXCHANGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN HAD WITH CITY STAFF, I THINK ANSWERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS. 'CAUSE IT ACTUALLY SOUNDS TO ME BECAUSE YES, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, BUT IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE SEVERAL PILOT PROGRAMS ALL KIND OF PUT INTO ONE 'CAUSE THE IDEA BEING THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT EVENTS, POTENTIAL EVENTS WITH DIFFERENT FACTORS AND PARAMETERS, RIGHT, THAT ALLOW TO KIND OF, KIND OF TEST THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO. UM, AND THEN COME BACK WITH WHAT WE THINK ARE KIND OF, WERE OUR BEST PRACTICES. UM, SO THAT ACTUALLY HELPED ME A LOT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE, OF THE, OF THE PLAN. SO, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH AND TOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOT TOO MUCH TO ADD, BUT YOU DID BRING UP AUSTIN AND I ACTUALLY JUST RETURNED FROM AUSTIN AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, UM, THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, I APPRECIATED BOTH ABOUT THE CONVERSATION AS WELL AS THE WRITEUP IS THAT I THINK THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF LEARNINGS, UM, THAT WE CAN GLEAN FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND THERE HIGHLIGHTED HERE IN TERMS OF ISSUES OF SAFETY, HOW WE ENGAGE THE BUSINESSES TO OUR PARTNERS THAT WERE HERE TODAY TO SIGNAGE, TO DISPOSAL OF, UH, CUPS AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE AN ORDERLY, UM, SET OF ACTIVITIES AS PART OF THE, UM, ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. SO I ENCOURAGE ANY COLLEAGUE THAT'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE, UM, WHAT THAT WAS LIKE. BUT, UM, I SAY LET'S MOVE FORWARD. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING OUR PILOT PROGRAM MOVE FORWARD FOR 2025. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS? YES. AND I JUST WANNA CLOSE BY SAYING THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR, AGAIN, FOR ALL THOSE GREAT QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOING INTO A PILOT PROGRAM. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PILOT PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN HAVE IT IN MIND. I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT, UM, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO I WENT TO GRAND RAPIDS AND THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT ZONE. AND I SAW, UM, WHAT IT WAS DOING THERE, THERE WAS A CONCERT ACROSS THE STREET AND PEOPLE WERE JUST COMING AND IT WAS FULL AND THERE WASN'T A LOT OF CHAOS. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT, UM, THAT'S WHAT I AM ENVISIONING TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE, UM, ENJOYING THEMSELVES AND, UM, ALSO HAVING REGULATIONS TO NOT LET IT GO TOO FAR, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN PROBLEMS, UM, YOU KNOW, ARISE. SO I AM VERY THANKFUL TO ALL THOSE WHO COMMENTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. [01:40:01] AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH CITY STAFF WITH SPECIAL EVENTS AND WITH OUR BID FROM DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE, UM, TO BRING THIS INTO FRUITION AND SEE WHAT CAN BE OF THIS. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. ALL RIGHT, WELL, GREAT DISCUSSION. THANKS SO MUCH. THANKS FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT. THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. GREAT, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 35, REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY. RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO SUPPORT ACCELERATING THE TRANSITION TO ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES FOR PRIVATE AND CITY OWNED REFUSE TRUCKS. ALRIGHT, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT HERE. UH, WE, UH, IN FEBRUARY CALLED ON, UM, UH, OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS [35. 25-55595 Recommendation to adopt resolution of the City Council of the City of Long Beach to support accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles for private and city owned refuse trucks.       Office or Department: City Attorney         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO PURSUE STRATEGIES TO HELP ACCELERATE OUR CITY'S FLEET TO ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY OUR HIGHER POLLUTING, UH, TRUCKS AND HEAVY DUTY REFUSE TRUCK VEHICLES. WE OUTLINED STEPS THAT STAFF COULD, COULD BEGIN TO TAKE TO AMPLIFY OUR TRANSITION EFFORTS, INCLUDING NEW GRANT FUNDING, PROACTIVELY PLANNING FOR THE EVENTS TRANSITION, UH, FOR THE FLEET TURNOVER TRANSITION, INCENTIVIZING CREATE, AND CREATING GOOD PAYING UNION JOBS THROUGH PROCUREMENT AND PREPARING FOR LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE. LAST WEEK RECEIVED A MEMO FROM STAFF HIGHLIGHTING THE CITY'S PROGRESS, UH, AND SO, UH, ON IN THE REFUSE DEPARTMENT, OTHER GENERAL FLEET VEHICLES, AND SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSITION AND DEPLOY IN THE YEARS AHEAD, DESPITE THE HEADWINDS THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED WITH THE SHIFT IN THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION. SO WE'RE STILL GONNA CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TRANSITION. TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS AN AFFIRMATION OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THIS ESSENTIAL ZERO EMISSION FLEET TRANSITION AS A CRITICAL SUSTAINABILITY MEASURE THAT WILL ADVANCE LONG BEACH'S CLIMATE ACTION GOALS, DECREASE LOCAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, HELP CURB THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. I WANT TO THANK THE COALITION OF LABOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES WHO RALLIED TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT, AS WELL AS THE CITY'S FLEET SERVICES TEAM FOR THEIR INSIGHT AND CITY STAFF FOR THEIR, UH, THEIR INSIGHTS AS WELL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS RESOLUTION. UM, AND WE WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH TOOK, I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT OUR CITY, THANK YOU MAYOR, IS CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER. UM, THIS RESOLUTION, UH, I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF, UM, FOR OUR CITY AS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF A REFUSE WORKER AND THAT KIND OF VEHICLE, UM, IN THE ADMISSIONS THAT IT, UM, EXHIBITS AS BOTH, YOU KNOW, HARMFUL FOR, UH, OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC. SO I'M, I'M GLAD THAT THAT IS AN AREA WHERE WE'RE STARTING. UM, AND PLEASED THAT THE CITY IS CONTINUING A FORWARD LOOKING APPROACH, UM, TO FLEET SUSTAINABILITY. THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF FOR CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE THE PACE OF THE CITY ZERO EMISSION FLEET TRANSITION, UM, BY EXPLORING VARIOUS STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS TO DO SO. SO WITH THIS, I ENCOURAGE MY, UH, COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. YEAH, JUST WANNA ADD MY GRATITUDE, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO, UM, PUT THIS TOGETHER AND TO ENSURE THAT WE IMPLEMENT IT. AND AS ALWAYS, JUST AS A CITY THAT'S FORWARD THINKING, MAKING SURE THAT WE MEET OUR CLIMATE ADAPTATION GOALS, UM, AND THAT WE GET THERE, UM, ON A TIMELY MATTER REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. UH, WE NOW WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED TO SPEAK. SUZANNE KALI, UH, FERNANDO GUYTON, MARTIN BARRERA, JOCELYN, AND, UH, DAVE SHUKLA. SO FIRST IS SUZANNE. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS SUZANNE, I'M WITH THE BETTER WORLD GROUP. UM, I'M HERE COMMENTING ON THE, UH, ZERO MISSION REFUGE REFUSE RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THE LA COUNTY ELECTRIC TRUCK AND BUS COALITION. AS YOU NOTED, WE, UM, ARE COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING FOR ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE ADOPTION ACROSS ALL COUNTY FLEETS, UM, ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WITH ROBUST WORKFORCE STANDARDS TO BUILD A CLEAN ECONOMY FOR ALL. UM, I WANNA THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS MAYOR RICHARDSON, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND TAKING STRONG CLIMATE ACTION. UM, AND I'M STRONGLY URGING THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS MOMENT FOR LONG BEACH TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AS A LEADER IN THE REGION ON CLIMATE ACTION. THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WE'RE FACING A LOT OF FEDERAL UNCERTAINTY AND LONG BEACH CAN SET A STRONG EXAMPLE FOR NEIGHBORING CITIES, THE REGION, AND REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UM, AS WAS NOTED EARLIER [01:45:01] IN THIS MEETING, THE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE COMING TO OUR REGION IN A MATTER OF YEARS, AND THIS IS A CHANCE FOR LONG BEACH TO DEMONSTRATE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP ON THE WORLD STAGE. UM, SO REALLY WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE THIS MOMENT. UM, AND THEN CLIMATE ACTION, AS WAS NOTED, IS ALSO REALLY, REALLY SIGNIFICANT. UM, LONG BEACH HAS COMMITTED ITSELF TO A CITYWIDE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR REDUCING AND ELIMINATING GREENHOUSE GAS AND AIR POLLUTION FROM CITY FLEETS. UH, TRUCKS ACCOUNT FOR ONLY 6% OF CALIFORNIA'S VEHICLES, BUT 25% OF ON-ROAD GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. AND SO, IN CONCLUSION, JUST WANNA SAY AGAIN, UM, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF ITEM 35 AND, UM, THE ACCELERATING OF THE TRANSITION TO ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES FOR PRIVATE AND CITY OWNED REFUSE TRUCKS. THANK YOU. THANKS SUZANNE. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS FERNANDO. GOOD EVENING. FERNANDO GAETAN WITH URGE JUSTICE. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON, UH, AND COUNSEL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. UM, I'M HERE, UH, ALONG WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY ELECTRIC TRUCK AND BUS COALITION, STRONG SUPPORT OF ITEM 35, UH, TRANSITION TO ZERO EMISSIONS REFUSE TRUCKS. UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN REALLY CHALLENGING TIMES AS WE'VE, UH, BEEN TALKING ABOUT, BUT, UM, THIS IS A BRIGHT SPOT. THIS IS, UH, ONCE AGAIN LONG BEACH STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE POSITIONING ITSELF AT THE FOREFRONT OF CLIMATE ACTION CLEANER AIR, AND PROTECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE WELLBEING OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. UM, BY COMMITTING TO TRANSITION TO ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTING FLEETS TO ZERO EMISSIONS, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT LONG BEACH IS SITUATED IN AN AIR BASIN THAT CONSISTENTLY FAILS TO MEET ATTAINMENT STANDARDS. THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION CONSISTENTLY RANKS US IN THE TOP AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY IN THE TOP WHEN IT COMES TO DANGEROUS OZONE LEVELS. UH, THIS PAST YEAR WE SAW IN AN INCREASED NUMBER OF DAYS WITH UNHELPFUL AIR QUALITY, UH, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE NOT OFF TO A GOOD START. WE'VE ALREADY HAVE 40 DAYS OF UNHEALTHFUL AIR, AND WE'RE ONLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SMOG SEASON. UM, THAT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WE NEED DECISIVE ACTION LIKE THE ONE YOU'RE GONNA TAKE TONIGHT. UH, DESPITE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, WE'VE NEVER MET A SINGLE FEDERAL OZONE STANDARD, BUT THAT CAN CHANGE. UH, THIS TRANSITION IS A VITAL STEP TO PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH BY ELIMINATING THE HARMFUL EMISSIONS FROM FOSSIL FUEL, FUEL-BASED ENGINES THAT ARE LINKED TO THE ELEVATED RATES OF ASTHMA, LUNG DISEASE, AND CANCER. UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT REFUSE TRUCKS OPERATE, UH, IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UH, EVERY WEEK COLLECTING TRASH AT LOW SPEEDS, UH, WITH EXTENDED IDLE TIMES. AND THIS MAKES THEIR EMISSIONS PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH. TRANSITIONING TO ELECTRIC REFUSE TRUCKS IS NOT ONLY FEASIBLE, BUT IT'S IDEAL. THEIR FIXED ROUTES AND THEIR ABILITY TO RECHARGE BETWEEN SHIFTS MAKE THEM PERFECT FOR ELECTRIFICATION STUDIES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, STUDIES SHOW THAT BATTERY ELECTRIC REFUSE TRUCKS USE LESS ENERGY PER MILE AND CAN OFFER UP TO 75% LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS OVER, UH, VEHICLE, UH, OVER THE VEHICLE'S LIFESPAN. AND THE LONG-TERM SAVINGS RESULT IN LOWER COSTS OF TOTAL OWNERSHIP, POTENTIALLY FREEING UP PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AT LONG BEACH NEEDS TO OFFER ELSEWHERE. UH, NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP AS MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, SHIFTING COURSE YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, AND WE AIRED YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM. THANKS FERNANDO. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MARTIN AFTER MARTINS JOCELYN. HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS MARTIN BARRA. I'M THE MEMBER OF, UH, LA COUNTY ELECTRIC TRUCK AND BUS COALITION. I'M HERE COMMENTING ON ITEM 35, THE ZERO EMISSION REFUSE RESOLUTION. I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND VICE MAYOR ORANGA FOR LEADING IN CLIMATE ACTION AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE AS SOMEONE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, IT IS CLEAR THAT ZERO EMISSION TRUCKS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN THOUSANDS OF HIGH ROAD CAREERS AND APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES INTO THE REGION. A SUBSTANTIAL WORKFORCE IS REQUIRED TO OPERATE, MAINTAIN, AND BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EVS, AS WELL AS THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE REST OF THE, OR, SORRY, SUBSTANTIAL WORKFORCE IS REQUIRED TO OPERATE, MAINTAIN, AND BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EVS AS WELL AS THE POSITIVE IMPACTS TO THE REST OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN. DUE TO LONG BEACH'S SIZE, THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO GENERATE MAJOR EV DEMAND, WHICH CAN SPUR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL MANUFACTURING AND AN INFRASTRUCTURE HUB WITH SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR GOOD PAYING FAMILY SUSTAINING JOBS FOR RESIDENTS, IT IS EVIDENT YOU ARE ALL ON THE RIGHT PATH TOWARDS ENSURING AN ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY PROSPEROUS FUTURE BY PASSING THIS RESOLUTION. I THANK EVERYONE, UH, WHO HAS WORKED HARD TO GET US TO THIS POINT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT WILL COME FROM THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JOCELYN AND DAVE. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MY NAME IS JOCELYN. I'M WITH EAST COMMUNITIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND I'M ALSO COMMENTING [01:50:01] IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 35, UM, THE ZERO EMISSION REFUSE REFUSE MOTION. SO WE ORGANIZE, UH, PRIMARILY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT LIVE IN WEST LONG BEACH, AN AREA THAT SEES DISPROPORTIONATE LEVELS OF POLLUTION AND HEALTH IMPACTS. UM, THIS MOTION OFFERS A VIABLE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE HARMFUL EMISSIONS LIKE NOX, UH, WHICH ARE LINKED TO A RISE IN ASTHMA, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND CANCER. UM, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT STAFF AND COUNCIL HAVE PUT INTO THIS RESOLUTION AND STRONGLY URGE YOU, UH, TO ADOPT THIS MOTION FOR ZERO EMISSION REFUSE FLEETS. THIS IS AN ACTION THAT ALSO ALIGNS WITH THE CITY'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN THAT AIMS TO ELIMINATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, UH, FROM CITY FLEETS DURING SUCH AN UNCERTAIN TIME. AND WITH THE LOSS OF MANY FEDERAL AND STATE PROTECTIONS FOR AIR QUALITY, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT A CITY LIKE LONG BEACH SETS THE PRECEDENT FOR CLEAN AIR. SO I URGE YOU, AGAIN TO ADOPT THIS MEASURE. THANK YOU, JOCELYN. ALRIGHT, OUR FINAL SPEAKER, DAVE. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM AND, UH, TO, UH, CITY STAFF FOR BRINGING IT, UH, BACK ON THREE MONTHS TURNAROUND. UM, REFUSE TRUCK ELECTRIFICATION IS A GOOD GOAL AND, UH, I SUPPORT IT. UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION. UH, FIRST, UH, ON PAGE THREE, LINE ONE, UM, IT SAYS BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BUT PRESUMABLY WE WANT ZERO EMISSION BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. UH, SECOND, UM, PAGE THREE LINES 10 TO 20. UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING TO CREATE A GOOD JOBS PROGRAM, BUT IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS, UH, THIS LANGUAGE, UH, EVEN, YOU KNOW, JUST AS SOMETHING ASPIRATIONAL MAY BE A LITTLE TOO RESTRICTIVE, UM, THE CITY CAN AND SHOULD FIND, UH, AND CAN, SHOULD EXPLORE ALL, UH, MEANS TO DRAMATICALLY EXPAND THE SKILL SETS NEEDED FOR ELECTRIFICATION WORK, UH, BEYOND JUST THOSE OF A CERTAIN UNION'S APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OR C 10 CONTRACT LICENSING, SCHEDULING, UM, THIRD, UH, LICENSE, UH, LINES 21 THROUGH 25, UM, ON ELECTRIC CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DOESN'T NEED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON'S PERMISSION, ESPECIALLY WITH ITS OWN FLEET. JUST SAYING, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING, UM, THAT THE CITY CAN LEAD ON BY LOOKING TO INSTALL AND OWN ITS OWN CHARTING STATIONS, ESPECIALLY ON ITS OWN PROPERTY, ON STARTING WITH CRITICAL MUNICIPAL FACILITIES ALONG WITH A PORT PORT ALREADY HAS THE ZEN Z PROGRAM. IT'S A, A GOOD MODEL. UM, AND THEN, UH, FINALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS RESOLUTION, OH S**T, I CAN'T SEE THE TIME. UM, UH, I, I THINK THIS RESOLUTION SHOULDN'T BE LOOKED AT AS A, A REACH CODE FOR 2032. I THINK IT SHOULD BE, UH, LOOKED AT AS PART OF THE CHECKLIST FOR THE 2028 OLYMPICS. AND THIS CITY WANTS TO WORK, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE, YOU KNOW, IN THIS MOMENT, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE ALLEY FIRES, YOU WANNA WORK WITH THE MANUFACTURERS WHO CAN DELIVER BY 2028 AND WANT TO BE THAT KIND OF PARTNER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, SO THAT WAS, UM, A LABOR ENVIRONMENTAL ITEM. THE NEXT TWO ITEMS ARE, UH, UH, SAFE STORES ITEM WITH, UH, THE FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS AND THEN, UH, CONCESSION WORKERS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. SO IT'S HOT LABOR TUESDAY IN LONG BEACH. LET'S GET STARTED. UM, ITEM 33, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, VICE MAYOR, ORANGA, COUNCILWOMAN THH AND TUCK. RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO ENACT NEW SELF CHECKOUT LABOR STANDARDS, REQUIREMENTS FOR STAFFING AND OPERATIONS [33. 25-55613 Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare ordinance to amend the Long Beach Municipal Code under Title 5 – Regulation of Businesses, Trades, and Professions to enact new self-checkout labor standards requirements for staffing and operations at subject grocery retail stores and retail drug establishments in Long Beach, as outlined in Option 4 in the City Manager’s June 6, 2025 memo, in order to proactively address retail theft and advance the preservation of public safety and welfare, and bring back the proposed ordinance to City Council in 30 days.       Office or Department: Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District; Roberto Uranga, Vice Mayor, Seventh District; Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Councilwoman, Eighth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AT SUBJECT GROCERY RETAIL STORES AND RETAIL DRUG ESTABLISHMENTS IN LONG BEACH, AS OUTLINED IN OPTION FOUR IN THE CITY MANAGER'S JUNE 6TH, 2025 MEMO IN ORDER TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS RETAIL THEFT AND ADVANCE THE PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE AND BRING BACK THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO CITY COUNCIL IN 30 DAYS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. IN APRIL THERE WAS DISCUSSION AT COUNCIL AROUND, UM, STAFFING STANDARDS, QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY, UH, UH, IN OUR GROCERY STORES. UH, DURING THAT, UM, CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING, UH, A NUMBER OF WORKERS, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM, FROM, UM, BOTH WORKERS AND BUSINESS ABOUT DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. IN JUNE, UH, STAFF PUT TOGETHER A MEMO OUTLINING OPTIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AND ESTABLISHING POTENTIAL SAFETY AND POTENTIAL STAFFING OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SELF CHECKOUT. UH, THOSE OPTIONS ARE BEHIND BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY. UH, AND YOU HAVE [01:55:01] A RECOMMENDATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF DRAFTING A CITY ORDINANCE BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY CITY STAFF IN THEIR MEMO AND THE ONGOING FEEDBACK RECEIVED FROM A BROAD RANGE OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. YOU'LL ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, THERE'S A NUMBER, UH, A NUMBER OF FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TO WEIGH IN AGAIN TODAY, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PUBLIC COMMENT. WITH THAT SAID, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS, WHO'S BEEN LEADING ON THIS IMPORTANT ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I WANNA BEGIN BY THANKING OUR CITY STAFF AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR YOUR DILIGENT WORK AND CLEAR WORK ON THIS. YOU'VE TAKEN IN WORKER TESTIMONY, PUBLIC INPUT AND LEGAL GUIDANCE AND DELIVERED A POLICY THAT MEETS THE MOMENT WITH CLARITY AND PURPOSE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER THRA AND VICE MAYOR RGA FOR SIGNING ON TO THIS SAFE STORES OUR STAFF STORES ORDINANCE. THAT IS BEFORE US ALL TONIGHT. UM, BUT MAYOR, I WAS HOPING WE COULD GO TO COM PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST. WE CERTAINLY CAN. THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF PUBLIC COMMENT HERE. SO THERE ARE 39 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO THAT MEANS EVERYONE GETS 90 SECONDS, 39, UM, I'M SORRY, 39. 39. YEAH. IS THAT KNOW WHAT I SAID? THREE NINE. ALRIGHT. YES. UM, I'LL READ THE FIRST 10 MW BIANCA CARILLO, L UH, KM LAZE, SHAMAL SKY FIELD, UH, SOPHIA CHEVAR, REVEREND JENNIFER TAFEL, STEVE NEIL, FRED CUSHIER, KUSHNER, AND IRMA FARRA. PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALRIGHT. MW IS FIRST, GOOD EVENING TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRESENT TODAY, VOICING THEIR CONCERNS FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. MW, I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER, A PART OF EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL IN THIS ROOM. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SELF-CHECKOUT COUNTERS, WHICH I SEE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO UNDERSTAFFING AT OUR LONG BEACH STORES TO POOR SHOPPING EXPERIENCES, INCREASED THEFT AND STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL WORKERS, ALL OF WHICH NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND SAFETY. AS WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE STAFFING SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT EVERY INDIVIDUAL. I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR OPTION FOUR AND MOVE THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS BIANCA. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS BIANCA CARILLO. I'M WITH THE PEACE AND FREEDOM PARTY, CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COMMITTEE, AND I'M ALSO A LONG BEACH RESIDENT LIVING IN DISTRICT SIX. I SUPPORT SAFE STORES, OUR STAFF STORES FOR GROCERY AND DRUG RETAIL WORKERS, AND URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR OPTION FOUR AND MOVE THIS POLICY FORWARD. THIS OPTION WILL SAFEGUARD OUR RETAIL SPACES AND THIS APPROACH WILL ENSURE THE PROTECTION AND WELLBEING OF OUR HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES WHILE ENHANCING COMMUNITY SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S MOVING PRETTY QUICK HERE. KM AND THEN LIZETTE. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MY INITIALS IS KM AND I AM A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO. I SUPPORT THE KEEPER VISION OF THE MOTION BEFORE YOU, WHICH REQUIRES HAVING MORE EMPLOYEES, ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH CUSTOMERS, AND MONITORING THE STORE FLOOR STAFF ASSIGNED TO SELF CHECKOUT SHOULD FOCUS SOLELY ON MONITORING AND ASSISTING CUSTOMERS AT THESE STATIONS. THIS WILL SAFEGUARD OUR RETAIL SPACES AND, AND THIS APPROACH WILL ENSURE THE PROTECTION AND WELLBEING OF OUR HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES WHILE ENHANCING COMMUNITY SAFETY. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS MATTER AND URGE YOU TO VOTE OPTION FOUR. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS LIZETH AND THEN SKYE. HELLO. UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWENTHAL TO READ A LETTER FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWENTHAL. I WRITE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORTIVE AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 33. ENSURING THE SAFETY OF GROCERY WORKERS IS ESSENTIAL, ESPECIALLY AS MANY STORES MOVE TOWARDS AUTOMATION BY INCREASING SELF-CHECKOUT COUNTERS. THESE SELF-CHECKOUT COUNTERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO UNDERSTAFFING AN INCREASE IN THEFT AND A DECREASE IN SAFETY AT OUR LOCAL LONG BEACH GROCERY STORES AND ACROSS THE STATE, ALL WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO A POOR ENVIRONMENT FOR THE WORKER, CUSTOMER, AND COMMUNITY. BY VOTING FOR OPTION FOUR, THE CITY CAN ENSURE MORE SAFETY FOR BOTH THE WORKER AND THE CUSTOMER BY ENSURING STAFF WILL NO LONGER BE SPREAD THIN. WE KNOW ONE OF THE BIGGEST DETERRENTS FOR THEFT IS HAVING ACTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OPTION FOUR WILL DO JUST THAT. GROCERY WORKERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE TREAT THEM AS SUCH AND ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. OPTION FOUR PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO REAFFIRM SOLIDARITY WITH OUR WORKING CLASS RETAIL EMPLOYEES WHILE PROVIDING SAFER SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. FOR THOSE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK [02:00:01] YOU TO VOTE FOR AGENDA ITEM 33. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SKY, THEN SOPHIA. OKAY. WE DON'T SEE SKYE. IS SOPHIA HERE? CHEVAR. OKAY. NEXT WILL BE REVEREND, UH, JENNIFER AND THEN STEVE NEIL. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS REVEREND JENNIFER TOFL AND I AM A MINISTER IN COMMUNITY AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LONG BEACH. I ALSO REPRESENT HUNDREDS OF FAITH LEADERS CONNECTED WITH CLERGY LADY UNITED FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE CLUE. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FRONTLINE GROCERY WORKERS. WORKING AT A RETAIL STORE SHOULDN'T MEAN RISKING YOUR SAFETY. WHEN STORES ARE SHORT STAFFED, WORKERS ARE OVERSTRESSED. CUSTOMERS WAIT IN LONG LINES WITH FRUSTRATION AND COMMUNITY SAFETY IS AT RISK. YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT I HAVE A MOBILITY ISSUE, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AS A CUSTOMER. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS RARE TO FIND A LINE WITH A CASHIER. IT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE TO HAVE ASSISTANCE IN CHECKING OUT, BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE. MY MOBILITY ISSUE MAKES ME FATIGUED AND I CAN GET EASILY FRUSTRATED IF SELF-CHECKOUT LINES, IF THE PROCESS, I GET FATIGUED AND I GET CONFUSED. FROM STANDING AS A MINISTER. I SEE THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT ENSURING A CULTURE OF CARE AND SAFETY FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND IT IS TIME FOR US TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE AND WELL SUPPORTED AT WORK. I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS ORDINANCE AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, NEXT IS STEVE NEIL AND THEN FRED KUSHNER. GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR CITY STAFF. MY NAME'S STEVE NEIL. I'M PROUD, PROUD MEMBER OF THE NINTH DISTRICT OF LONG BEACH. BUT I STAND TODAY IN MY CAPACITY AS, EXCUSE ME, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THE LA FEDERATION OF LABOR AND THE FEDERATION OF LABOR STANDS IN SOLID SUPPORT WITH THE PURSUING OPTION FOUR. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, THE AUTHORS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS, VICE MAYOR ANG AND COUNCIL MEMBER THRASS TOOK. UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SELF CHECKOUTS AND THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE CREATED BY THAT, WHICH MOST OF THEM ARE CAUSED BY GREED REGARDLESS OF OF HOW IT AFFECTS NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY BUT OUR WORKERS. LONG BEACH HAS THE MORAL RIGHT AND OBLIGATION TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THROUGH THIS OPTION, THE LACK OF STAFF, STAFF SUPERVISION, WHICH PRODUCES AN ENVIRONMENT OF FRUSTRATION FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND ALSO THEFT WITHIN, UM, WITHIN THE STORE ENVIRONMENT. SO THE FEDERATION OF LABOR FAMILY, IT RECOGNIZES LONG BEACH HAS A PROUD LEGACY OF ENACTING THOUGHTFUL POLICY AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHOOSE OPTION FOUR AND MOVE THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND THAT'S, THAT'S RETIRED COUNCIL MEMBER, THE HONORABLE STEVE NEIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, UH, FRED, AND I'M FRED. BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10 EXCUSE, JUST HANG ON BEFORE YOU START, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10 COMING AFTER YOU. SO IT'S FRED, THEN IT'S IRMA, HILDA DUIS. SHELDA DIAZ. SHAYLA DIAZ, EXCUSE ME. MARIA R KIKI. LIZA MYRON W UH, UH, NATA, GRETCHEN SWANSON, CELESTE WILSON, MINA CRUZ AND GARY RE. ALRIGHT PLEASE FRED, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE. MY MA MY NAME IS FRED KUSHNER. I REPRESENT THE UNIVERSAL UNITARIAN CHURCH OF LONG BEACH IN DISTRICT FOUR. A CHURCH THAT HAS LONG SUPPORTED WORKERS FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND A LIVING WAGE. THIS CHURCH HAS DONE THIS SINCE ITS FOUNDING, SUPPORTING THE FARM WORKERS WHERE CESAR CHA HAS SPOKE AT THE CHURCH TO SUPPORT A BLACK LIVES RIDERS MOVEMENT TO THE HOTEL, HISTORICAL HOTEL WORKERS STRIKE OF LA AND LA MAYA, THE WHOLE HYATT REGENCY HERE IN LONG BEACH. [02:05:02] WE ARE A WELCOMING, DIVERSE CHURCH WHERE MEMBERS ARE PROUD TO BELONG TO AN ANTI-RACIST CHURCH, A PRO WORKER CHURCH WHERE OUR MEMBERS HAVE VOTED AND CANVASES FOR THINGS LIKE RW AND MERE. THE FIGHT OF GROCERY WORKERS FOR A SAFE, SAFE WORKPLACE IS PUSHED BEHIND. THE LI LIMITS IS OUR FIGHT, THE FIGHT OF ALL WORKERS AND I, WE JOIN WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO HAVE A SAFE AND JUST WORKING CONDITIONS AND WAYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT IS IRMA, VIN HILDA. GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS IRMA AND I'M PART OF THE LANE AND LBJ UH J TEAM AND I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. DISTRICT NUMBER ONE. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR OPTION FOUR OF THIS MOTION WHICH YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH, UH, PROPOSES A DESIGNATION OF MORE PERSONNEL DEDICATED TO SUPPORT CLIENTS AND TO SUPERVISE THE SALES FLOORS EXCLUSIVELY. SPECIFICALLY, I CONSIDER FUNDAMENTAL THAT THE DESIGNATED PERSONNEL AS ASSIGNED TO THE SELF CHECKOUT SHOULD EXCLUSIVELY MONITOR AND ASSIST CLIENTS IN THESE AREAS. THIS WILL MESH, UH, THIS MEASURE WILL NOT ONLY PROTECT OUR COMMERCIAL SPACES, BUT IT'LL ALSO GUARANTEE THE SECURITY AND WELLBEING OF THE WORKERS AND PATRONS. I TRUST YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, TO PRIORITIZE THE SECURITY AND INTEGRITY OF YOUR COMMUNITY, AND I INVITE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF OPTION FOUR OF THIS MOTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS HILDA, THEN SHAYLA. WHEN I CIA. GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH DISTRICT SEVEN. I SUPPORT THE MOTION WHICH REQUIRES TO HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES DEDICATED TO WORK WITH CLIENTS AND MONITORING THE SALES FLOORS. THE PERSONNEL DESIGNATED TO THE SELF-CHECKOUT SHOULD FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY TO MONITOR AND HELP THESE CLIENTS AND THESE STATIONS. THIS WILL IN TURN PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES WORKERS WHILE IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY SECURITY. I HOPE THAT TO SEE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS MATTER AND THAT YOU VOTE FOR OPTION FOUR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS SHAYLA, THEN MARIA, THEN KIKI. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR. UH, MY NAME IS SHAYLA DIAZ. I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M ALSO A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER ON LANE SLUM BEACH FOR JUST ECONOMY CAMPAIGN. AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER THREE, THREE AND OPTION FOUR [02:10:01] OVER FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND. I WAS SHOPPING AT A RALPH'S NEARBY, UM, WHERE THEY HAD 12 SELF-CHECKOUT LINES AND ONLY THREE REGULAR REGISTERS OPEN AVAILABLE FOR THE SHOPPERS. AND SO SHOPPERS, UM, WHO WERE USING THE SELF-CHECKOUT REGISTER START TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE SYSTEM. UH, UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS ONLY ONE EMPLOYEE THERE AND TO HELP AND SHE WAS ALSO TASKED WITH BAGGING GROCERIES FOR FOLKS AT THE REGULAR CHECKOUT LINE. UM, SO YOU CAN ALREADY IMAGINE HOW STRESSFUL THAT MUST HAVE BEEN FOR HER. UM, AND SO IF A WORKER IS TASKED WITH TAKING CARE OF FOLKS WHO, UM, USE A SELF CHECKOUT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM SHOPPERS AS WELL AS MULTIPLE OTHER TASKS SUCH AS SELF PREVENTION, IT'S REALLY A RECIPE FOR CREATING AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. SELF-CHECKOUT CALENDARS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS TYPE OF POOR SHOPPING EXPERIENCES AND STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENTS FOR WORKERS. SELF-CHECKOUT CALENDARS ARE PRESENTED AS AN EFFICIENT WAY TO GET OUT OF THE STORES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO AVOID A LONG LINES THAT WE SEE GOING DOWN THE AISLES DUE TO THE LACK OF ENOUGH CASHIER LINES BEING OPEN. HOWEVER, WITH THE LACK OF STAFFING, UM, AS IT WAS THAT DAY IN RALPH'S, THEY REALLY DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THEIR PROMISE. AND SO THIS IS WHY I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT STAFF STORES OR SAFE STORES BY VOTING FOR OPTION NUMBER FOUR TODAY. SO AS STORES ARE BECOME SAFER BY HAVING MORE EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MARIA, THEN KIKI, THEN MYRON. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME'S MARIA AND I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT. I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON AND SUPPORT THE STAFF. STORES ARE SAFE STORES FOR GROCERY AND DRUG RETAIL WORKERS. HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING AND EXHAUSTING TO DEAL WITH LONG LINES IN EVERY STORE. ONLY TO FIND THEM SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED. MOST TIMES YOU END UP WAITING IN ANOTHER LONG LINE FOR ONE OF THE ONLY WORKING SELF OUT CHECKOUT MACHINES THAT END UP CRASHING. THIS ISN'T JUST INCONVENIENT, BUT IT CREATES A STRESSFUL AND OVERWHELMING ENVIRONMENT FOR SHOPPERS AND WORKERS. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE TAKE THE FRUSTRATIONS OUT ON EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ALREADY STRETCHED THIN AND HAVE LIMITED OPTIONS. WE NEED REAL STAFFING SOLUTIONS. ONE THAT SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP OUR STORES RUNNING AND MAKE THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE BETTER FOR EVERYONE. VOTING OPTION FOUR IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT'S A VOTE TO PROTECT THE WELLBEING OF OUR HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES AND OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S BRING BACK A SHOPPING EXPERIENCE THAT FEELS FUN AND CHAOTIC. I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE. OPTION FOUR FOR SAFE AND BETTER STAFF STORES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS KIKI, THEN MYRON. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S KIKI LIGA AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH LATINO DEMOCRATIC CLUB AND WE SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 33 IN OPTION FOUR. OUR SHARED VISION AS A COMMUNITY AND CITY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE THAT STORES HAVE ADEQUATE AND WELL-SUPPORTED STAFF TO BOTH PREVENT THEFT BEFORE IT HAPPENS, TO SUPPORT HARDWORKING GROCERY AND DRUG RETAIL WORKERS AND TO ENHANCE SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN LONG BEACH. YOU MAY HEAR FROM THE GROCERY LOBBYISTS THAT POLICIES LIKE THIS WILL DRIVE BUSINESS OUT OF LONG BEACH. THE FEAR MONGERING ABOUT STORE CLOSURES IS NOT ROOTED. IN FACT, IT IS A DEFLECTION FROM THE INDUSTRY'S REFUSAL TO INVEST IN ADEQUATE STAFFING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE CANNOT ALLOW CORPORATE COST CUTTING TO COME AT THE EXPENSE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WORKER DIGNITY. THE REALITY ON THE GROUND IS THAT THE GROCERY INDUSTRY IS NOT SHRINKING IN LONG BEACH. IT'S GROWING SINCE 2019. AT LEAST SEVEN NEW GROCERY STORES HAVE OPENED ACROSS THE CITY, INCLUDING SPROUTS, ALDI, WHOLE FOODS, AMAZON FRESH AND GROCERY OUTLET. DISTRICTS 3, 4, 5, 6, AND EIGHT HAVE ALL SEEN RECENT GROCERY EXPANSIONS COMPANIES CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE LONG BEACH MARKET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. ALRIGHT, NICE TO MEET YOU KIKI LONG BEACH DEMOCRATIC CLUB ON THE SCENE. ALL RIGHT, UH, MYRON AND THEN NAIDA NAIDA. GOOD EVENING MAYOR RICHARDSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MYRON WALLEN. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR IN LONG BEACH. I'M ALSO A LEADER OF THE SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE AT TEMPLE ISRAEL LONG BEACH LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE. I'M ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE LONG BEACH GREAT PANTHERS. I ALSO REPRESENT HUNDREDS OF FAITH LEADERS CONNECTED WITH CLUE TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. OPTION FOUR. AS A SENIOR I KNOW HOW CHALLENGING SELF-CHECKOUT COUNTERS ARE TO OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY. HAVING ADEQUATE STAFFING IS CRUCIAL FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY GROCERY STORES. IT ENSURES THAT THE SENIOR COMMUNITY HAS EQUAL ACCESS TO ALL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THEY NEED. NOT TO MENTION, FOR SOME SENIORS LIVING BY THEMSELVES, ONE OF THE FEW HUMAN INTERACTIONS THEY HAVE IN A DAY IS WITH THE STAFF AT THE CHECKOUT STAND. STAFF STORES NOT ONLY KEEP US SAFE, BUT ALSO HELP US BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES. AT MY TEMPLE, DURING OUR CELEBRATION OF THE WORKER JUSTICE PASSOVER SEDER, IN APRIL, ONE OF THE GROCERY WORKERS SHARED HIS STORY WITH US OF HOW HIS EMPLOYER PRESSURED HIM AND HIS COLLEAGUES TO PUSH CUSTOMERS TO USE SELF-CHECKOUT, HE HAD TO OVERSEE MULTIPLE MACHINES AND STILL PERFORMED OTHER DUTIES. THIS MADE HIM AND HIS COLLEAGUES OVERSTRESSED AND COULDN'T PREVENT CUSTOMER THEFT AS MUCH AS THEY TRIED TO. WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WE CAN ENSURE SAFE [02:15:01] WORKING CONDITIONS FOR WORKERS, IMPROVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, AND HELP BUSINESSES THRIVE. I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS ORDINANCE OPTION FOUR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS. THANKS FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NAIDA THEN GRETCHEN SWANSON AFTER GRETCHEN IS CELESTE WILSON. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S KNIT AND I'VE GOT TWO POINTS I WANNA MAKE. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS A FAVORITE SCARE TRACK TACTIC. THEY'RE GONNA CLOSE STORES, BUT WHEN LONG BEACH PASSED HERO PAY KROGER CLOSED TWO STORES AND THEN BLAME THE CITY IN COURT. HOWEVER, THEIR OWN CEO ADMITTED THAT THOSE CLOSURES WERE ALREADY PLANNED BEFORE COVID DUE TO A MIX OF POOR PERFORMANCE. THESE WEREN'T POLICY RESPONSES, THEY WERE PR MOVES. WE SHOULD BASE OUR POLICIES ON FACTS, NOT FEAR. THE OTHER HAS SPEAKS TO WHAT SAFETY REALLY IS. SAFETY DOES NOT MEAN JUST VIOLENCE. SAFETY IS NOT ONLY REGULATED BY THE POLICE WITHOUT TELLING TOO MUCH ABOUT ME. THERE ARE TIMES THAT I NEED MEDICATION IN AN EMERGENCY, BUT IN THE DRUG STORE, IF THERE IS ONLY ONE STAFFED, UH, CHECKOUT COUNTER, IT'S AT THE PHARMACY. AND I'M WAITING IN A LONG LINE. I ACTUALLY NEED MY MEDICATION PRETTY QUICKLY FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF REASONS. SO IT PUTS MY SAFETY AT RISK, NOT AGAINST VIOLENCE, BUT BECAUSE THERE IS A LONG LINE, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THE INDUSTRY'S THREATS AND UNDERSTAND THAT SAFETY GOES BEYOND STOPPING VIOLENCE. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED YES FOR OPTION FOUR. THANK YOU FOR SAFE STORES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, IS GRETCHEN HERE? I DON'T THINK I SEE GRETCHEN. OKAY. UH, BEN, HOW ABOUT CELESTE? I'M SORRY GRETCHEN IS NOT HERE, BUT, UH, I'M GONNA SPEAK HER. UH, COMMENT. ARE YOU SPEAKING YOURSELF? UH, NO. THIS IS THE COMMENT FROM HER. OKAY. YOU CAN SPEAK FOR GRETCHEN. GO FOR IT. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. UM, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS, UM, ITEM UP. UM, SO I'M GRETCHEN. I LIVE IN THE SECOND DISTRICT AND I WANT TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS TO WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY CONFIRMED THAT THIS GROCERY INDUSTRY IS THRIVING EVEN DURING CRISIS. AND STUDY HAS FOUND THAT MAJOR CHANGE RAISE PRICES. DURING THE PANDEMIC TO PAT PROFITS. ALBERTSONS PAID NEARLY $4 MILLION IN FINES FOR OVERCHARGING AND FALSE ADVERTISING. AND THESE COMPANIES EXPLORE CRISIS WHILE CUTTING STAFF AND STILL DEMAND MORE. AND SO IN JUST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT KROGER AND ALBERTSONS HAVE FUNNELED OVER $15 BILLION TO SHAREHOLDERS INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN STORES. SO WE KNOW THE MONEY IS THERE AND WE JUST NEED TO USE THIS MONEY TO CREATE SAFER CITIES AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES FOR OUR CITY. AND SO I URGE YOU, UH, ON BEHALF OF GRETCHEN TO VOTE FOR OPTION FOUR TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, CELESTE AND GINA. ALRIGHTY. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CELESTE. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, REPRESENTING NEARLY 900 BUSINESS MEMBERS, INCLUDING A LOT OF GROCERY AND DRUG RETAILERS. UM, MINE'S GONNA BE PRETTY SHORT AND SWEET. UM, OUR BIGGEST TWO WORRIES ARE THE VERY INDUSTRY SPECIFIC REGULATION THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL CREATE. DOESN'T REALLY KIND OF TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY OF THE SELF-CHECKOUT STANDS AT HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES, CLOTHING STORES, UM, YOU KNOW, HARDWARE STORES, ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT IS VERY SPECIFIC TO AN INDUSTRY, WHICH RAISES A LOT OF CONCERNS IN TERMS OF LEGAL, UM, LEGAL CHALLENGE LATER ON. UM, THE OTHER ONE IS THAT THERE IS ALREADY A PIECE OF POLICY MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE STATE, SB 4 42 BY SMALLWOOD CUEVAS FOR THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE CYCLE IN A ROW. UM, IT IS ON THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. AND SO WE ARE URGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO JUST TAKE A PAUSE, LET THE STATE DO WHAT IT'S GONNA DO, KINDA TAKE A DEEP BREATH, UM, AND WHATEVER THE STATE ENDS UP DOING, IF YOU GUYS WANNA MATCH THAT, OR IF YOU WANNA REVISIT IT LATER AND IMPLEMENT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT STRONGER HERE IN LONG BEACH, GREAT. BUT JUST DON'T LET LONG BEACH BE THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR A STATE POLICY THAT'S ALREADY MOVING ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS GARINA, THEN GARY, WHEN I, [02:20:45] GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS GINA CRUZ, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NUMBER SIX IN LONG BEACH. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, OPTION FOUR, WHICH REQUIRES TO HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES DESIGNATED TO MONITOR THE SALES FLOORS AND DEDICATED TO THE SUPPORT CLIENTS, THE EMPLOYEES DESIGNATED, UH, TO THE SELF SERVE. CHECKOUTS SHOULD FOCUS ON MONITORING AND ASSISTING CLIENTS IN THIS SITU, IN THESE STATIONS. THIS WILL ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF OUR SALES SPACES AND SUPERMARKET EMPLOYEES. MOREOVER, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DEPEND ON THESE SUPERMARKETS FOR SURVIVAL WILL ALSO FEEL MORE SECURE. I HOPE THAT YOU LISTEN TO US AND SUPPORT OUR FIGHT FOR OPTION FOUR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD. THANKS FOR BEING HERE, MINA. ALRIGHT, GARY, BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT 10, UH, AMAR DEEP, UH, JOSE ESP ESPINOZA, DYLAN BOY, LINDA MOLINA, CURTIS LAWRENCE, TERRY MONDOR, KAREN RESIDE, MIKE BERGER, KEITH MASON, AND JENNIFER S OKAY. GARY, YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF. MY NAME IS GARY HIT. I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND I LIVE IN THE MIGHTY DISTRICT FOUR. UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT THOUGH AS A POLITICAL, AS THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS 3000 FACULTY, LIBRARIANS, COUNSELORS AND COACHES AT C-S-U-L-B. UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE STAFF, THE STAFF, STORES, AND SAFE STORES POLICY AS OUTLINED IN OPTION FOUR. AMONG THE MANY PO POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THIS, UM, OPTION I WISH TO REITERATE, SUMMARIZE THE, THE FOLLOWING. FIRST, THIS OPTION WILL PROTECT JOBS. SECOND, IT WILL PROMOTE THE WELLBEING OF HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES BY MINIMIZING UNDERSTAFFING THAT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED, UH, WORKLOADS AND STRESS. THIRD, IT WILL ENHANCE THE SAFETY FOR BOTH WORKERS AND SHOPPERS. FINALLY, WE KNOW THAT THAT STAFF VISIBILITY DE DETERS THEFT BY REDUCING THEFT, THE NEW STANDARDS WILL PROTECT THE RE CITY RESOURCES FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY, LIBRARIES AND PARKS. THIS KIND OF COMMON SENSE REGULATION BALANCES THE NEED OF FOR CONVENIENCE WITH THE NEED FOR SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD ON OPTION FOUR, NOT WAIT FOR THE STATE, DO WHAT LONG BEACH HAS ALWAYS DONE, TAKE THE LEAD AND SET THE STANDARDS FOR THE STATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU AMADEEP. YOU'RE UP THEN, JOSE. GREAT. UM, GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. AMER GILL, DIRECTOR OF GROCERY AND RETAIL CAMPAIGN WITH LANE. I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR OPTION FOUR. THE LACK OF HUMAN OVERSIGHT. WHEN SELF-CHECKOUT COUNTERS ARE NOT PROPERLY STAFFED MAKES IT NECESS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO PREVENT THEFT AND PROVIDE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. WORKERS ARE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THE, UH, FA FALLOUT RESULTING IN HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENTS AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THIS SITUATION CREATES AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH SHOPPERS AND WORKERS. MAJOR RETAILERS LIKE LOWE'S, COSTCO, AND BEST BUY HAVE PROVEN THAT MORE STAFFING AND TRAINING ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE. THEFT DETERRENT. I QUOTE LOW CEO MARVIN ELLISON. THE GREATEST DETERRENT FOR ANY TYPE OF THEFT ACTIVITY IS EFFECTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THESE COMPANIES, BY MAINTAINING HIGHER STAFF LEVELS, CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEFT IS LESS LIKELY TO OCCUR BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE WATCHFUL EYES IN THE STORE. THIS HAS TANGIBLE BENEFITS FOR BOTH CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE LEADERSHIP TODAY. LB WAS UH, AMONG THE FIRST TO PASS HERO PAY AND YOUR LEADERSHIP INSPIRED CITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA. AS A CHARTER CITY, LONG BEACH HAS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO REGULATE STORE SAFETY. THE CITY HAS YOUR TIME, HAS TO INCLUDED CHECKOUT AND STAFFING AS PART OF ITS POLICE POWERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JOSE, THEN [02:25:01] DYLAN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOSE ESP ESPINOZA. I'VE BEEN A SUPERVISOR HERE IN LONG BEACH AT BONDS FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. MY JOB INCLUDES MONITORING, SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINES, ASSISTING CUSTOMERS, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THEY'RE RINGING UP THEIR ORDERS ACCURATELY. MOST PEOPLE ARE HONEST, BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO ROUTINELY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HONOR SYSTEM. HABITUAL SHOPLIFTERS ARE EMBOLDENED BY COMPANY POLICY, WHICH PROHIBITS EMPLOYEES FROM ASSUMING, CONFRONTING, OR ACCUSING. AS A RESULT, I'VE WITNESSED THOUSANDS, SOMETIMES HUNDREDS, SOMETIMES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WALK RIGHT OUT THE FRONT DOOR ON A DAILY BASIS AT MY STORE, THERE'S A MAN WHO OUR MANAGEMENT KNOWS, HAS BEEN STEALING THROUGH SELF CHECKOUT FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS. INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, THEY GIVE 'EM A CUTE NICKNAME, WALTER WHITE. AT PRESENT, THE COMPANY'S ANTI-THEFT POLICY PROHIBITS US FROM CALLING THE POLICE WITHOUT MANAGEMENT APPROVAL. INCIDENTS AT SELF CHECKOUT OFTEN PUT EMPLOYEES IN SITUATIONS THAT BECOME CONFRONTATIONAL LEADING TO VIOLENCE OR THREATS OF VIOLENCE. EVEN THOUGH WEAPONS ARE SOMETIMES BRANDISHED, A GREAT QUANTITY OF THESE INSTANCES GO UNREPORTED OUT OF FEAR OF POLICIES THAT PRIORITIZE THE COMPANY'S BOTTOM LINE. OVER THE SAFETY OF THE EMPLOYEES. I'VE SEEN FIGHTS ITSELF CHECKOUT, I'VE WITNESSED A STABBING IN THE PAST YEAR. I'VE BEEN SPIT ON PEPPER SPRAYED CALLED EVERY RACIST AND HOMOPHOBIC SLUR IN THE BOOK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE AT WORK. SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION. WE NEED BACKUP. WE NEED YOUR HELP PASSING THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS DYLAN. AND THEN LINDA. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DYLAN BOKEY AND I'VE WORKED AT ALBERTSON'S FOR SIX YEARS. WHILE ALL OF US IN THE STORE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY UNDERSTAFFING IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE MOST UNDERSTAFFED AREA OF THE STORE IS SELF CHECKOUT. IN THE EARLY MORNINGS, THERE'S USUALLY ONLY ONE EMPLOYEE WHO IS DESIGNATED TO STAFF THE ONE OPEN CHECK STAND WHILE ALSO MONITORING AND ASSISTING ALL SIX SELF-CHECKOUTS WHILE ALSO HAVING TO BE HAVING TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PEOPLE COMING TO PICK UP ONLINE ORDERS. BUT ASIDE FROM A HIGH LEVEL OF STRESS THAT THIS PUTS ON A SINGLE EMPLOYEE, THIS SITUATION CAN ALSO VERY QUICKLY COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THE EMPLOYEE, BUT ALSO THE SAFETY OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO ARE INSIDE THE STORE. I'VE SEEN CUSTOMERS GET VISIBLY AND VERBALLY AGITATED BECAUSE, BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD TO WAIT A LONG TIME FOR SOMEONE TO, BECAUSE SOMEONE'S BUSY RINGING UP TO THE CHECK STAND. I'VE HAD COWORKERS TELL ME THAT THEY'VE BEEN VERBALLY ABUSED BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND I KNOW THAT AS A CUSTOMER, I WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT. BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO NEGLECT THE ISSUE OF UNDERSTAFFING AT THESE SELF CHECKOUTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FACE SITUATIONS LIKE THESE. AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING HURT. SO WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO STEP IN AND PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS LINDA, THEN CURTIS. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MAYOR, AND ALL THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS LINDA MOLINA. I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR ROS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. ALMOST EVERY DAY I'M ASSIGNED TO WORK AT THE SELF CHECKOUT IN MY STORE. AND IT'S VERY TOUGH JOB TO DO. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE, I, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO BE SEVEN LENDERS IN ONE BODY. CUSTOMERS ALWAYS NEED HELP AT THE SAME TIME, AND I CANNOT HELP THEM ALL, ALL, ALL FAST ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM HAPPY. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM HAPPY. THEY GET FRUSTRATED AND TAKE OUT ON ME AND MY UNION. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I LOVE MY UNION AND MY, AND MY STORE. I TRY TO KEEP IT STRONG FACE SO I CAN BE A LEADER IN MY STORE. BUT AFTER EIGHT HOURS SHIFT AT THE SELF CHECKOUT, OR I DO NOT EVEN GET A STANDING MAP SOAP FOR MY LEGS. THEY DON'T HURT AS MUCH. I'M SORRY, I'M CRYING. IT COULD BE AS TOUGH AND GET VERY FRUSTRATED WITH HOW THE CUSTOMERS TREAT ME AND MY WORKERS. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR AUDIENCE AND GROCERY WORKERS DO NOT DESERVE THE ABUSE THAT WE GET AT THE CEP CHECKOUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LINDA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. NEXT IS CURTIS AND THEN TERRY. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MY NAME IS CURTIS LAWRENCE. I HAVE BEEN AN ALBERTSON'S EMPLOYEE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, AND I'VE SERVED AS A UNION STEWARD FOR THREE OF THOSE YEARS. WHEN I'M SCHEDULED TO WORK SELF CHECKOUT, I CAN FILL A PIT FORM IN MY STOMACH. WORKING SELF CHECKOUT MEANS THAT I'M RUNNING IN THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORE, WHICH IS THE SMALL ENCLOSED AREA WHERE THE COMPANY HAS SQUEEZED SEVEN SUB CHECKOUTS INTO WORKING SUB CHECKOUT MEANS THAT CUSTOMERS WILL BE MAD AT YOU, THEY WILL YELL AT YOU. IT IS NO LONGER A CUSTOMER SERVICE JOB. YOU'RE NOW ALSO A SECURITY GUARD TRYING TO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE PUT INTO. SO ONCE A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN WAS ACCUSED OF STEALING BY MY STORE MANAGER, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE STEALING, BUT THESE YOUNG MEN THEN CAME TO SELF-CHECKOUT TO [02:30:01] PURCHASE THE ITEMS THEY WERE CARRYING DURING THE COURSE OF THE TRANSACTION. THE MACHINE LOCKED UP SEVERAL TIMES, AS THEY USUALLY DO. SO I HAD TO UNLOCK THE MACHINE TO KEEP THE TRANSACTION GOING, THE ENTIRE TRANSACTION. THESE MEN WERE SURROUNDING ME WHILE YELLING AND TAUNTING MY STORE MANAGER AND CRACKING JOKES AT MY EXPENSE WHILE I DID MY BEST TO END THE TRANSACTION AND GET 'EM OUT OF THE STORE. AS THERE WERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE ALSO PROCESSING THEIR TRANSACTIONS AT OTHER SELF-CHECKOUTS. I REMEMBER MY HANDS WERE SHAKING AFTERWARDS. A CUSTOMER TOLD ME I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT KIND OF INTERACTION WORKING AT A GROCERY STORE, THAT I WOULD HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THE TRANSACTION AT A TRADITIONAL LINE. AND SO THAT I AGREED, WHICH IS WHY I'M ASKING THE CITY TO SUPPORT OUR ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS TERRY AND THEN KAREN. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M TERRY MONDOR. I WORK AT A RALPH'S GROCERY STORE AT MARINA PACIFICA. I ALSO LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND HOW IT IS THRIVING AND MAKING RECORD PROFITS. YOU, KROGER STILL INSISTS ON CUTTING HOURS AND SAYING THAT WE MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY. THE AVERAGE WORKER OF THE GROCERY STORE MAKES ABOUT $20 AN HOUR, AND THAT IS BARELY EVEN A LIVING WAGE. SO IN ORDER TO STAY COMPETITIVE, THEY SAY THEY MUST CUT HOURS. AND KROGER HAD $7 BILLION IN PROFITS LAST YEAR. ALL WE'RE DOING IS ASKING THEM TO SHARE, SHARE IT WITH ITS WORKERS, MAKE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, AND WE'D ASK YOU TO PUT THIS ORDINANCE THROUGH. I AM ALSO GONNA SPEAK ABOUT THE VIOLENCE THAT I SEE AT SELF CHECKOUT. I OFTEN HAVE TO BREAK UP CUSTOMERS WHO GET IN FIGHTS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET OUT PRO IN FAST AMOUNT OF TIME OR BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THEY NEED TO BE HELPED. I PUT MYSELF IN HARM'S WAY AND I'M TIRED OF IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TERRY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS KAREN AND THEN MIKE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M KAREN RE SIDE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GREAT PANTHERS, AND I ALSO SIT ON THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING. THIS IS AN AGE FRIENDLY CITY ISSUE. AS I AGE, I, I WANT YOU TO PICTURE, I AM HAVING TROUBLE LIFTING WATER. I HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY TO HELP ME. I HAVE ALMOST HURT MYSELF TRYING TO BALANCE THE WATER ON MY SHOPPING CART BECAUSE I CAN'T CARRY BAGS OF GROCERIES ANYMORE. I CAN'T DRIVE. AND, UH, I WENT TO VAUGHN'S. I GOT A WATERMELON AND A 40 BOTTLE CONTAINER OF WATER, AND THERE WAS NOBODY AT THE REGISTERS. THERE WAS ONLY SELF CHECKOUT. SOMEBODY HAD SPILLED SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR. SO PICTURE ME TRYING TO BALANCE THIS WATERMELON ON THE SCALE AND I WAS TRYING TO PROVIDE TWO GIFT CARDS FOR THE SENIORS AT THE SENIOR CENTER. UM, I COULDN'T GET THE TRANSACTIONS TO GO THROUGH. THE POOR WOMAN THAT WAS OVERSEEING THE SELF CHECKOUT WAS TRYING TO GET THE SPILL CLEANED UP BECAUSE IT WAS A FALL HAZARD FOR ME. SO WE, UM, WE NEED MORE HELP, NOT LESS HELP. THIS IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH FOR LONG BEACH. MORE STAFFING IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED, PARTICULARLY AS OUR POPULATION AGES. IT HELPS US BE INDEPENDENT. AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE LARGE NUMBERS ON THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UH, WE SUPPORT OUR UNION BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT, ABOUT THEIR JOBS. AND TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THERE'S A STORY BEHIND THE BIG CLOCK. I'LL TELL IT AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT. . THANKS. ALL RIGHT, MIKE AND THEN KEITH. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MIKE BERGER. I'M A 31 YEAR EMPLOYEE WITH RALPH'S. UM, THE PAST, UH, SEVERAL YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT SHIFT IN THE GROCERY EXPERIENCE AT RALPH'S AND AT MANY OF THE GROCERY STORES. WE, UH, WE HAVE IN CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN, UH, SELF-CHECK HAS BECOME NOT AN OPTION, BUT A DEMAND BY THE COMPANIES. YOU ARE SHIFTED AND SHUFFLED LIKE CATTLE INTO THE SELF-CHECK STANDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO OPEN MORE CHECK STANDS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE ONE PERSON IN THEM. THEY KNOW THEY CAN GET ONE PERSON TO RUN SEVEN CHECK STANDS VERSUS [02:35:01] ONE PERSON RUNNING ONE CHECK STAND. I'M MORE EFFICIENT AT ONE CHECK STAND WITH MY CUSTOMERS. I CAN KNOCK 'EM OUT, GET 'EM DONE, GET 'EM OUT, GET SEVEN CHECK STANDS AT ONE TIME. I'M DEALING WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND MAYBE THE CONFIDENCE LEVEL OF CUSTOMERS COMING THROUGH CHECK STANDS ON THEIR SELF CHECK STANDS DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THEY WOULD DEALING WITH ME DIRECTLY. SO IN THAT I'M LOOKING AT SEVEN DIFFERENT PROBLEMS OR SEVEN DIFFERENT SUCCESSES DEPENDING ON HOW THE CUSTOMERS REACT. MY OPPORTUNITY IS PLEASE VOTE FOR OPTION FOUR. GIVE US MORE HELP AT THE CHECK STANDS AND MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE GROCERY STORE A PLEASANT ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS KEITH. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, I, I ACTUALLY REALLY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING. PREVIOUSLY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ACTIVATING AN AREA OF DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESS. AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT SETTING A SET OF RULES TO TELL BUSINESSES HOW TO PERFORM THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, THEIR HOW TO CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS. AND, UM, I'M, I'M MOVED BY SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE HERE. I FEEL FOR THOSE PEOPLE. UM, I ALSO HEAR A LOT OF THIS RELATIVE TO, UH, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, LONG LINES, ET CETERA. UM, THE MARKET WOULD DICTATE THAT IF IT'S POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, I'VE GONE TO A STORE, GOTTEN POOR, POOR SERVICE, I JUST DON'T GO TO THAT STORE ANYMORE. AND MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE START PUTTING THESE KIND OF RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES, WHERE DOES THAT STOP? I THINK THE OTHER THING I'D ASK IS WHAT HAVE WE TRIED TO DO AS A CITY TO ENGAGE THOSE BUSINESSES TO SAY WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, POTENTIALLY AN ORDINANCE. WHAT COULD YOU DO TO TRY TO HELP MITIGATE THESE ISSUES TO TRY TO MAKE IT A SAFER ENVIRONMENT? UM, I I, I KNOW I HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT LOSS OF THE BUSINESS, UM, THAT THAT'S REALLY NOT, CITY COUNCIL'S SHOULD NOT BE IN CITY COUNCIL'S. UH, UH, CONCERN. THAT'S A BUSINESS ISSUE. THAT'S NOT A CITY COUNCIL ISSUE. SAFETY OF THE WORKERS, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT BEING AN ISSUE. I WOULD SAY GO TO THESE BUSINESSES AND TRY TO ENGAGE THEM AND TRY TO GET A, A RESOLUTION THAT WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, NEXT SAYS JENNIFER. S BUT THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE JENNIFER. JENNIFER S THAT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILWOMAN PIERCE. UH, YOU ARE, YOU ARE UP NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT, UH, LIST OF SPEAKERS. UH, FOR SOME REASON I HAVE NAIDA LISTED HERE. WE ALREADY HEARD FROM NAIDA. HAVE WE HEARD FROM ARACELI? I THINK WE CALLED HER EARLIER AND SHE, SHE DIDN'T COME UP. MAYOR. OKAY. RICHARDSON, IT'S NADIA. THIS SAYS NADIA. OH, NADIA. THERE'S A NADIA. OKAY. NAD NADIA T NO, THAT WAS NATA. I THINK YOU GUYS MISSPELLED IT. SO THAT WAS NATA. T IS NADIA. T. SAME. ALRIGHT, SO JUST A MOMENT. UM, ACE, I THINK WE CALLED EARLIER, UH, PALESTINE, UH, SARAH, S ALINA, BENSON, MATT BELL, TIM JAMES AND MYRON. I THINK MYRON, WE, WE HEARD FROM. SO I THINK THAT'S A DUPLICATE. SO IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. UH, COUNCILWOMAN. WELCOME, WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU. UM, YES. I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO, UH, READ COMMENTS FOR JENNIFER SUBER, WHO YOU MET, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON AT YOUR ROUND TABLE. SHE SAID AT THE END OF THE TABLE, AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE WORKERS THAT SHARED MULTIPLE STORIES. AND WHAT WE'VE GATHERED FROM HER IS SO MANY STORIES. SHE WANTS TO TELL A DIFFERENT ONE EVERY TIME. BUT SHE DID TELL A STORY THERE ABOUT HAVING A SHOPPING CART THROWN AT HER AND A KNIFE, UH, THE STABBING HAPPENING IN HER STORE AT THE DOWNTOWN VONS. AND SO SHE HAS WORKED FOR VONS FOR 22 YEARS. I'M GONNA READ HER STORY. I'M COMING TO SHARE TWO SHORT STORIES OF WHEN I FELT UNSAFE. I CAME TO ASSISTANT OLDER MAN AND A YOUNGER MAN. THE OLDER MAN TOLD ME, YOU CAN'T PUT A CLUB CARD IN THAT SELF CHECKOUT. I SAID, YOU CAN. AS SOON AS I SAID THAT, THE YOUNGER MAN SAID, SEE, I TOLD YOU THE OLDER MAN STARTS YELLING F YOU. I'M NOT USING THAT BS I STARTED BACKING UP NERVOUSLY. ANOTHER CUSTOMER GRABBED ME BY MY ARM AND PULLED ME BACK. THE YOUNG MAN TOLD ME IT WAS HIS GRANDFATHER. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. AND I TRIED TO GET THE OLDER MAN AS HE WALKED AWAY AND HE SAID, F YOU. AND STUCK HIS MIDDLE FINGER UP WHILE SAYING, I'LL BEAT YOUR ASS. THE YOUNG MAN CALLED HIS GRANDMOTHER AND SHE CAME UP THERE TO PAY FOR THE GROCERIES. THE CUSTOMER WHO PULLED MY ARM WAS ONE OF MY REGULAR CUSTOMERS. SHE SAID THAT THEY WERE ARGUING BEFORE I GOT THERE AND SHE FELT BAD AND WALKED INTO A SITUATION NOT KNOWING HOW AGGRESSIVE IT WOULD BE. ANOTHER CUSTOMER NEEDED ASSISTANCE BECAUSE HER EBT CARD WAS NOT FULLY PAYING FOR HER. GROCERIES GOT REALLY, SHE GOT REALLY AGGRESSIVE AND VERBALLY ABUSIVE WITH ME AS I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS THE COWORKER THANKFULLY ARRIVED AND BACKED ME UP. [02:40:01] YOUR TIME CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. OH BOY. OKAY, WELL THERE'S LOTS OF STORIES GUYS. I THINK THE SITUATION IS THEY FEEL UNSAFE. THE REPORTS, THE DATA THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROVED THAT MORE STAFFING CREATE SAFER SPACES. THANK YOU. IT ABSOLUTELY IS YOUR ROLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, I THINK ELLI IS NOT HERE. NEXT IS PALESTINE. HELLO. I AM A STUDENT TENANT AND WORKER LIVING IN DISTRICT ONE. MY FAMILY LIVES IN DISTRICT FIVE. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT OPTION FOUR TO PROTECT JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH GROCERY STORES. UH, THE COMMUNITY IS ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED REGULATION AND GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE OUR SEAT AT THE TABLE. WHEN VERY POWERFUL AND WEALTHY PEOPLE ARE IN CONTROL OF, UH, THE WAYS THAT WE GET FOOD, MEDICINE, UM, ALL OUR DAILY NECESSITIES. YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THESE BUSINESS OWNERS. I BELIEVE IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUR RIGHT AND OUR DUTY TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THESE REGULATIONS TO PROTECT FAMILIES AND WORKERS. MANY OF US HAVE, ARE EITHER ELDERLY OR HAVE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES WHO WE KNOW CANNOT SIMPLY CHOOSE TO GO TO A DIFFERENT STORE WHEN THE ONE THAT WE GO TO DOES SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T LIKE. UH, TRANSPORTATION IS NOT VERY EASY FOR THE ELDERLY AND I HAVE A GRANDMOTHER WHO IS OF THAT AGE. SO, UM, I NEED THIS CITY COUNCIL TO, UM, PROTECT JOBS, PROTECT STAFFING, UH, AT GROCERY STORES. BECAUSE IF MY GRANDMA'S HAVING A PROBLEM AT A LARGE CHAIN STORE WITH ONLY SELF CHECKOUT, SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO SIMPLY YOUR TIME HAS CONTROL. THANK FARTHER TO A DIFFERENT ONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. A FINAL SPEAKER, PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SARAH SERRANO AND I WORK AT CVS HERE IN LONG BEACH. THE USE OF THE SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINES HAS CAUSED A SAFETY ISSUE, NOT ONLY IN GROCERY STORES, BUT ALSO IN OUR CITY'S DRUG RETAIL STORES. DURING THE LATE HOURS OF OUR 24 HOUR STORES, WE OFTEN ONLY HAVE TWO WORKERS SCHEDULED. BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER TASKS THAT ARE MEANT TO BE DONE. THE SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINES ARE OFTEN LEFT COMPLETELY UNATTENDED. THAT MEANS FOR SIGNIFICANT PERIODS OF TIME THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A STORE. THE FRONT END HAS NO EMPLOYEES AT ALL. HOW ARE EMPLOYEES SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE WHEN THEY CAN'T BE EVEN BE PRESENT? THIS ORDINANCE WOULD REQUIRE THAT OUR DRUG RETAIL STORES HAVE SOMEONE AT, AT THE VERY LEAST, ATTENDING TO THEIR TRANSACTIONS. 24 HOUR DRUG STORES SERVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS IN LONG BEACH'S BEST INTEREST THAT THESE FRONT END STORES ARE ALWAYS SUPERVISED SO THAT THERE IS AN AUTHORITY WHO CAN ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS. IT IS CONCERNING THAT A COMPANY AS BIG AS CVS RUNS 24 HOUR STORES IN THIS CITY WHERE YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN SEE AN EMPLOYEE AT THE POINT OF SALES. THIS ORDINANCE WOULD FIX THAT PROBLEM REQUIRING THAT THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ATTENDING THE FRONT END, EVEN IN ODD HOURS OF THE NIGHT. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ORDINANCE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. PLEASE COME FORWARD. I READ THE NAMES, I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE LINE UP. ARE YOU TIM? YES. OKAY, GREAT. GO FOR IT, TIM. YEP. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TIM JAMES, CALIFORNIA GROCERS ASSOCIATION. UH, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH DRAFTING AN ORDINANCE AT THIS TIME. THE PROPOSAL ONLY APPLIES TO FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORES WHILE EXEMPTING OTHER RETAILERS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO SELL SIMILAR PRODUCTS IN THE SAME MANNER. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. IT IS NOT DEFENSIBLE. AND HERZ GROCERS, THE RATIONALE FOR THIS ORDINANCE IS BOTH FLAWED AND DOES NOT SUPPORT REQUIRING ADDITIONAL STAFFING. RETAIL THEFT WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY STAGING ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES IN HARM'S WAY. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS WITH RETAILERS HELP WILL PREVENT THEFT BY ENFORCING THE LAW. EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY FULLY PROTECTED BY BOTH COMPANY POLICIES AND SEVERAL STATE LAWS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM ENGAGING IN INCIDENTS AND ENSURES THEIR SAFETY. IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, EMPLOYEES ARE PROHIBITED FROM ENGAGING IN THREAT PREVENTION. OVERSTAFFING IS NOT A SOLUTION. AN ORDINANCE OF THIS TYPE WILL PUT, UH, CURRENT AND FUTURE LONG BEACH GROCERS AT A DISADVANTAGE. COST TO OPERATE WILL INCREASE AT A TIME WHEN CALIFORNIANS ARE ALREADY PAYING MORE FOR GROCERIES [02:45:01] THAN THE REST OF THE OF THE NATION. IT WILL ALSO, AGAIN, SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE INDUSTRY THAT LONG BEACH GROCERS ARE NOT RESPECTED OR WELCOMED. PLEASE DO NOT CHOOSE TO UNNECESSARILY RAISE FOOD PRICES. AND CHASE GROCERS AWAY FROM LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, ALINA? YES. OKAY, GREAT. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALINA BENSON. I'M HERE WITH A STATEMENT FROM STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER LENA GONZALEZ'S OFFICE. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, COUNCILWOMAN THRESH INUK AND VICE MAYOR ORANGA FOR INTRODUCING THIS ITEM. SENATOR GONZALEZ STRONGLY SUPPORTS AGENDA ITEM 33, OPTION FOUR, WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH LABOR REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SELF-CHECKOUT OPERATIONS IN GROCERY STORES AND DRUG RETAIL STORES. THIS MEASURE WILL ENSURE ADEQUATE STAFFING LEVELS HELP DETER THEFT, IMPROVE EMPLOYEE MORALE, WHICH I THINK IS KEY AFTER TESTIMONY WE HEARD TONIGHT AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE. ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT CONTINUES TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. AND WHILE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT IS CRUCIAL TO SUPPORT LOCAL INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT REMAIN ESSENTIAL TO STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT TO PROTECT OUR WORKERS, OUR BUSINESSES, AND OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. I SEE NO ONE ELSE, UH, STANDING THERE READY TO SPEAK. SO WE'LL NOW TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, THE SECONDER THE MOTION. I'M SORRY, THE CLOCK. OH, THE CLOCK. SHE WANTED TO REMIND ME, TELL TELL YOU ABOUT THE CLOCK BEFORE WE MOVE ON. THE VERY, OKAY. SO DO YOU SEE HOW SOMETIMES THE BLACK BOX COVERS UP THE CLOCK WHEN PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING? THEY YELL AT ME WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW THEY RAN OUT OF TIME. SO WE ASK THE CLERK, CAN YOU MAKE A BIG CLOCK THAT TURNS YELLOW AND THEN RED SO PEOPLE SEE WHAT THE TIME IS. SO EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE EXPECTATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GO FROM THIRD THREE MINUTES TO 90 SECONDS. AND IT'S UNCLEAR ON HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE. 'CAUSE 90 SECONDS, AS YOU KNOW, GOES BY PRETTY QUICKLY. SO, UH, SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A BACKUP CLOCK AND WE HAVE BIG PUBLIC COMMENTS. SOMETIMES WE BREAK, BREAK OUT LUCILLE, RIGHT? WE BREAK OUT THE BIG CLOCK 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA NEED IT. THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER, COUNCILWOMAN. WE'RE NOW GONNA TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. YOU'RE UP VICE MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION. I DON'T KNOW. OKAY, NOW I KNOW, BUT I SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THOSE WERE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. I THINK, UH, MY COMMENTS ON THIS IS GONNA BE VERY BRIEF. WE HEARD IT FROM THE AUDIENCE, WE HEARD ALL THE TESTIMONY, WE HEARD THE STORIES SO COMPELLING. I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SAY MORE THAN THAT. I THINK IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF MORE THAN THAT. THE TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE SAYS IT FOR ITSELF. SAFE STORES ARE STA STORES. OVER THE MANY YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE HEARD THE CHICKEN LITTLE STORY. I'LL GET IT AGAIN. DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, BUT THE SAME THING. THIS GUY'S GONNA FALL. THIS GUY'S GONNA FALL. BUSINESS ARE GONNA LEAVE LONG BEACH BECAUSE IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE. PEOPLE ARE GONNA NOT WANNA WORK BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS. IT'S NOT JUST NOT THE CASE. IN FACT, LONG BEACH HAS THRIVED HOW MANY ORDINANCES THAT WE'VE HAD IN IN THE PAST YEARS AND PASSED MEASURE IN MEASURE O. SO IF MY COLLEAGUES EVER PAID ATTENTION, THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE MORE POSITIVE ASPECTS TO THIS ORDINANCE THAN WE HAVE NEGATIVE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. WE WANNA HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SERVICE TO NOT ONLY OUR WITNESSES, BUT TO OUR RESIDENTS. WE WANT POSITIVE EXPERIENCES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BE SAFE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, BEING SAFE, IT WHAT MATTERS THE MOST. SO I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR PRESENTING TONIGHT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A DISCUSSION FOR MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH. UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT COUNCILWOMAN IN DAY HAS HAD COMPLETED HER COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AND THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM AIMS TO ESTABLISH STAFFING STANDARDS FOR SELF-CHECKOUT OPERATIONS TO MAKE OUR STORE SAFER BY PROACTIVELY ADDRESSING RETAIL THEFT AND ADVANCING THE PRESERVATION [02:50:01] OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE. THIS ITEM IS INFORMED BY THE APRIL 1ST CITY COUNCIL LETTER AND THE SUBSEQUENT JUNE 6TH, CITY MANAGER, TFF ENTITLED GROCERY STORES AND DRUG RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, STAFFING REQUIREMENT ITEM FOLLOW UP. WE AS A CITY HAVE A LONG PRIORITIZED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP PREVENT RETAIL THEFT AND DETER INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED, UH, 12 MARCH 12TH RETAIL THEFT ROUND TABLE WHERE JARRING RECOUNTS OF CHRONIC UNDERSTAFFING OVER SELF-CHECKOUT STAND OPERATIONS IN STORES, AND THE FREQUENCY OF THEFT THAT OCCUR OCCURS THROUGH SELF CHECKOUT OPERATION MACHINES AND THE ASSOCIATED INCREASES IN HARM, HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE, AND INTIMIDATION ENCOUNTERED DUE TO MANY, MANY UNDERSTAFFED EMPLOYEES. AND THAT, AND THAT WAS POINTED OUT IN THE ROUND TABLE. THESE TESTIMONIALS TONIGHT ECHO THOSE CONCERNS AND INCLUDE A COALITION OF WORKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR STORY OF IMPACT. IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC TESTIMONIALS, THE APRIL 1ST CITY COUNCIL LETTER INCLUDED DATA ON THE ISSUE ALSO REGARDING DATA. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE IS NOT EVIDENCE OF ABSENCE. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT GO UNREPORTED. I'VE HEARD MANY TIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ISSUE OF SIGHT AND RELEASE AS A DETERRING REPORTING. ALSO, MUCH OF THIS TYPE OF THEFT GOES UNREPORTED AND UNCHECKED BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRY'S PRACTICES THAT DO NOT PERMIT EMPLOYEES TO REPORT THEM IN PROMOTING SAFETY TIPS FOR BUSINESSES AND IN MEETINGS WITH THE BUSINESSES WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS POINTED TO VISIBLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE A CRIME PREVENTION FROM DEPARTMENTAL GRANT PROGRAMS ON THEFT PREVENTION TO PROSECUTION EFFORTS. THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN TO US AS A CITY AND IT AFFIRMS THE NEED TO DEVELOP TARGETED PUBLIC POLICY TOOLS TO DISRUPT AND PREVENT RETAIL THEFT IN LONG BEACH RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SHOWN THROUGH THESE, UM, THROUGH MANY ASPECTS THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE FACTUAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INTENDED REGULATION AND IT'S GOLD, A PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS ORDINANCE REFLECTS WHAT EXPERTS, WORKERS, AND EVEN INDUSTRY INSIDERS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED. STAFFING, PREVENTS THEFT, CALMS TENSIONS, AND PROTECTS WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS ALIKE. THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US TODAY IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE TOWARDS THIS END. SPECIFICALLY, IT PUTS FORWARD THE ORDINANCE AS A PROPOSED IN THE ORIGINAL COUNCIL LETTER AND PROMOTES OPTION FOUR OF THE CITY'S JUNE 6TH, 2025 MEMO. WITH THIS CLARIFYING CONDITION THAT ENFORCEMENT BE CONDUCTED THROUGH PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION, THIS ACTION IS ANTICIPATED TO HAVE A MINIMAL IMPACT OF STAFFING. LET'S VOTE YES ON THIS AGENDA ITEM UNDER OPTION FOUR. LET'S LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE, WITH COMPASSION AND WITH CLARITY, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, SAFE STORES ARE STAFF STORES. I INVITE MY COSIGNERS TO ALSO SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VICE MAYORGA FOR UM, YOUR WORDS EARLIER. AND THANK YOU FOR SIGNING ON TO THIS ITEM, COUNCILWOMAN SHINTECH. ALL RIGHT, UH, THANK YOU. WELL SAID. I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU HADN'T DELIVERED YOUR COMMENTS BEFORE YOU SPOKE. SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU READY [02:55:01] TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS NOW? MY TURN. ALL RIGHT, . ALL RIGHT. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BOTH LED ON THIS COUNCILWOMAN ZHU AS WELL AS SIGNED ON VICE MA, VICE MAYOR, UH, YANKA. UM, SO I WANNA BEGIN BY THANKING AS WELL OUR STAFF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY YOUR, UH, WORK ON. THIS WAS QUICK, CLEAR, AND DILIGENT TO ENSURE THAT WE GOT TO THIS MOMENT. YOU'VE HELPED US CUT THROUGH THE NOISE AND STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT MATTERS MOST, WHICH WE BELIEVE IS KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND HOLDING INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE. WE KNOW, AND WE'VE HEARD TODAY FROM RETAIL WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINES, THAT THERE IS RISING THEFT CONFLICT AND CUSTOMER FRUSTRATION. I TOO HAVE SPOKEN WITH WORKERS DIRECTLY, UM, WHO HAVE BEEN SCREAMED AT, THREATENED, AND EVEN PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED ONLY BE ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR REPORT WHAT HAPPENED. IF THEY DO, THEY RISK BEING WRITTEN UP OR EVEN WORSE FIRED. THAT KIND OF POLICY DOESN'T JUST ENDANGER WORKERS. IT MAY, IT MASKS AND HIDES THE REAL SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM. IT DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE NUMBER OF POLICE REPORTS FILED AND LIMITS THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE DANGER HAPPENING INSIDE THESE STORES. THAT'S WHY AS ONE OF THE CO-AUTHORS OF THIS, UH, ORDINANCE, WE'RE PROUD TO INCLUDE A PUBLIC RIGHT OF ACTION. IT PUTS ENFORCEMENT NOT ONLY IN THE WORKERS' HANDS, BUT ALSO IN THE HANDS OF THE PUBLIC. IF A STORE FAILS TO MEET MINIMUM STAFFING AND ANYONE A SHOPPER, A NEIGHBOR, A COMMUNITY GROUP CAN TAKE ACTION. WE HAVE HEARD THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS SAID THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT. UM, AND YET WE HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR STORES OPENING. UM, AND I WILL ADMIT THAT MARKETS HAVE CHANGED. THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS TRUE. THERE IS CHANGE AND THE INDUSTRY IS CHANGING, UH, WHERE SOME STORES ARE USING SELF-CHECKOUT WHILE OTHERS ARE NOT. AS WITH ANY ORDINANCE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT OUR LEGAL AUTHORITY. I'D FIRST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT I CONFIRM MY OWN UNDERSTANDING FOR THE RECORD AS I STATED HERE, I'M SURE, UM, OUR, OUR, UH, CITY ATTORNEY WOULD CORRECT ME IF I SAY ANYTHING WRONG. SO, UNDER ARTICLE 11, SECTION SEVEN OF THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTIONS, CITIES LIKE LONG BEACH HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PASS ORDINANCES THAT PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF OUR RESIDENTS AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW. THAT INCLUDES REGULATING PRIVATE BUSINESSES, SETTING MINIMUM SAFETY AND LABOR STANDARDS, AND USING OUR POLICE POWERS TO RESPOND TO DOCUMENTED HARMS LIKE THEFT, VIOLENCE AND CHRONIC UNDER STAFFING. SO, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE READ THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT AND IT STATES THAT THERE IS AN AUTHORITY IN THE LEGAL FOUNDATION FOR THIS ORDINANCE. ALL OF THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT ELIMINATE OPTIONS OR INNOVATIONS, BUT IT ENSURES THOSE OPTIONS ARE SAFE, FUNCTIONAL, AND FOR EVERYONE. AND I WANNA LIFT UP THAT RETAILERS STILL HAVE FLEXIBILITY. THEY CAN MEET THE STANDARD THROUGH STAFFED CHECKOUT LANES, DESIGNATED MONITORS ITSELF, CHECKOUT, OR SOME COMBINATION OF THE TWO. WE'RE NOT TELLING THEM HOW TO OPERATE. WE'RE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THEY MUST OPERATE SAFELY. AS A POINT OF REMINDER AND AS A POINT OF INFORMATION, I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT ON APRIL 20, OR ON APRIL 1ST, 2025, THIS CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT THE CITY MANAGER EVALUATE OPTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING LABOR STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO STAFFING AND OPERATIONS FOR SELF-CHECKOUT STANDS IN GROCERY RETAIL STORES AND RETAIL DRUG STORES. NOW PLEASE NOTE THAT MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM MET WITH THE PROPONENTS OF THIS INITIATIVE AND ALSO OFFERED TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CALIFORNIA GROCERS ASSOCIATION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSALS. SO THERE WAS OUTREACH ON BOTH SIDES. COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, THIS ORDINANCE IS LEGALLY SOUND AS HAS BEEN STATED. COMMUNITY DRIVEN BY ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND HAVE TOLD YOUR STORY AND URGENTLY NEEDED. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR FULL SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 33 AND URGE A VOTE OF YES ON OPTION FOUR WITH NO DELAYS. LET, LET US DO WHAT WE'VE DONE, LEAD WITH COURAGE AND LEAD TOGETHER AS LONG BEACH. IT'S BEEN STATED ALREADY, UH, SAFE STORES ARE STAFFED STORES AND I'M PROUD TO CO-AUTHOR THIS, THIS ORDINANCE. AND I RESPECTFULLY URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES ON ITEM NUMBER 33, AGAIN, UNDER OPTION FOUR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT, AS WE HEARD, UH, FROM ALL THE THREE AU UH, AUTHORS OF THIS ITEM. THANK [03:00:01] YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SIN, COUNCILWOMAN, THRASH, ENUK, AND VICE MAYOR ANG. UM, YOU KNOW, I DID WANNA JUST SHARE THE WAY THAT OUR BUSINESS ARE ARE NOT DIFFERENT FROM OUR PARKS OR PUBLIC SPACE WHERE WE KNOW WHEN THERE'S MORE ACTIVATION, THERE'S LESS CRIME, THERE'S LESS VIOLENCE, THEFT, RIGHT? SO IT'S REALLY TO THE SIMILAR THINKING THAT IF YOU HAD MORE ACTIVITY AND PRESENCE OF PEOPLE, THERE'S MORE SAFETY. SO WITH THAT, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HEARING FROM WORKERS THAT RETAIL THEFT AND SERVE VIOLENCE HAS RISEN. AND, AND IF ANY, IF ANYTHING, UM, IS VERY SCARY. AND IT AFFECTS, OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKERS, BUT CUSTOMERS AS WELL. UM, YOU KNOW, WHILE AUTOMATION HAS REALLY HELPED STREAMLINE OPERATION, UH, IT'S ALSO REALLY FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD, INCREASED STAFF INCREASED TE AND PRESSURE ON STAFF, UH, DETERIORATE REALLY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTED WORKERS' MENTAL HEALTH. AND AS A MOM, I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE PRETTY REGULARLY WITH A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO DRINKS ALMOST A GALLON OF MILK EVERY FEW DAYS. IT IS A LOT OF MILK, BUT , I, I DON'T LIKE, AS A CUSTOMER GOING TO MARKETS THAT HAVE SELF-CHECKOUT, IT STRESSES ME OUT TO KEEP FIGURING OUT, UM, THE PROCESS OF WHERE TO GO. WHO DO, WHO DO I HAVE, I WHO DO I ASK FOR A QUESTION WHEN NOBODY'S REALLY AROUND, WHEN THE, IT'S NOT WORKING RIGHT? SO I WANNA ALSO SAY I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE, UM, JUST, JUST NOT HAVING A GOOD EXPERIENCE BEING A SELF CHECKOUT, UH, AT SELF BEING AT SELF CHECKOUTS. UM, SO I'D LIKE TO, I THINK WE'VE HEARD, UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. AND I WANTED TO OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. UH, COUNCILWOMAN SENDE HAS, UH, SINCE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE IS DRIVEN BY PUBLIC RIGHT OF ACTION, UH, AS COUNCILWOMAN THRASH AND TOOK, HAS MENTIONED, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT BOTH WORKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS MUST BE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS. AND TO THAT END, I LIKE TO REQUEST A INCLUSION OF A REQUIRED SIGNAGE IN ALL COVERED ESTABLISHMENT ALERTING THE PUBLIC TO THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THIS ORDINANCE. SO THE SIGN COULD INCLUDE A LINK OR A QR CODE THAT DIRECTS INDIVIDUAL TO A BRIEF DESCRIPTION POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE OUTLINING THEIR RIGHTS AND AVAILABLE ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS. SO I PROPOSE THAT THIS SIGNAGE BE POSTED WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE ORDINANCE EFFECTIVENESS EFFECTIVE DATE TO ALLOW TIME FOR IMPLEMENTATION, TRANSLATION, AND DESIGN, AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY USING A CITY PROVIDED TEMPLATE. WILL YOU ACCEPT MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? COUNCILMAN HAS? YES. I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA, UM, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR, UM, OUR CUSTOMERS THAT OPTION. SO THAT, YES, I WILL ACCEPT THAT FRIENDLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO TALK TONIGHT. I'D LIKE TO SIMPLIFY THIS PROPOSAL. THIS WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR ONE EMPLOYEE TO OVERSEE THREE SELF CHECKOUTS IN GROCERY STORES BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE. I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN. IT WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR ONE EMPLOYEE TO OVERSEE THREE SELF CHECKOUTS BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE. ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC COULD SUE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE. AND IF WE ADD SIGNAGE, PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. THIS IS SIMILAR TO HOW A DA COMPLIANCE IS ENFORCED AGAINST BUSINESSES. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE BUSINESS'S FAULT THE INVENTORY IS BEING STOLEN, AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE JOB OF THEIR EMPLOYEES TO STOP CRIME. THIS SHIFTS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FROM THE CITY TO STORE WORKERS. AND THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD BE GOING IN. THE CITY'S JOB IS TO PROVIDE SAFE, CLEAN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE. BUSINESSES CAN OPERATE AND NEIGHBORHOODS CAN THRIVE. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN STORE CLOSURES ACROSS THE CITY, AND THAT'S INCLUDING IN DISTRICT THREE. AND SOME OF THOSE SPACES ARE STILL VACANT. THIS PROPOSAL TELLS POTENTIAL INVESTORS THAT LONG BEACH IS TOO UNSAFE FOR STORES TO OPERATE WITHOUT HEAVY REGULATION. [03:05:01] AND THAT'S THE WRONG MESSAGE WE SHOULD BE SENDING. I ALSO THINK THIS PROPOSAL IS SHORTSIGHTED SINCE THE PANDEMIC. MORE PEOPLE RELY ON SERVICES LIKE AMAZON FRESH AND INSTACART. IF WE MAKE IT HARDER FOR IN-PERSON STORES TO ADAPT, WE RISK ACCELERATING CLOSURES AND LOSING LOCAL JOBS IN THE LONG RUN. IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, WE SHOULD FOCUS ON REAL SOLUTIONS. HIRING MORE OFFICERS, IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES AND HOLDING REPEAT OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE. AND I THINK WE ARE DOING THAT. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THIS. WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THE BUSINESSES THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES AND NOT ADDING REGULATIONS THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO STAY OPEN. FINALLY, IF WE'RE GOING TO PASS POLICIES IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THEY SHOULD BE GROUNDED IN DATA. I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT DATA. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE PROVIDED HERE TONIGHT DURING THE PRESENTATION. SO I'M GONNA HAVE ASKED TWO QUESTIONS, AND I HOPE I CAN GET SOME ANSWERS TO THIS. FIRST OF ALL, RETAIL THEFT IS REPORTEDLY DOWN THIS YEAR, 24 25, WITHOUT HAVING STAFFING MANDATES FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES, I'VE LISTENED TO THE TESTIMONY OF EMPLOYEES AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE NEED MORE POLICE AND SECURITY RATHER THAN MORE GROCER POSITIONS. WITH THE CITY'S STATED GOAL OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY, HOW DOES REQUIRING ADDITIONAL CASHIER POSITIONS IMPROVE SAFETY MORE THAN ADDING SECURITY PERSONNEL POSITIONS? YEAH. IS THAT QUESTION FOR STAFF? YEP. OKAY. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU ARE ASKING US HOW THIS WILL IMPROVE SAFETY VERSUS THESE INDEPENDENT ESTABLISHMENTS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SECURITY, OR CAN YOU CLARIFY AND REPEAT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE CHIEF CHIME IN WHERE APPROPRIATE? MY QUESTION IS, WITH THE CITY'S STATED GOAL OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY, HOW DOES REQUIRING ADDITIONAL CASHIER'S POSITIONS MAKING IT A MANDATED ONE TO TWO RATIO WITHIN A PRIVATE BUSINESS, HOW DOES THIS IMPROVE SAFETY MORE THAN ADDING SECURITY PERSONNEL POSITIONS? WE'RE WRITING AN ORDINANCE. I MEAN, MAYBE I NEED TO GO TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE. WHY WOULD WE BE ASKING FOR MORE EMPLOYEES FOR THE SELF-CHECKOUT AND WHY AREN'T WE ASKING FOR MORE SECURITY PERSONNEL POSITIONS IF THAT IS THE CASE? BUT I NEED SOME DATA FOR THIS. THANK YOU. LET ME SEE IF I CAN HELP OUT WITH THIS. YOU, THANK YOU. SO, UM, AS FAR AS THE, I I THINK WE NEED TO, UH, THERE'S A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN REPORTED CRIMES AND CRIMES THAT AREN'T REPORTED IN SAFETY ISSUES INTERNALLY TO, TO ANY BUSINESS. AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW CHANGING OPERATIONS WITHIN ANY BUSINESS WOULD IMPACT SAFETY. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE ADDITION OF SECURITY OR ADDITIONAL, UH, EMPLOYEES ALWAYS PROVIDES ANOTHER, UH, A FORCE MULTIPLIER TO PUBLIC SAFETY REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION OR THE ITEM AT HAND. I'M JUST SPEAKING FROM THE POLICE PERSPECTIVE, UM, THE, THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO REPORTS OF CRIMES. SO WHILE THERE MAY BE THINGS HAPPENING THAT YOU'RE HEARING HERE, THOSE AREN'T NECESSARILY THINGS THAT I'M AWARE OF AS THE POLICE CHIEF OR AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE'S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE REPORTED CRIMES, HOW WE REPORT OUR CRIMES, UM, IN GUIDE IN THE, UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN TESTIMONIALS THAT, THAT YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE. SO, UH, WE FOLLOW THE REPORTING GUIDELINES THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY FOLLOWS THE FBI STANDARD FOR REPORTING. UH, IT'S NOT BROKEN DOWN INTO RETAIL THEFT PER SE. UH, WE LOOK AT, UH, PETTY THEFT, BURGLARY, GRAND THEFT. THERE'S A VARIETY OF AREAS WHICH, UH, THAT WHICH WE, UM, DOCUMENT AND REPORT ON. AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, A REDUCTION IN, IN, UH, CRIME IN THE CITY, I'M TALKING ABOUT, AND OUR STATS SHOW THAT THERE'S A DOWNWARD TREND IN TERMS OF PETTY THEFT. UH, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY INCLUDE THINGS THAT AREN'T REPORTED. AND SO I HOPE THAT OFFERS SOME LEVEL OF CLARIFICATION FOR YOU. UM, BUT, UH, THIS, I I CAN'T REALLY GET INTO INTERNALLY HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT A BUSINESS'S OPERATIONS. IT'S WHAT WE ASK OUR RESIDENTS TO DO REPORT. I THINK THERE'S DIFFERENT SITUATIONS HERE. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS, DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT ON THIS? YES. UM, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU, CHIEF. HI. THANK YOU [03:10:01] SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS. I THINK THE MAIN THING HERE TODAY IS THAT THE REASON THAT, UM, THESE ARE NOT REPORTED OR THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA, UM, TO BACK, THIS IS THE ONLY REASON, IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT REPORTED. IT'S SO VERY UNREPORTED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS TELLING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO DO. SO THE INDUSTRY IS ASKING THEIR EMPLOYEES NOT TO REPORT THIS, TO LET THIS GO. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE THE DATA IS MISSING. I THINK THAT, UM, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT, UM, THESE ARE LIVES THAT ARE AT STAKE HERE. THESE ARE OUR RESIDENTS, THESE ARE OUR WORKERS. THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING, UM, HARASSED DAILY BY HAVING THESE. AND YOU DID MENTION, UM, THE RATIO TWO TO ONE, UM, WHY THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND WHY? UM, NOT THREE, THREE TO ONE. I THINK THAT THE MORE, UM, EYES YOU HAVE ON, UM, ON A SELF CHECKOUT MACHINE MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE SAFER. SO IF, UM, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EYES ON THEM AND THAT WILL DETER CRIME. I KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT WE AS A CITY DETOUR CRIME, UH, ESPECIALLY IN IN RETAIL THEFT THAT IS, HAS, HAS BEEN GROWING EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN UNREPORTED. AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD TODAY IN THE COMMENTS THAT, UM, CAME BEFORE US WAS THAT OUR WORKERS, OUR RESIDENTS WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT, UM, PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT IT'S DOING. PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS, AND ALSO THE INDUSTRY HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THIS TO ADDRESS THIS. BUT THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO THIS. THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THIS AND ALLOW FOR THEIR, UM, WORKERS TO BE IN THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER, WHY ARE WE, THIS IS A GREAT DISCUSSION, BUT SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH THIS CLOCK 'CAUSE IT WENT FIVE MINUTES AND THEN IT RESTARTED. SO ARE WE ON ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES? OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH, JUST QUEUE UP AGAIN. WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU. AND THEN YOU, YOU GUYS GOTTA LET US KNOW IF WE'RE HAVING CLOCK PROBLEMS. WE CAN'T SEE IT UP, UP THERE. ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN BRIX. OTI. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, I'LL BE SHORT, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF DIALOGUE, UH, GOING ON TONIGHT, WHICH IS WILL DESERVED FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. UM, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. ONE IS THE, THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD TODAY FROM OUR ACTUAL GROCERY WORKERS, GIVING THEM THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE AROUND, UH, SELF CHECKOUTS. WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE OF OUR STORES, WHAT'S BEING SHARED. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THESE THINGS ARE UNDER REPORTED. SO OUR, OUR WORKERS ARE EXPERIENCING THEM, RIGHT, BUT ARE BECAUSE OF FEAR FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. THEY'RE NOT REPORTING THEM TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. AND SO THEREFORE, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE DATA THAT WE SHOULD BE SEEING. UM, AND SO MY HOPES IS THAT AS WE ROLL THIS OUT, UM, TODAY, IF THIS PASSES, IS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE THAT INFORMATION IN REAL TIME. UM, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE THE DATA THAT WE NEED TO. UH, ADDITIONALLY, I'LL JUST SHARE MY OWN OBSERVATIONS. I WAS AT A, A A TO BE NAMED, UH, BIG BOX, UH, RECENTLY. AND I WAS IN THE BATHROOM WITH MY, MY KIDS AND I SAID, OH, THE, THE WOMEN'S BATHROOM NEEDS TO BE, NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I'M GONNA GO, I'M GONNA GO OUT AND TELL A STAFF MEMBER. SO I WENT AND WAS IN LINE CHECKING OUT, TOLD THE CHECKER, TOLD THE CHECKER, HEY, UM, SOMEONE NEEDS TO, UH, ASSESS AND, UH, AND CLEAN UP THE, THE MAINTAIN THE WOMEN'S BATHROOM. AND THEY SAID, AND THEY LOOKED BEHIND THEM AND THEY SAID, OH, UH, WELL, THE PERSON WHO'S SUPPOSED TO DO THAT IS BUSY. AND THEY NODDED TO A WORKER WHO WAS MANAGING SELF-CHECKOUT, UM, AND THEN ALSO PUTTING AWAY GROCERY CARTS. SO THEY HAD THREE JOBS THEY WERE DOING, THEY WERE CLEANING THE BATHROOMS, RIGHT? THEY WERE HAVING TO MAINTAIN THE BATHROOMS. THEY WERE DOING SELF-CHECKOUT, AND THEN THEY WERE ALSO PUTTING AWAY GROCERY CARTS IN THE STORE, RIGHT? AND I REMEMBER THINKING TO MYSELF, OH, THEY'RE DOING THREE JOBS, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY I CAN'T, THE, THAT'S WHY THE BATHROOMS ARE IN THE STATE THAT THEY'RE IN, RIGHT? SO I WANT US TO, TO SEE THAT WE AS EVEN RESIDENTS GET TO SEE THE, GET TO SEE EXAMPLES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR OWN STORES, IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES. UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I WILL SAY FROM A, ADDITIONALLY, FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING THAT IN THE TESTIMONY FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CALIFORNIA GROCERIES ASSOCIATION, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY'RE PUTTING WORKERS IN HARM'S WAY. 'CAUSE HE SAID, AND I, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY I QUOTE IS THAT, WELL, PUTTING MORE WORKERS IN HARM'S WAY, THAT'S NOT GONNA HELP. SO THAT MEANS YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU KNOW, THAT YOU'RE PUTTING WORKERS IN HARM'S WAY. UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU MEANT TO SAY THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I HEARD AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THAT MEANS TO ME THAT YOU ALL RECOGNIZE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND ARE FAILING TO ADDRESS IT. AND AGAIN, THAT IS WHY I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS. [03:15:01] UM, I'LL PASS THIS. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER THRASS. INTU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANTED TO JUST SEE IF I COULD ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, UM, HAD. SO I, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LIFTING UP, UH, THE CONCEPT THAT IT, WE ARE FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, ONE WORKER PER TWO TERMINALS. I SEE THAT, UH, AS A POSITIVE. SO I THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT SEVERAL TIMES. 'CAUSE AS YOU SAID IT, I SAID, OOH, THAT SOUNDS RIGHT, . UM, AND PART OF WHY, UM, NOT ONLY DOES IT SOUND RIGHT AND I BELIEVE FEEL RIGHT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT THERE IS ENOUGH INDUSTRY BACKED RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY IN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY THAT CONFIRMS THAT THE MORE TERMINALS A SINGLE EMPLOYEE MONITORS, THE GREATER THE EXPOSURE TO, TO THEFT. AND, UM, JUST, THAT'S JUST WHAT THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN AND, AND TELLS US. UM, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DATA AND WHAT KIND OF DATA IS NEEDED. UM, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE HERE, I HEAR FROM HER ALL THE TIME ON THE TOPIC OF DATA. SO, UH, LET ME, LET ME SEE IF I CAN DO MY BEST IN CHANNEL, UH, COUNCILWOMAN JOANI, RICK SODI. UM, WELL, WHAT WE HAVE HEARD HERE TODAY IS DATA THAT IS QUALITATIVE IN NATURE. UH, EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE CUMULATIVE IN, UH, ENGAGING AND INTERACTING WITH BEING AT THOSE SELF-CHECKOUT STANDS ALONE WITHOUT THE KIND OF PROTECTION THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER TODAY. AND THEN ONE THING I WANNA LIFT UP THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WAS HEARD EARLIER IS THAT, UH, SOME OF THE QUANTITATIVE DATA IS NOT THERE BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE A CALL. SO IF THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE CALLS AND THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN MAKE CALLS, THEN THERE IS NO INFORMATION AS THE CHIEF HAS NOTED THAT GOES INTO HIM, UH, REGARDING THIS MATTER. SO BY BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UH, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN MAKE THE CALL AND EMPLOYEES ALSO WILL HAVE A RIGHT, UH, TO MAKE THE CALL. AND THEN I'LL SAY THE CONCEPT THAT WE JUST INCREASED SECURITY, FOR EXAMPLE, BE IT ARMED OR UNARMED WITHIN A GROCERY STORE. FOR SOME COMMUNITIES COUNCILWOMAN DUG IN, THAT DOES NOT MEAN SAFETY. AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE. UH, YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT TAKING YOUNG CHILDREN. I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN. WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. SAFETY THERE MEANS WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE HELP AND ASSISTANCE FROM, UH, VERY VETERAN AND EXPERIENCED GROCERY WORKERS, UM, WHOSE CRAFT, UM, YOU KNOW, I VERY MUCH RESPECT AND, AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A CRAFT, UM, IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO. AND SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING, UH, STAFFED, UH, COUNTERS AND STAFFED, UM, AUTOMATED, UH, COUNTERS ARE REALLY WHAT WE, I THINK WE SHOULD BE GOING FOR AS OPPOSED TO JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ADD, UH, MORE SECURITY IN THE FORM OF, AGAIN, PERSONNEL, UH, IN CERTAIN UNIFORMS WITHIN, UH, OUR STORES. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF MY COMMENTS TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, I JUST WANNA GET TO, UM, REITERATING ONE POINT AND ASKING ONE MORE QUESTION. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE AREN'T FOCUSING ON SECURITY PERSONNEL VERSUS CASHIER POSITIONS. IT IS NOTED THAT SECURITY HELPS TO, IT, IT, IT HELPS TO CURB CRIME. IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE CRIME, BUT THAT'S GONNA HELP. SO I'M GONNA GO TO MY SECOND QUESTION THOUGH. UM, WHY ARE WE TARGETING SELF CHECKOUTS AT GROCERY STORES? AND WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES, MAINTENANCE STORES, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT BIG BOX COUNCIL MEMBER RICK'S ODI, WAS IT A GROCERY STORE? WHY ARE WE JUST FOCUSING ON GROCERY STORES AS THE INDUSTRY AND NOT OTHER, UH, STORES THAT HAVE SELF-CHECKOUT, BUT WE CAN SAY WE, WE CAN SAY WHAT THEY CAN DO. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ARE YOU DIRECTING THAT TOWARD THE MAKE OF THE MOTION? YEAH. OKAY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS THAT, UM, THIS IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE ISSUES ARE IS AT OUR GROCERY STORES. THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS ARE COMING FROM, WHERE OUR, UM, RESIDENTS WORK AT IS AT GROCERY STORES. SO THAT'S WHY IT IS DEEMED SPECIFICALLY FOR GROCERY STORES. I, AGAIN, GO BACK TO WHAT DATA DO WE HAVE? I, I JUST, THAT'S MY QUESTION. [03:20:03] THE ANSWER TO THAT IS THAT IT IS BEING UNDER-REPORTED DUE TO THE INDUSTRY'S REQUIREMENT TO NOT REPORT THOSE INCIDENTS. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER TH TOOK FINAL COMMENT. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT. I BELIEVE IT'S ALL RETAIL, UH, RETAILERS. THAT WAS, THAT WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN ADDITION TO GROCERY STORES, UM, AS THE ENTITIES THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY THIS ORDINANCE. YES, IT IS. GROCERY STORES AND DRUG RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS. NOT ALL RETAIL. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WELL, THAT, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, OUR COUNCIL DEBATE AND OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY, UH, FOR PARTICIPATING. I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR, FOR, UH, UH, RAISING ISSUES AND, AND HAVING A HEALTHY DEBATE ON THIS MATTER. NOW IT'S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE, I THINK IT WAS ALREADY MOVED AND SECONDED AND THEN SOMEHOW IT CAME UP WITH ANOTHER MOVE. UH, OH YEAH, THERE WAS ALREADY A MOTION IN THE SECOND ORIGINAL. IT WAS MOVED BY CD HOUSE SECONDED BY THRASH AND TOOK, OH NO, CD SEVEN WAS THE SECOND UR URANGA SECONDED BY URANGA. OKAY. MOTION IS CARRIED JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE, THE PUBLIC. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. UM, CITY ATTORNEY MACINTOSH. SO THE NEXT STEP NOW THAT YOU HAVE DIRECTION, IS THE CRAFTING OF THE ORDINANCE, CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT TO TAKE PLACE? SOON. SOON. SOON. ALRIGHT. UH, THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM INTENDED 49 PLEASE. UM, MADAM ZACH, UM, MADAM A CITY ATTORNEY. I THINK THE INTENDED DATE WAS 30 DAYS. OH, OKAY. THEY'LL WORK ON IT. THEY'LL WORK ON IT. YEAH, WE DO HAVE THE DARK PERIODS AND THE LIKE. SO. ALRIGHT, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK, WE'LL WORK ON IT. ITEM, UH, ITEM 49, PLEASE REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 16 OF THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING AND RESTATING CHAPTER 16.60 RELATING TO PAYMENT OF LIVING WAGE TO WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT AND THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER CENTER. READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READINGS. CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO LAST YEAR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ZENDEJAS RICKS ODI, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, UH, LED AN ITEM REQUESTING STAFF TO EVALUATE OPTIONS TO MODERN MO TO MODERNIZE THE EXISTING, UH, WAGE RATES AT CONVENTION CENTER, UH, FOR, FOR CONVE CONCESSION WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT AND THE CONVENTION CENTER. AND THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE, THE, UH, CONCERTED EFFORT TO STABILIZE LOCAL TOURISM WORKFORCE, UH, THROUGH MEASURE RW. AND SO MEASURE RW WAS ADOPTED IN MARCH, 2024. ELECTIONS, UH, [49. 25-55612 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending Title 16 of the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending and restating Chapter 16.60 relating to payment of living wage to workers at the airport and the Long Beach convention center, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Attorney         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] WORK HAS BEEN DONE WITH CITY STAFF, UH, TO PUT TOGETHER, UM, A DRAFT ORDINANCE. UM, SIT NOW THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL STAKE STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND COUNCIL MEMBER SORROWS PREPARED TO MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT LANGUAGE SO THAT THE ORDINANCE CAN BE REVISED AND BROUGHT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL. IT WILL GO TO A NEW FIRST READING AND A SECOND READING TO GET, UH, ADOPTED AND THEN GO INTO EFFECT. UH, AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, WHO'S BEEN LEADING ON THIS INITIATIVE. YES, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, SO WE'VE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, SO I WON'T GO INTO THE OVERVIEW AS I THINK YOU'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS. UM, AND MAYOR HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE OVERVIEW ON TODAY'S ITEM. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION, UM, THAT, OR PROPOSE THAT WE MODIFY, UH, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE LANGUAGE BY ONE, OMITTING THE PREVIOUS DIRECTION, PROPOSING TO REVISE TO ORDINANCE BY LIMITING THE APPLICABILITY OF THE NEW WAGE SCALE TO SPECIFIC CLASSIFICATION OF WORKERS AND RETAINING THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE IN LBMC 16.6 0.040 THAT DOES NOT CREATE DISTINCTION FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS. TWO, PROVIDING NEW DIRECTIONS TO REVISE THE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT RECOGNIZE THE APPLICABILITY [03:25:01] OF LBMC 16.6 0.040 TO FUTURE CONCESSION OPERATIONS AT THE PROPOSED CITY-OWNED TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER PROJECT NEAR THE QUEEN MARY. AND THREE, ALLOWING THE 2025 WAGE RATE TO BE EFFECTIVE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE AMENDMENT. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND WHEN WE BEGAN THIS CONVERSATION, THE TEMPORARY AMPHITHEATER WASN'T, WASN'T REAL. AND NOW IT'S A REAL PROJECT. SO WE'RE PROUD TO INCLUDE, UH, OUR AMPHITHEATER IN OUR CONVENTION CENTER, UH, OUR LONG BEACH ARENA. AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW VENUE ONLINE WITH THE AMPHITHEATER. THIS HELPS ENSURE THAT THOSE, UH, WORKERS ARE MAINTAINED THAT SAME LABOR STANDARD. SO WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD TO INCLUDE THAT. ALRIGHT, UM, THE SECONDER OF THE MOTION IS COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DR. SULI SORO, UM, FOR THOSE AMENDMENTS, UM, THAT I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF. UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, REALLY THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN UPDATE TO A POLICY. UH, A SIGNIFICANT WIN FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH BY INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE, UH, FOR CONCESSION WORKERS TO $23 PER HOUR UPON ADOPTION AND ESTABLISHING CLEAR INCREMENTAL INCREASES THROUGH 2028, EVENTUALLY REACHING 29 50 PER HOUR. THIS ORDINANCE AFFIRMS THAT THE LABOR OF THOSE WHO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS EVERY DAY IS VALUABLE, DIGNIFIED, AND ESSENTIAL. UH, FAR TOO OFTEN THE HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS WHO STAFF OUR FOOD, OUR FOOD STANDS, OUR RETAIL COUNTERS AND SERVICES AREAS ARE OVERLOOKED. THIS ACTION ENSURES THAT THEIR WAGES KEEP PACE, NOT JUST WITH INFLATION, BUT WITH THE COST OF LIVING AND THE DIGNITY OF THEIR LABOR. I WANNA THANK, UM, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, COLLEAGUES, OUR LABOR PARTNERS, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, AND CITY STAFF, UH, WHO HELPED MOVE THIS EFFORT FORWARD. THE PERSISTENCE HELPED BRING THESE ORDINANCE TO THE, UM, TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. UM, AND ULTIMATELY OUR CITY THRIVES WHEN WORKERS WHO, WHO POWER, UM, WHOSE POWER, UM, WHO POWER OUR COMMUNITY, UM, WHO LIVE HERE, WHO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES AND, AND REINVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, ARE SUPPORTED IN THE WAYS THAT THEY NEED TO BE. AND SO, UM, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SEVEN, UH, I'LL READ THEIR NAMES. PLEASE COME FORWARD, UH, REVEREND JENNIFER TO TOFL. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. UH, GRECIA LOPEZ, ANDRE ROMERO, ANDRE, ANDREA ROMERO. UH, SANDRA RODRIGUEZ. AISHA MUHAMMAD. KEITH MASON. ANDRE DONATO, ALL REVEREND, YOU'RE UP. ALRIGHT, IT'S ME AGAIN. UM, A MINISTER IN COMMUNITY AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE FOLKS AT CLUE ALL TOURISM WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL IN BUILDING OUR THRIVING TOURISM INDUSTRY. SO ALL TOURISM WORKERS DESERVE SUSTAINABLE WAGES TO LIVE AND THRIVE WHERE THEY WORK THE VICTORY OF MEASURE. RW HAS MADE A GREAT IMPACT ON LONG BEACH HOTEL WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN PAYING RENT AND BUYING GROCERIES LIKE BEFORE THEY CAN SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN. INSTEAD OF TAKING ON ANOTHER JOB, THEY CAN BUY THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND TAKE THEM TO THE MOVIES. THE CONCESSION WORKERS AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER DESERVE TO HAVE QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR LOVED ONES TOO. THAT'S ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN THEY HAVE SUSTAINABLE WAGES AND DON'T HAVE TO TAKE TWO TO THREE JOBS TO MEET THEIR NECESSITIES. IN MY CHRISTIAN TRADITION, WE BELIEVE THAT THE CREATOR LONGS FOR ALL OF US TO THRIVE, TO LIVE IN AND CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. THE CONCESSION WORKERS CAN ONLY THRIVE IF THEY HAVE LIVING WAGES. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE MOTION AND IMMEDIATELY RAISE THE WAGE FOR ALL CONCESSION WORKERS, INCLUDING TEMPORARY WORKERS TO $25 AN HOUR WITH A GRADUAL ESCALATION TO $29 AND 50 CENTS BY 2028. LET'S ALSO MAKE SURE THIS ORDINANCE WILL APPLY TO TOURISM SITES LIKE THE AMPHITHEATER. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU CIA. YOU'RE UP. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CIA LOPEZ REYES, DIRECTOR WITH LONG BEACH WAY JUSTICE ECONOMY. UM, A PROJECT OF LANE. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE MOTION TO STRENGTHEN ITS SPAN WAGE PROTECTIONS FOR ALL TOURISM WORKERS IN LONG BEACH. WE CAN BUILD A THRIVING ECONOMY BY LEAVING PEOPLE BEHIND. TOURISM IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIES IN OUR CITIES, BUT TOO MANY WORKERS, UM, WHO KEEP IT RUNNING STILL CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY. VOTERS MADE THEIR PRIORITIES CLEAR WHEN THEY PASSED. MEASURE RW, NO LOOPHOLES, NO EXCLUSIONS. WE, YOU MUST HONOR THE MANDATE BY REJECTING ANY ATTEMPTS TO CARVE OUT EXEMPTIONS. AND BY MAKING SURE THAT FUTURE PROJECTS LIKE THE [03:30:01] NEW AMPHI NEAR THE QUEEN MARY ALSO FOLLOWS A LIVING WAGE LAW. THIS IS ABOUT FAIRNESS. RAISING WAGES TO 25 NOW AND 29 50 BY 2028 DOESN'T JUST LIFT UP WORKERS. IT LIFTS UP OUR CITY, OUR NEIGHBORS, AND SUPPORTS THE LOCAL ECONOMY. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MOTION AND HELP MAKE LONG BEACH A CITY WHERE ALL WORKERS CAN THRIVE. I ALSO WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN DR. SOLI SORO AND THE CO-AUTHORS AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ANDREA. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANDREA ROMERO AND I AM A LONG BEACH RESIDENT IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I HAVE WORKED AT THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER AS A COOK FOR 12 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE WORKERS WHO HELP KEEP OUR CITY RUNNING, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN TOURISM AT THE AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER. I WAS PROUD WHEN LONG BEACH VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASS MEASURE RW TO RAISE WAGES FOR HOTEL WORKERS. BUT THAT COMMITMENT TO FAIR PAY NEEDS TO INCLUDE ALL TOURISM WORKERS AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER AND THE PROPOSED AMPHITHEATER. AND IT SHOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED BY WHO SIGNS THEIR PAYCHECK. MY COWORKERS AND I WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE, ABOUT A PREVIOUS PROPOSAL THAT MOVED TO EXCLUDE SUBCONTRACTED WORKERS. BLESS YOU, FROM OUR CITY'S LIVING WAGE LAW. IF YOU DO THE WORK, YOU SHOULD EARN THE WAGE. PLAIN AND SIMPLE, IT SHOULDN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE HIRED THROUGH A STAFFING AGENCY OR DIRECTLY BY AN OPERATOR. I NOW URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND THE PREVIOUS DIRECTION TO ENSURE THAT OUR EXISTING LIVING WAGE LAW CONTINUES TO COVER ALL FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSIONS WORKERS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER AND AIRPORT, AND EXPANDS TO THE QUEEN MARY AMPHITHEATER. LET'S STAND BEHIND ALL OUR WORKERS BECAUSE WE ALL NEED THIS LIVING WAGE TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT IS SANDRA, THEN AISHA. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SANDRA RODRIGUEZ AND I HAVE WORKED AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT FOR PARADISE GADE, A SALE ASSOCIATE FOR 11 YEARS. FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS, MY UNION AND I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING TO ENSURE THAT ALL TOURISM WORKERS THAT WORK AT HOTELS AND AT CITY OWNED TOURISM FACILITIES SEE AN INCREASE TO THE LIVING WAGE. LONG BEACH AIRPORT CONTINUES TO BE INCREDIBLY BUSY. IN 2024, WE HAD A RECORD BREAKING 2 MILLION PASSENGERS. THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A DEMAND AS WE PREPARE FOR MULTIPLE WORLD EVENTS IN OUR REGION, AND YET THE WORKERS ARE WELCOME. ALL THESE PASSENGERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE WITH THE CUSP OF EVERYTHING CONTINUING TO ESCALATE AND HOUSING BEING JUST AS SCARCE. I HAVE JOINED MEETINGS WITH YOUR OFFICES, SHARING THIS FAR TO COME AND EXPERIENCE WITH YOU. WE NEED THIS LIVING WAGE INCREASE TO SURVIVE. I URGE YOU TO AMEND THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL DIRECTIONS SO THAT ALL CONCESSION WORKERS ALIKE CAN BE PROTECTED BY THE LIVING WAGE AS IT'S BEEN SINCE THE LAST ORIGINAL ADOPTION IN 2014. I ALSO WISH TO SEE THIS LAW FORMALLY APPLIED TO THE QUEEN MARY AMPHITHEATER AS THE COUNCIL INDICATED AT THE APRIL 1ST MEETING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AISHA, THEN KEITH, THEN ANDRE AISHA IS AISHA HERE. AISHA MUHAMMAD LEFT. OKAY, UH, KEITH AND AFTER KEITH IS ANDRE. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, I I I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE CITY WOULD INTENTIONALLY CREATE AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION DEFICIT WHEN THE CITY IS ALREADY DEALING WITH A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. WHAT IS THE CITY'S PLAN TO REDUCE THIS DEFICIT WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES? WILL THEY, WILL, WILL THEY, LIKE, WILL THEY, LIKE A REGULAR BUSINESS, EITHER INCREASE THEIR PRICES OR REDUCE THEIR STAFF? 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT A BUSINESS WOULD DO IN THE CASE OF HAVING TO SPEND MORE MONEY. HERE ARE QUOTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 20, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024 MEMO FROM THE CITY MANAGER. LABOR COSTS CONSTITUTE THE HIGHEST SINGLE EXPENSE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. 40%. A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN COST ON EXISTING BOOKED BUSINESS COULD LEAD TO EXACERBATED NET LOSSES AT THE CITY CENTER. A BURDEN THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY FALL TO THE CITY TAXPAYERS. A DECREASE IN CONVENTION CENTER ACTIVITY WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT TAX REVENUES FOR THE CITY, PARTICULARLY SALES TAX AND TRANSIT OR SALES TAX AND TRANSIT OCCUPANCY TAX. TOT COLLECTED FROM HOTEL STAYS. THE PROPOSED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES INCREASE, WILL LIKELY INCREASE THE CITY'S DEFICIT BY OVER $2 MILLION, UM, IN, UH, IMPACTS AND THE, AND THESE IN NEGATIVELY IMPACT OR THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE [03:35:01] RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY. SO THOSE AREN'T MY WORDS, THOSE ARE WHAT WAS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S MEMO TO YOU. I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS A $2 MILLION DEFICIT, UM, AND, AND ADDRESS THE SUBSEQUENT IMPACT THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE CITY. BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE HERE. DON'T ASK THE TAXPAYERS FOR YET ANOTHER TAX BURDEN. I, I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE EVERYBODY A RAISE IN THIS WORLD. THE WORLD DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER, ANDRE DONDO, ARE YOU GONNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANDRE? OKAY. COME FORWARD. I WAS WONDERING WHY YOU WERE STANDING THERE. . SORRY, ANDRE. APOLOGIZE. THEY HAD TO LEAVE, BUT THEY ASKED ME TO READ THEIR COMMENTS. SO, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, ON BEHALF OF ANDRE DONATO, THE DIRECTOR OF LIBRE, WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE MOTION TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND WAGE PROTECTIONS FOR TOURISM WORKERS. WE SUPPORT THIS MOTION BECAUSE WORKERS' RIGHTS ARE RENTER'S RIGHTS. WHEN WORKERS DON'T EARN A LIVING WAGE, THEY CAN'T PAY RENT, THEY CAN'T STAY HOUSED, AND THEY'RE PUSHED OUT OF THE VERY CITY. THEY HELP POWER WITH THEIR LABOR. TOURISM IS ONE OF LONG BEACH'S BIGGEST ECONOMIC ENGINES, YET MANY OF THE WORKERS WHO KEEP THAT ENGINE RUNNING CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. THAT'S NOT JUST UNFAIR, IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE. WE URGE YOU TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE THAT PROTECTS ALL HOSPITALITY WORKERS, INCLUDING TEMPORARY WORKERS, AND WE URGE YOU TO APPLY THIS POLICY TO FUTURE TOURISM PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE NEW AMPHITHEATER NEAR THE QUEEN MARY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, RAISE WAGES TO $25 AN HOUR. NOW WITH A PATH TO 29 50 BY 2028. LET'S, LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS IS ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE AND HOUSING JUSTICE. MANY OF THE WORKERS LEFT BEHIND AT THE AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER ARE BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS. THESE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS STRUGGLING TO PAY RISING RENTS WHILE WORKING IN ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST PROFITABLE SECTORS. A LIVING WAGE HELPS WORKERS STAY HOUSED. IT BOOSTS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND IT STRENGTHENS THE CITY AS A WHOLE. SO TONIGHT WE ASK YOU TO MAKE LONG BEACH A CITY WHERE NO ONE HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING RENT AND PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE. AND WE WANNA THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN, DR. SULI SORO, AND THE CO-AUTHORS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE URGE YOU, WE URGE YOUR COLLEAGUES TO STAND WITH WORKERS AND RENTERS BY VOTING YES ON THIS MOTION. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. JUST WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, THANKS, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY. UM, THIS IS GONNA HAVE THE SUPPORT TO MOVE, MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT, BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS TOOK A VERY LONG TIME TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE. AND I KNOW THAT, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ADVOCATED, WORKED HARD. YOU WENT TO THE BARGAINING TABLE, YOU DID A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU NEEDED TO DO TO PUT US IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, UH, THIS ORDINANCE MOVE FORWARD. SO, SO WE RECOGNIZE YOU. WE, WE KNOW THAT OUR ECONOMY, UM, SHOULD UPLIFT WORKERS AND NOT JUST BE BASED ON THE BACKS OF WORKERS, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE YEARS TO COME, AS LONG BEACH CONTINUES TO INVEST IN TOURISM, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO THE RIGHT THING BY THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT TONIGHT. JUST A A COUPLE THINGS I JUST WANNA SAY BEFORE WE GO TO THE COUNCIL ON THE COMMENTS ON THE DEFICIT. SO, UM, JUST TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, WE INHERITED AN $81 MILLION DEFICIT AND HAVE CUT THAT IN HALF IN THE CITY WITHOUT RAISING TAXES ON RESIDENTS. AND MUCH OF THAT WAS BECAUSE WE'RE NOW INVESTING IN MORE REVENUE GENERATING ASSETS LIKE THE AMPHITHEATER BEING INCLUDED HERE TONIGHT. THAT'S INVESTING ONE TIME DOLLARS TO CREATE MORE REVENUE GENERATING ASSETS. AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING TO BRING, UH, MORE, UH, PEOPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY TRANSLATES DIRECTLY INTO MORE HOTEL ROOMS, WHICH INCREASES TOT AND MORE SALES TAX AND OTHER ACTIVITIES IF WE CAN CAPTURE IT. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, UH, CONVENTIONS. WE, WE DO VERY WELL WITH CONVENTIONS IN OUR CITY. WE BRING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO OUR CITY FOR CONVENTIONS, BUT WE ALREADY COUNT ON THAT. UH, SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE THE GRAND PRIX, WE ALREADY COUNT ON THAT. UH, THE AREAS WHERE WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE SEE SOME OPPORTUNITIES ARE REALLY ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS. SO WHEN YOU'RE SEEING MORE MUSIC EVENTS LIKE THE WARP TOUR THAT'S BRINGING 85,000 PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN JULY DURING THAT WEEKEND, THAT TRANSLATE, IF WE CAN CAPTURE IT, THAT TRANSLATES INTO REAL REVENUE IN OUR HOTELS AND OUR, OUR SALES TAX. IT GENERATES MORE TAX REVENUE TO OUR CITY. UM, AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT OUR TAXES DON'T PAY FOR THE GENERAL, DON'T PAY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER. SO MOST CITIES, THEY PASS BONDS AND BUILD A CONVENTION CENTER, PASS THAT BOND COST OFF TO RESIDENTS. WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT OUR RECORDS. WE USED LIKE TIGHTS AND OIL MONEY AND LOANS FROM THE PORT YEARS AGO TO BUILD THE CONVENTION CENTER. AND TYPICALLY AFTER THAT BOND EXPIRES, YOU REBO AND INVEST IN IT. WELL, THERE WAS NEVER AN ORIGINAL BOND. SO THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHEN IT WAS DESIGNED, THEY PUT THE FRONT DOOR, UM, FACING THE DOWNTOWN AND THE, AND THE GREATEST VIEW OF THE WATER, [03:40:01] THEY PUT THE LOADING DOCK FACING THE WATER. SO THERE'S WORK TO DO TO IMPROVE THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT BECAUSE WE NEVER CREATED THE TAX BASE, UM, IT'S ALL BEEN PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND FEES AT THE CONVI CENTER SUPPORTED EVERYTHING THERE. SO TECHNICALLY WE'VE NEVER REALLY USED TAXPAYER, TRADITIONAL TAXPAYER LIKE PROPERTY TAXES TO GENERATE THIS CONVENTION CENTER. WE HAVE TO NOW CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING MORE REVENUE IN TO IMPROVE THAT CENTER AND TO GENERATE MORE SUSTAINABLE REVENUE IN OUR CITY. SO, SO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AROUND ENTERTAINMENT, THE AMPHITHEATER, ALL OF THAT IS IN SERVICE TO THAT WORK. AND IT HELPS US TO CARVE OUT, UM, MORE SUSTAINABLE REVENUE THAT'S NOT BASED ON OIL FUNDS, THAT'S DRIVING, THAT'S GOING AWAY. ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM, THOSE ARE SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOURCES. AND IT'S NOT BORN ON TRADITIONAL TAXES IN THE CITY. JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AROUND THE DEFICIT HERE, UM, THE LAST THING, UH, THAT I'LL SAY IS THAT VOTERS DID ADOPT, UH, MEASURE RW IN LONG BEACH. AND WHAT WE SAW AS A RESULT WAS NOT AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IN ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM. IN FACT, THIS IS THE BUSIEST SUMMER THAT WE'VE EVER HAD IN OUR CITY. OUR TOURISM SPEND LAST YEAR TOPPED $2 BILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. AND, UH, THE, JUST THIS SUMMER, UH, YOU HAVE OUR SPECIAL EVENTS COMPLETELY BOOKED UP THIS SUMMER. THAT'S FOUR SUMMERS AHEAD OF THE OLYMPICS NEXT SUMMER. YOU TAKE ALL OF THAT, YOU ADD THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY RELATED TO FIFA, WHICH IS IN OUR REGION, AND WILL BE A MAJOR HOTEL CENTER, POTENTIALLY EVEN A FAN SITE, POTENTIALLY. YOU ADD THAT ON TOP OF THE FULLY BOOKED SCHEDULE YOU HAVE AND YOU ADD ACTIVITY FROM THE AMPHITHEATER THAT HELPS ECONOMICALLY IN THE CITY. IT HELPS US SOLVE DEFICIT CHALLENGES. THEN TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, YOU OPEN UP, UH, THE DOOR TO THE OLYMPICS, 11 EVENTS AND EIGHT PARALYMPIC EVENTS, SEVEN PARALYMPIC EVENTS, A THIRD OF ALL PARALYMPIC EVENTS, 18 EVENTS COMING TO LONG BEACH AND YOU'LL, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT REVENUE. SO I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THIS IS A, THIS IS A FISCALLY PRUDENT MOVE THAT THE CITY IS DOING IN THIS REGARD. YOU WANNA MAKE SURE YOU HAVE LABOR PEACE, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A STABLE WORKFORCE BECAUSE WE'RE MORE DEPENDENT ON THE TOURISM ECONOMY IN LONG BEACH THAN WE WERE IN THE PAST. SO THIS MAKES GOOD FISCAL PRUDENT SENSE. THAT SAID, WE'LL GO BACK, UM, TO THE COUNCIL NOW. I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI. OH, I ALREADY MADE MY COMMENTS. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN OUR ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, I UNDERSTAND AND VALUE PAYING EMPLOYEES FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY DESERVE. AND THE WORKERS AT OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND AIRPORT DO A GREAT JOB. THEY'RE HARDWORKING AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT EVERY BUSINESS DECISION COMES WITH TRADE-OFFS. AS A BUSINESS OWNER, THE FIRST QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS, CAN I AFFORD THIS? AND IF SECONDLY, AND IF I RAISE PRICES TO COVER A COST, WILL I BE PRICED OUTTA THE MARKET? MAYBE NOT THIS YEAR OR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. IT'S A CONCERN AND IT'S HOW I LOOK AT BUSINESS. AND THAT'S THE LENS I'M BRINGING TO THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT. THE CITY IS ALREADY TRYING TO CLOSE OUR BUDGET DEFICIT DONE WELL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT WE'RE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK ON THAT. WE'RE MAKING CUTS THIS YEAR. WE'RE ASKING DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE CUTS. ADDING A PERMANENT STRUCTURAL COST LIKE THIS MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO CUT SOMETHING ELSE THIS YEAR TO PAY FOR IT. WHAT ARE WE GONNA CUT? ARE WE GONNA CUT LIBRARY HOURS? ARE WE GOING TO ELIMINATE RECREATION PROGRAMS? ARE WE GOING TO LOSE OVERTIME PATROLS IN AREAS THAT RELY ON THEM? THIS COUNCIL HAS SAID THAT MAJOR BUDGET DECISIONS LIKE THIS SHOULD GO TO THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND I'M ASKING US TO BE CONSISTENT WITH A $2 MILLION STRUCTURAL, UM, OBLIGATION BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING WITH THIS DECISION. UM, ALSO WHAT ANALYSIS HAS BEEN DONE TO MAKE SURE THIS WON'T HURT OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE. I KNOW THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB AT THE CONVENTION CENTER BOOKING YEARS OUT, BUT THE CONVENTION CENTER ISN'T A PUBLIC SERVICE LIKE A LIBRARY, IT'S A BUSINESS. IF OUR LABOR COSTS GO UP, DO OUR RENTAL FEES INCREASE? AND IF THEY DO, HAVE, WE TALKED TO THE MAJOR CONVENTIONS, OUR CLIENTS WHO COME HERE WHO WE HOST TO SEE IF THEY CAN STILL AFFORD TO COME. THIS IS A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR STAFFING DECISION AND WE'RE MAKING [03:45:01] IT WITHOUT A CLEAR PLAN TO PAY FOR IT AND WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON OUR BOTTOM LINE. SO AGAIN, I SUPPORT FAIR PAY, BUT FOR BEFORE WE MEAN MOVE FORWARD, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. WHAT ARE WE CUTTING OFF? WHAT ARE WE CUTTING TO OFFSET THIS STRUCTURAL COST? AND SECOND, WHAT ANALYSIS HAS BEEN DONE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PRICING OURSELVES OUT OF THE MARKET STAFF? YOU'RE UP. YES. SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE CUTTING TO OFFSET THE INCREASES OF THE WORK, THE WEIGHT WORKERS' WAGES? SO BO YOU CAN CHIME IN AND THEN I'LL ADD ANYTHING IN ADDITION. YEAH. SO, UH, UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. SO, UM, THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS BEEN OPERATING AT A, UH, DEFICIT FOR MANY YEARS. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT CONVENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UM, RARELY ARE THEY IN THE BLACK THAT ARE USUALLY OPERATING BREAKING EVEN. ARE THEY OPERATING IN THE RED? AND HOW THEY MAKE UP THAT, UH, DEFICIT IS THAT THEY GO OUT THERE AND ATTRACT CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS, TRADE SHOWS, EVENTS. AND WITH THOSE EVENTS YOU BRING IN, YOU KNOW, VISITORS, YOU BRING IN TOURISTS AND THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY AT YOUR HOTELS, THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY AT YOUR RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS AND SPENDING MONEY INTO YOUR COMMUNITY. AND THOSE DOLLARS ARE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE. THEY'RE NOT COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY. AND SO IN A SENSE, THEY'RE BRINGING IN THAT INVESTMENT TO US. AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UH, LOOK AT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE AS IT RELATES TO THAT. AND AS THE MAYOR SAID TOO, WE'RE ALSO BETTING ON OURSELVES BY, UH, YOU KNOW, BUILDING A OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER, WHICH IS GOING TO BRING IN MORE SPECIAL EVENTS, MUSIC AND OTHER, UH, TYPES OF EVENTS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AND TO THE CITY. AND IN, IN TURN THEY'LL SPEND MONEY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT'S A WAY THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFSET THAT. AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION WAS, UM, THE IMPACT AS FAR AS HOW THAT PUT THAT AS A COMPETITIVE, AT A COMPETITIVE LEVEL, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GO OUT THERE ALONG WITH VISIT AND MEET LONG BEACH TO GO OUT THERE AND ATTRACT THOSE TYPES OF, UH, CONVENTIONS, CONFERENCES, ESPECIALLY EVENTS AND TRADE SHOWS TO THE CITY. UM, YES, IT'S VERY A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT OUT THERE AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO ALWAYS BE ON TOP OF OUR GAME WHEN WE LOOK AT COST AS WELL AS THE IMPACT THAT THIS COULD PROVIDE, UM, US AT A NATIONAL, UM, UH, NATIONAL COMP NATIONAL LEVEL WHEN IT, WHEN IT, WHEN WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST OTHER CONVENTION CENTERS AND CITIES. YOU KNOW, I'LL ALSO SAY, UH, WHEN WE INITIALLY PROPOSED THIS, THE COSTS WERE UNCERTAIN BECAUSE THEY WERE OUTSIDE OF A CONTRACT. THEY'VE ALREADY BARGAINED AND SETTLED ON THESE WAGES AT THE CONVENTION CENTER ALREADY. SO IT'S ALREADY FACTORED INTO THE ONGOING EXPENSES WITHIN THE CONVENTION CENTER. AND THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS MADE, UH, SOME MEASURES TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE IN TERMS OF, UH, ADJUSTING, UH, YOU KNOW, PRICES AND PARKING AND OTHER THINGS TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, BARGAINING. SO THE WORLD HAS SORT OF CHANGED FROM WHEN THIS CONVERSATION BEGAN TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY NOW THAT THERE IS A CONTRACT AND FIX THE PRICES WHERE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE NOW. ALRIGHT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, ANYTHING ELSE? I JUST WANTED TO HEAR WHAT, UM, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAD TO SAY. ANY INPUT? NO, I THINK BO COVERED IT PERFECTLY. HE WORKS CLOSELY. HE AND HIS TEAM WORKED CLOSELY, NOT ONLY WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT THE ENTIRE WATERFRONT, UM, DEVELOPMENT AREA AND WORKING ON A FOCUS REALLY ON HOW WE CAN FIND ADDITIONAL REVENUE GENERATING STREAMS FOR THE SPACE DOWN THERE TO OFFSET THE JUST INCREASING COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS, NOT JUST WITH STAFF, BUT YOU KNOW, UH, MATERIALS AND GOODS AS WELL. SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY MAYOR, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY NEXT QUESTIONS. WE HAVE CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE SIGNED YEARS IN ADVANCE, SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE, RIGHT? AND WE'VE NEGOTIATED INTO THOSE CONTRACTS THE 29 50 AT 2028, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. UM, ALL THAT HAS BEEN, UM, UH, CO UH, THROUGH A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN A SM GLOBAL WHO MANAGES AND OPERATES THE CONVENTION CENTER ON OUR BEHALF ALONG WITH, UH, UNITE 11 HERE. AND SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING THOSE COSTS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO BEING VERY PROACTIVE ON HOW WE LOOK TO OFFSET THOSE COSTS. AS WE MENTIONED, ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS FROM CONFERENCE CONVENTIONS, TRADE SHOWS, TO LOOKING AT OUR PARKING REVENUE, TO LOOKING AT ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES. SO WE'RE TAKING ALL THAT INTO EFFECT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, LOOK AT HOW WE RAISE MORE REVENUE TO NOT ONLY, UH, CREATE MORE [03:50:01] TO OFFSET THOSE COSTS, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE WE RAISE MORE REVENUE SO THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANNA SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR, UM, THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE BY, UM, COUNCILWOMAN DR. SULI SORO. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP. I ALSO WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT, UM, TO SPEAK NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT WHO HAS BEEN, UM, ADDED THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND WHO HAS LENT YOUR VOICE OF SUPPORT FOR THIS. I STAND WITH YOU. I STAND WITH OUR WORKERS AND I'M PROUD TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ENACTING A LIVING WAGE FOR OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND AIRPORT WORKERS IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE, UM, EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY. SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THRA TOOK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SO AT THE TOP OF OUR MEETING TODAY, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM AND HOW THEY'RE CORNERSTONES, UM, OF ANY THRIVING CITY. SO IT'S ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT THE WORKERS WHO POWER THESE INDUSTRIES ARE ALSO PROTECTED AND RESPECTED. UM, THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT FAIRNESS, DIGNITY, AND THE ABILITY FOR OUR WORKERS TO BUILD A LIFE IN THE CITY THAT THEY HELP TO SUSTAIN. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ELEVATED CONVERSATION ON EXPANDING THIS ORDINANCE TO THE AMPHITHEATER CONCESSION STAFF. WHAT I SEE HERE AND WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM OUR STAFF, AS WELL AS FROM OUR MAYOR, WE'RE INVESTING IN, UH, RESOURCES IN AN AMPHITHEATER IN THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR. WE'RE INVESTING IN FACILITIES AND WE SHOULD ALSO, WE SHOULD ALSO BE INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE AS WE DO THAT. SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR BROADER GOAL OF MAKING LONG BEACH A LIVABLE COMMUNITY FOR BOTH LONG TERM AS WELL AS FUTURE RESIDENTS. AND WE'RE TAKING BOLD STEPS IN BELIEVING THAT SOME OF THE AREAS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, BO, INCLUDING TRANSIT, OCCUPANCY, TAXES AND OTHER, UH, SALES TAXES ACCORDINGLY BY THOSE WHO WE ATTRACT TO COME AND BE PART OF OUR ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM ECONOMY, UM, WILL REALLY HELP US BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A STAFF, UM, THAT FEELS VALUED, UM, IN OUR, IN HERE, IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, THIS SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT STABILIZES A LARGE PORTION OF OUR WORKFORCE. I DO WANNA THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, FOR ALL OF HER TIME AND HER TEAM'S TIME AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR ENSURING THAT THIS ITEM, UH, CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. UM, I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. UH, YOU HAVE SHOWN AMAZING LEADERSHIP ON THIS TOPIC, UH, FOR SO MANY, MANY MONTHS EVEN BEFORE I STARTED ON THIS COUNCIL. AND IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, EXPAND AND IDENTIFY A WAY, UM, TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL WORKERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE PROTECTED. I THINK THAT, UM, THIS, UH, PARTICULAR, UH, POLICY AND ITS EXPANSION AND THE, UH, FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY, UM, ALLOWS US TO PROTECT EVEN MORE WORKERS, UH, ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. PERFECT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. YES, AND I WANTED TO QUEUE BACK UP TO JUST, UM, GIVE MY GRATITUDE TO THE WORKERS WHO REALLY LET THIS WORK AND HAVE FOUGHT HARD TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD AND TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A LIVABLE WAGE AND BECAUSE THEY'RE PROUD OF THEIR CITY THAT THEY LIVE AND WORK IN. AND WHILE I'M NOT A BUSINESS EXPERT, I DO UNDERSTAND THOUGH, THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE YOU CREATE A THRIVING WORKFORCE THAT WANTS TO KEEP COMING BACK, NOT JUST TO WORK BUT WORK AND BE THE FACE TO OUR VISITORS, OUR TOURISTS, AND UM, ANYONE THAT ENCOUNTERS OUR CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN THEY'RE TREATED WELL AND THEY ARE HEALTHY AND THEY'RE HAPPY, THEN VISITORS HAVE A GOOD TIME AND THEY'LL WANNA KEEP COMING BACK. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT GOOD BUSINESS IS, IS MY UNDERSTANDING, IS THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THAT'S WHERE THE INVESTMENT IS MADE IN PEOPLE. AND MY OTHER UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS IS WHEN YOU WANT GROWTH, YOU HAVE TO TAKE RISKS. AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A BAD THING TO RISK INVESTING IN PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP INCREASING BUSINESS, UM, AND GENERATION. SO I DO APPRECIATE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN'S BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT DIALOGUE WE'VE HAD AROUND, WELL, YOU KNOW, ABOUT BEING ABLE TO ENSURE WE'RE CONSIDERATE OF OUR BUDGET. WE DON'T WANT TO BE IRRESPONSIBLE IN HOW WE RUN OUR CITY. SO I THINK ALL OF, UM, THE COUNT, MY COLLEAGUES, I THINK YOU ALL AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP IN HAVING THIS REALLY [03:55:01] HEALTHY DIALOGUE AND CONSIDERING ALL OF THE FACTORS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE, UH, IN THE END WE CREATE A THRIVING, UH, AN ECONOMY THAT'S, UH, THAT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO THRIVE IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO THAT'LL, THAT'LL COME BACK WITH A NEW, NEW FIRST READING AND SECOND READING. BUT I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE MEAT WAS, UM, THE MEAT AND POTATOES WAS, WAS, UH, WAS HANDLED. OKAY. UM, SO I KNOW THE COUNCIL'S IS GETTING, IT'S, IT'S GETTING LATE. IT'S UH, NINE O'CLOCK. COUNCIL MAY NEED A BREAK. I'M GONNA CALL TWO ITEMS WE NEED TO GET DONE AND THEN IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, WE CAN UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. UM, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 40. WE'RE GONNA DO HANDLE 40 AND 37 40 REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE. SO WE NEED ALL SIX OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE FOR THIS ITEM. SO LET'S GO TO ITEM 40. PLEASE REPORT, REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION THAT THE BOARD OF HARVARD COMMISSIONERS APPROVE IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET, THE TRANSFER OF 5% OF FISCAL YEAR 2025 GROSS OPERATING REVENUE FROM THE HARBOR FUND [40. 25-55550 Recommendation to adopt resolution requesting that the Board of Harbor Commissioners approve in the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget the transfer of five (5) percent of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 25) gross operating revenue, from the Harbor Fund Group to the Tidelands Operating Fund Group, with a true-up adjustment, if necessary, to reflect the final gross revenue amount upon issuance of the Harbor Department’s FY 25 audited financial statements. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] GROUP TO THE THAILAND'S OPERATING FUND GROUP WITH A TRUE UP ADJUSTMENT IF NECESSARY TO REFLECT THE FINAL GROSS REVENUE AMOUNT UPON ISSUANCE OF THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 25 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THIS REQUIRES, UH, TWO THIRDS VOTE. UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. I SEEN ONE MORE THAN PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. DAVE SHUKLA. IS DAVE HERE? OKAY, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 37, REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AND ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITHIN PRODUCTION FOR THE FABRICATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND INSTALLATION OF GRAND [37. 25-55548 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with InProduction, Inc., of Warrenville, IL, for the fabrication, transportation, and installation of grandstands and seating for the Long Beach Amphitheater, in a total amount of $5,200,000, authorize a 5 percent contingency in the amount of $260,000, for a total not to exceed $5,460,000, for a period of one year, at the discretion of the City Manager. (District 1) Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Economic Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] STANDS AND SEATING FOR THE LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $5,460,000 DISTRICT ONE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING. STAFF'S BEEN PRETTY BUSY, UH, GOING THROUGH A PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND THIS IS A, A BIG PURCHASE. THIS IS A BIG PART OF, UH, THE LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER, THE GRANDSTAND AND THE, AND THE SEATING. AND SO, UH, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, UH, WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. RESTROOM. TAKE IT AWAY, BO. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, UM, ERIC ROMERO WITH THE, UH, RISE DIVISION REVENUE INNOVATION, STRATEGIC ENHANCEMENTS, AS WELL AS PURE H WILL BE GIVEN THE PRESENTATION. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THIS PRESENTATION WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT FOR GRAND STANDS AND SEATING AT THE NEW, AT THE NEW PROPOSED NEW LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER. AS BACKGROUND ON APRIL 1ST, 2025, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW PROPOSED LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ISSUED A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL VENDORS TO FABRICATE, TRANSPORT, AND INSTALL THE AMPHITHEATER, GRANDSTANDS, AND SEATING. THE RFI ALSO AIMED TO GATHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT SCOPE, TIMELINE AND ESTIMATED COST. THE RFI CLOSED ON IN APRIL, 2025 AND RESULTED IN ONE RESPONSIVE BIDDER CAPABLE OF MEETING THE PROJECT'S REQUIREMENTS DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND A TIGHT TIMELINE. STAFF PRIORITIZED IDENTIFYING VENDORS WHO COULD SUPPLY SOME REUSED AND REFURBISHED MATERIALS FOR COMPONENTS OF THE GRANDSTANDS AND SEEDING. THIS APPROACH COULD HELP REDUCE OVERALL PROJECT COSTS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE RISING EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH FABRICATING NEW STEEL AND OTHER MATERIALS IN THE CURRENT TARIFF ENVIRONMENT. FOLLOWING REVIEW OF THE VENDOR SUBMISSIONS, STAFF RECOMMEND ENTERING INTO A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITHIN PRODUCTION FOR THE FABRICATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND INSTALLATION OF THE AMPHITHEATER. GRANDSTANDS AND SEATING IN PRODUCTION HAS OFFICES IN MULTIPLE STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE COMPANY IS A LEADING NATIONAL PROVIDER OF MODULAR SEATINGS STAGING AND EVENT STRUCTURES WITH SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE IN FABRICATING AND INSTALLING TEMPORARY AND SEMI-PERMANENT GRANDSTANDS BOX SEATING AND CUSTOM PLATFORMS FOR MAJOR ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS VENUES AND EVENTS. THE COMPANY HAS AN EXTENSIVE TRACK RECORD DELIVERING LARGE SCALE PROJECTS, INCLUDING TEMPORARY SEATING AND STRUCTURES FOR SOME OF THE EVENTS AND VENUES THAT SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE. UH, SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX IN LAS VEGAS CHASE STADIUM, WHERE INNER MIAMI FC PLAYS IN DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN CARSON, WHERE THE LOS ANGELES GALAXY PLAY. [04:00:03] THIS SLIDE INCLUDES SOME EXAMPLES OF IN PRODUCTIONS PROJECTS. AT THE TOP LEFT IS THE FORMER FIVE POINTS AMPHITHEATER, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY LOCATED IN IRVINE, UH, CALIFORNIA. AT THE TOP RIGHT IS CHASE STADIUM, WHICH IS HOME TO ENTER MIAMI FC. THE TEAM THAT LIONEL MESSI PLAYS FOR AT THE BOTTOM LEFT IS THE NUGGET EVENT CENTER, A MULTI-USE VENUE IN NEVADA WITH A SEATING CAPACITY OF 8,500, HOSTING LARGE OUTDOOR CONCERTS AND LIVE PERFORMANCES. TO THE RIGHT OF THE NUGGET EVENT CENTER IS NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S FOOTBALL STADIUM IN EV, IN EVAN EVANSTON, ILLINOIS. AND FINALLY AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS A BUILD BY IN PRODUCTION FOR DESERT TRIP, A MAJOR MULTI-DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL IN INDIO, CALIFORNIA FEATURING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACTS. THE AMPHITHEATER PROJECT IS CURRENTLY EXPECTED TO HAVE A SEATING CAPACITY, OVER 11,000 UNDER THE CONTRACT AND PRODUCTION WILL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES AND PRODUCTS. THEY'LL PROVIDE DESIGN SUPPORT TO ASSIST THE PROJECT TEAM IN FINALIZING THE GRANDSTAND AND SEATING DESIGN LAYOUT AND LOCATION. THEY WILL PROVIDE THREE MODULAR GRANDSTAND UNITS, SEATING FOR THE GRANDSTANDS PREMIUM BOX SEATING AND LOAD STYLE SEATING TO ACCOMMODATE A LIMITED NUMBER OF GUESTS WITH AN UPGRADED EXPERIENCE AND TRACK SEATING FOR ENHANCED SEATING CAPACITY AND PROXIMITY TO THE STAGE IN PRODUCTION. WE'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FABRICATING, TRANSPORTING, AND INSTALLING ALL GRANDSTAND AND SEATING COMPONENTS. AND AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, PARTS OF THE GRANDSTAND AND SEATING WILL USE REFURBISHED MATERIALS FROM SIMILAR LAYOUTS TO OTHER VENUES TO HELP REDUCE COSTS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS EXAMPLES OF SEATING OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER. STAFF IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE SEATING ORDER, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE A COMBINATION OF THE OPTIONS DISPLAYED. AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, HIGHER QUALITY SEATING IS PLANNED FOR THE BOX AND LOAD AREAS OF THE AMPHITHEATER. BASED ON DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VENDOR AND THE AMPHITHEATER DESIGN TEAM STAFF ANTICIPATES THE FINAL ORDER WILL REMAIN WITHIN THE BUDGET PROPOSED IN THIS COUNCIL ITEM. THIS SLIDE, WHICH IS A BUSY SLIDE, UM, PROVIDES A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT PROJECT TIMELINE, WHICH IS OF COURSE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SITE PLANNING AND DESIGN ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AND EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH. AS YOU ALL KNOW, A SM GLOBAL'S VENUE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT WAS APPROVED IN APRIL AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY UNTIL OPENING OF THE VENUE TO PLAN FOR STAFFING, FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS AND OTHER LOGISTICAL NEEDS. PROCUREMENT OF GRANDSTANDS, SEEDING STAGE AND OTHER FURNITURE FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT IS BEGINNING THIS MONTH AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FEBRUARY, 2026. PERMITTING AND APPROVALS FOR THE AMPHITHEATER ARE ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE THROUGH FINAL INSPECTION. EXPECTED EARLY 2026 SITE AND PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN JULY AND EXTEND THROUGH AT LEAST THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. SOFT OPENING AND TEST EVENTS ARE 10 TO BE PLANNED FOR MARCH, 2026 WITH A POTENTIAL, UH, LAUNCH OF THE SPRING CONCERT SEASON IN APRIL, 2026. AND WHILE CONSTRUCTION CANNOT BEGIN UNTIL PERMITTING APPROVALS ARE COMPLETE, IT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ORDERING OR GETTING THIS CONTRACT IN PLACE, UH, NOW TO ENSURE THE PROJECT REMAINS ON SCHEDULE. UH, SO IN CONCLUSION, STAFF HAS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR, OUR REPORT. I. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS. SUPER EXCITING. OH, IT'S COMING TO FRUITION. I LOVE THAT. THANK YOU. VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT PRESENTATION. JOE ANGEL. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EX ODI, UH, AGAIN, UH, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ITEM AND I'LL REITERATE MY COMMENTS FROM BEFORE AROUND THE, UH, WARP SPEED IN WHICH WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS, UH, AN OPENING OF THIS FANTASTIC PROJECT. ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU. UH, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? WE DO NOT SEEING NON MEMBERS. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE, MAYOR. OH, I'LL WAIT TILL SHE'S DONE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A, UM, A BRIEF RECESS, A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, RESTROOM BREAK, AND WE'LL BE BACK. I, [04:14:39] ALL [04:14:40] RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO CALL BACK TO ORDER THE MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILWOMAN SINHA PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. HERE. COUNCILMAN SUBINA. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. PRESENT VICE MAYOR ORANGA COUNCILWOMAN THRASH AND TUCK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER [04:15:01] RICK SODI. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE ALRIGHT, WELL I SEE WE STILL HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ITEM ITEM 38. SO LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT NOW. REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE AND PUBLIC WORKS. RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR A NEW LEASE WITH EDUCATE, ADVANCING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, PARENTING AND LITERACY FOR THE [38. 25-55557 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary for a new Lease with Educate: Advancing Early Childhood Education, Parenting, and Literacy, Inc., doing business as Un Mundo De Amigos (Tenant) for the establishment of an early childhood education center in a portion of the City-owned Health and Human Services Department’s West Health facility at 2125 Santa Fe Avenue (Premises); and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary for a new Joint Use Agreement with the Tenant for the non-exclusive use and designation of two parking spaces as “parent drop-off spaces” in the Admiral Kidd Park Parking Lot adjacent to the Premises, coterminous to the Lease. (District 7) Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Economic Development; Health and Human Services; Parks, Recreation and Marine; Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER IN A PORTION OF THE CITY OWNED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENTS. WEST HEALTH FACILITY AT 2125 SANTA FE AVENUE AND AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR A NEW JOINT USE AGREEMENT WITH THE TENANT FOR THE NON-EXCLUSIVE USE AND DESIGNATION OF TWO PARKING SPACES AS PARENT DROP-OFF SPACES IN THE ADMIRAL KIT PARK PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO THE PREMISES CO-TERMINUS TO THE LEASE DISTRICT SEVEN. ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GETTING A CHILDCARE CENTER ON, THAT'S ADMIRAL KING PARK, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. ALL RIGHT. STAFF, WALK US THROUGH THIS ONE. OKAY. UM, GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. UM, WITH NEARLY 35,000 CHILDREN AGES PRENATAL TO EIGHT YEARS OF AGE IN LONG BEACH, INVESTMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD IS VITAL. THESE EARLY YEARS SHAPE LONG-TERM HEALTH EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES. BECAUSE THE COVID PANDEMIC EXACERBATED CHILDCARE SHORTAGES, NEARLY HALF OF ALL CHILDCARE SITES CLOSED IN 2020, MANY OF WHICH HAVE NOT FULLY RECOVERED. THE 9 0 8 1 0 ZIP CODE, ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS WERE DESIGNATE DESIGNATED AS A CHILDCARE DESERT IN BOTH THE 2018 AND 2023 LA COUNTY CHILDCARE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS. THE SIGHTED 2125 SANTA FE, A FORMER L-B-U-S-D EARLY EDUCATION CENTER, CLOSED IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS AND HAS REMAINED VACANT, BUT OFFERS AN IDEAL LOCATION TO RESTORE CHILDCARE SERVICES. LEVERAGING THIS AVAILABLE SPACE AND THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDS, THE CITY HAS OBTAINED PERMITS AND COMPLETED THE DESIGN PROCESS. THIS AVAILABLE SPACE REPRESENTS A STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INFORMED STEP TO EXPAND EARLY CHILDCARE ACCESS TO AN UNDERSERVED AREA. WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OFF TO MY COLLEAGUE MARY TORRES, WHO WILL WALK US THROUGH THE PHYSICAL BUILDING LEASE. THANK YOU. ALLISON. UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF WORKED WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND A TENANT EL MUNDO FOR A NEW LEASE. AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE WEST HEALTH FACILITY INCLUDED ENGAGING AN ON-CALL ARCHITECT TO PREPARE A SPACE PLAN AND CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS. UM, DURING THIS PROCESS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A BUILDING CODE CHANGE INTRODUCED NEW FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FACILITY, WHICH INCLUDES INSTALLATION OF FIRE SPRINKLERS AND AN UNDERGROUND FIRE LINE FROM THE STREET WATER MAIN. UH, THE ESTIMATED COST OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE $660,000, WHICH THE CITY HAS AGREED TO CONTRIBUTE THROUGH MEASURE A FUNDS AND LONG, LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDS. UH, THE CITY OBLIGATION WOULD BE CAPPED AT 660 60,000 WITH ANYTHING OVER THAT BEING PAID FOR BY THE TENANT. UM, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY, UM, FOR THE FROM, FOR THE TENANT'S USE INCLUDE CLASSROOMS, RESTROOMS, OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION SPACE, AND AN OUTDOOR PLAY AREA WITH EQUIPMENT AND LANDSCAPING. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE TENANT'S IMPROVEMENTS ARE 1.5 MILLION AND AGAIN, WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE TENANT, THE COST AND THE FUNDING SOURCES. THIS IS JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW. UM, THE HARD COST OF THE TENANT IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH WILL BE BORN BY THE TENANT, IS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION. UH, THE OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ARE THE 660,000 I MENTIONED THAT WOULD COME FROM MEASURE A AND UNSPENT LBRA FUNDS. UM, THE CITY DID ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO 140,000 FOR SOFT COSTS, INCLUDING THE DESIGN AND ENGINE AND DRAWINGS AND ENGINEERING FOR, UH, THE SPACE SPACE PLAN. UM, JUST A QUICK RUN THROUGH OF THE TERMS FOR THE LEASE. UH, THE SPACE IS APPROXIMATELY 5,294 SQUARE FEET OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACE. THE TERM WOULD BE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS WITH TWO FIVE YEAR OPTIONS TO EXTEND THE BASE RENT WILL BE $2,635 PER MONTH AND SUBJECT TO A 10% INCREASE EVERY FIVE YEARS. UH, THE TENANT MAY OFFSET RENT UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT BY THE VALUE OF SUBSIDIZED OR DISCOUNTED CHILDCARE PROVIDED, AS WELL AS ANY CAPITAL AND TENANT IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE SPACE. UH, THE TENANT WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND JANITORIAL COSTS, AND FOR THE FIRST 13 MONTHS, WE'LL PAY $500 PER MONTH TOWARDS UTILITIES. AFTER THAT, THEY'LL PAY THEIR PRO RATE OF SHARE OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS 21%, UM, FOR THE, FOR FOR THEIR PORTION. UM, THE TENANT WILL ALSO HAVE AN EARLY TERMINATION OPTION, UH, WITH 30 DAYS NOTICE SHOULD THEY LOSE FUNDING OR UNABLE TO SATISFY LEASE REQUIREMENTS. [04:20:03] A CAP WAS ISSUED FOR THE OPERATION OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD, UM, EDUCATION CENTER, UH, WITH A CONDITION THAT TWO PARKING SPOTS IN THE ADMIRAL KIDD PARKING LOT BE DESIGNATED AS PARENT LOADING ZONES. THEREFORE, THE CITY'S ALSO PROPOSING PROPOSING A JOINT USE AGREEMENT TO MEMORIALIZE THE NON-EXCLUSIVE USE AND DESIGNATION OF THESE SPACES. THE JOINT USE AGREEMENT WILL BE COTERMINOUS WITH THE LEASE AND BE ADMINISTERED BY THE PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE DEPARTMENT. THEREFORE, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING A NEW LEASE AND A JOINT USE AGREEMENT WITH EL MUNDO FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT IN OF AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER AT THE WEST HEALTH FACILITY. THIS CONCLUDES OUR STAFF REPORT AND WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. LIZ RAMIREZ. NO. AWESOME. HELLO EVERYONE. OR SHOULD I SAY GOODNIGHT ? IT'S PRETTY LATE. UM, BUT THANK YOU YOU AGAIN FOR ALL FOR ALL OF YOU STICKING THROUGH HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR MS. ALEJANDRA, FOR ALL OF HER, HER HARD WORK AND COLLABORATION IN THIS, UH, PROJECT WITH US. I'M LIZ RAMIREZ. I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT OUR CURRENT LOCATION ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. AND WE JUST WANNA SAY HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS OF WHY IT'S PROBABLY A DESERT ZONE BECAUSE A LOT OF WORKING FAMILIES WITHIN THAT AREA HAVE NOWHERE TO TAKE THEIR KIDS. I MYSELF, AS A PARENT, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY CHILD ENTER A CHILD CARE CENTER THAT IS OF HIGH QUALITY. AND IT OFFERS SO MANY SERVICES, NOT ONLY TO OUR CHILDREN, BUT TO OUR FAMILIES. UM, KID ADMIRAL PARK IS A GREAT LOCATION FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. THERE'S A WIX CENTER, THERE'S ALSO FOOD FINDERS. SO THERE'S ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR A FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION. UM, THIS IS A GREAT INVESTMENT IN NOT ONLY EQUITY, BUT INCLUSION AND TO THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH ARE ALL OF OUR LITTLE ONES. UM, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WILL, WE WILL LEAVE WITH ALL OF THESE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE NOW. SO WE HOPE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE, UM, INEFFECTIVE CHANGES INTO THIS WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN. UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STANDING WITH US AND WITH FAMILIES. YOUR, UH, COMMITMENT TO THIS REALLY SHOWS THAT YOU ARE, UH, COMMITTED TO THE, AGAIN, THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES, UM, AND DESERVING A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, UH, THAT IS CLOSE TO HOME. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, EVERYONE. MY KID IS WATCHING ME FROM THERE, SO I'M GONNA SAY HI TO HER. HER NAME'S DEMI. HI, DEMI. HEY, DEBBIE. DEBBIE, THANK YOU AGAIN. . UH, DEBBIE IS BEDTIME. IT'S NINE. I KNOW IT'S SUMMERTIME, BUT YOU HAVE A SUMMERTIME BEDTIME. TRUST ME. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, LIZ, AND YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HERE WHO'S HERE TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UM, CHILDCARE IS SUPER IMPORTANT. I THINK THEY MADE, THEY MADE THE POINT, YOU KNOW, MY, MY KIDS ARE EIGHT AND 10 AND SUMMERTIME IS TOUGH. FIGURING IT OUT. WE STILL HAVE TO WORK, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT HAS TO BE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU COME WITH ME TO MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE HANGING, HANGING OUT WITH US. BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S FUN. WE FIGURE IT OUT. BUT THAT THIS IS, THIS IS CERTAINLY GONNA BE A WELCOME RESOURCE AT THE PARK. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE WISH YOU, UH, LOTS OF SUCCESS. UM, THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU FOR WAITING. THANK YOU ALL. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. 36, PLEASE REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH 2026 ACTION PLAN FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS, PROGRAM GRANT AND EMERGENCY SOLUTION GRANTS FUND AND EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING [36. 25-55542 Recommendation to approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 Action Plan for the expenditure of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program Grant (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other entities, to receive these funds and execute agreements necessary to implement and comply with related federal regulations. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Community Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER ENTITIES TO RECEIVE THESE FUNDS AND EXECUTE AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT AND COMPLY WITH RELATED FEDERAL REGULATIONS CITYWIDE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. AND WE'LL GO TO STAFF FOR THIS PRESENTATION. YES, WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. SORRY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL. THIS REQUEST IS TO APPROVE AND SUBMIT THIS FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH 2026 ACTION PLAN. THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH ACTION PLAN UNDER THE CURRENT FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR OUR US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUNDS. THIS ACTION PLAN IS A SINGLE YEAR SPENDING PLAN FOR THE CDBG HOME AND ESG PROGRAMS. THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN IS A STRATEGIC PROPOSAL THAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY INPUT AND APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 19TH, 2022. WHILE THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN IDENTIFIES NEEDS AND ESTABLISHES OUR GOALS AND PRIORITIES OVER FIVE YEARS. THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN INCLUDES THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS AND IS ESSENTIALLY THE CITY'S ANNUAL [04:25:01] APPLICATION FOR A SET DOLLAR AMOUNT OF HUD FUNDS APPROVED AND APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS. OUR CONGRESSIONAL ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH 2026 HAVE A COMBINED OVERALL DECREASE OF 2% WHEN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THE TOTAL BUDGET BEING PROPOSED IS FOR AN ENTITLEMENT AMOUNT OF $7,000,909 AND 500 $909,000 536 FOR C-D-B-G-E-S-G AND HOME. AND WITH ANTICIPATED FUTURE PROGRAM INCOME OF 1.56 MILLION ADDED, THE TOTAL BUDGET BEING REQUESTED IS FOR $9,469,536. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES MORE DETAIL ON THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES AND THEIR BUDGETS THAT WILL WILL BE SUPPORTED IN FISCAL YEAR 25 THROUGH 26. THEY'RE ORGANIZED BY CONSOLIDATED PLAN GOAL THAT THEY'RE RESPONDING TO, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING IS BEING ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE GOAL IDENTIFIED AS MOST URGENT DURING THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN OUTREACH PROCESS. AND ALSO RATED AS MOST IMPORTANT DURING COMMUNITY OUTREACH OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. AND THE GOAL IS TO CREATE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE PROGRAMS LISTED WERE ALSO FUNDED LAST YEAR AND ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED TODAY. THE NEXT TWO SLIDES, SORRY. AH, THE NEXT TWO SLIDES. SO SHOW CHANGES BETWEEN THE FISCAL YEAR 24 25, AND THE 25 26 ACTION PLANS. THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO NOTE IS THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR HOUSING ACQUISITION, UM, WAS INCREASED. IT WAS DECREASED TWO YEARS AGO BY 450,000. AND SINCE THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PRIORITIZED IN THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN, UM, THE HOUSING ELEMENT CITYWIDE GOALS, IT'S NOW BEING PROPOSED TO BE INCREASED BY $346,000. THE SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS BEING DECREASED BY $402 $402,000, SORRY FOR A YEAR TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO WORK ON SPENDING DOWN THEIR PRIOR YEAR CDBG UNSPENT FUNDS. DUE TO THE 15% PUBLIC SERVICE CAP FUNDING TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SERVICES HAS ALSO BEEN IMPACTED. AND THERE'S A PROPOSED REDUCTION OF 50,000 FOR THE GRAFFITI REMOVAL PROGRAM. THERE ARE SLIGHT DECREASES TO THE HOME GRANT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND AS SEEN HERE THAT TOTAL 26,000 FOR ESG PROGRAM BUDGETS HAVE BEEN UPDATED BASED ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT NEED SINCE THEY RECEIVE OTHER AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THEIR HOMELESS SERVICE PROGRAMS. AND LASTLY, THE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET FOR ALL THREE GRANTS HAS BEEN REDUCED. STAFF DID ANTICIPATE MINOR CHANGES TO THE BUDGET FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR DUE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SIGNING THE, UM, CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO MEET BUDGET FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS AT FISCAL YEAR 24 LEVELS. HOWEVER, ON MAY 30TH, THE ADMINISTRATION RELEASED ITS FULL BUDGET WITH CDBG AND HOME PROPOSED TO BE ELIMINATED FOR PROGRAMS OUR FISCAL YEAR STARTING OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. SO THAT'S NEXT YEAR'S 26 27 ACTION PLAN. IT'S UNKNOWN WHETHER CONGRESS WILL ALIGN THEIR PRIORITIES WITH THE BUDGET PRESENTED. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROPOSE THE ELIMINATION OF CDBG AND HOME IN EACH YEAR OF HIS LAST TERM, 2017 THROUGH 2020. BUT PROGRAMS WERE PRESERVED FOR CONGRESSIONAL WITH CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT. IF FUNDS ARE ELIMINATED, APPROXIMATELY 26 POSITIONS WILL BE IMPACTED. AT LEAST PARTIALLY AND CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND FUNCTIONS WILL BE ELIMINATED. WE WILL BE DEVELOPING THAT ACTION PLAN IN EARLY 2026. THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF FUNDS, UH, WITH THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF FUNDS, CITY STAFF CONTINUES TO ANALYZE, ANALYZE LEGISLATION POLICY, AND IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, STAFF APPLIED FOR OVER 8.6 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HCD GRANTS. THE CITY ALSO ANTICIPATES RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS AGENCY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMPREHENSIVE HOMELESS SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS. CITY STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PARTNERS TO IMPROVE SERVICE COORDINATION, EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND SPENDING. AND AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE WATCHING CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS, STAYING INFORMED ON POLICY AND LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS THE FUNDS FOR THIS YEAR'S CITY STAFF CHECKED IN WITH COMMUNITY AND RECEIVED FEEDBACK FOR OUR FUNDED PROGRAMS DURING MARCH AND APRIL. STAFF ATTENDED OVER 30 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS SHOWN HERE ON THE LEFT AND ALSO IN THE NEXT PAGE TO PROMOTE THE ACTION PLAN SURVEY AND ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THERE ARE MORE EVENTS SEEN HERE. WE ATTENDED LIBRARY EVENTS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION EVENTS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, UM, ECO-FRIENDLY EVENTS, PARK EVENTS LIKE THE SILVERADO PARK AND RAMONA PARK PLAYGROUND GROUNDBREAKING EVENTS AND [04:30:01] ALSO TABLED THROUGHOUT CITY, THE CITY CDBG AREAS, SORRY. IN APRIL, CITY COUNCIL MADE A PROCLAMATION DECLARING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK. WE HOSTED COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS INCLUDING TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS FOR THE ACTION PLAN. DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH DISTRIBUTION OF OUR SURVEY HAPPENED IN HOUND PARK OR ZABA PARK AND ADMIRAL KIT PARK. OVER 500 RESIDENTS COMPLETED THE MULTILINGUAL S SURVEY WITH THE MOST CRITICAL GOAL, AGAIN BEING, ASSISTING THE CREATION OF PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO ELIMINATING BLIGHT. SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING WAS ENHANCED, AS YOU SAW DURING THE PROCLAMATION. STAFF CREATED AND SHOWCASED A PROMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL VIDEO THAT'S NOW ON OUR WEBSITE. WE ALSO HOLD HELD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMPANY. UM, DID A 30 DAY PUBLIC NOTICE ON OUR WEBSITE IN THE LONG BEACH PRESS, TELEGRAM AND LA PINON. OUR RECOMMENDATION TODAY'S TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 25 26 ACTION PLAN AND AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS AND RECEIVE AND IMPLEMENT THE GRANT FUNDS. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE CONTINUING TO DO IN THIS, UH, TO DO THIS IMPORTANT WORK. CDBG IS, UH, MANY TIMES THE ONLY DOLLARS AVAILABLE AND, UH, CERTAIN, UM, CENSUS TRACKS IN OUR CITY. SO IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I ALSO, UM, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNCERTAINTY IN THIS MOMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING REDUCTIONS CURRENTLY AND POTENTIALLY THE ELIMINATION OF THIS PROGRAM THAT IS SUPPORTED OUR COMMUNITIES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. UH, WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT. WE'LL TALK, BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE, IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE, AS THE MONTHS COME, UH, AS THE MONTHS. UM, GO ON. UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE TO, TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT FEDERAL RESOURCE. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, SAIFE. SO TONIGHT, KIN FAYE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT. UM, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE HAVE OUR AIRPORT STAFF, I, I'M SORRY, I WAS REALLY TRYING NOT TO TAKE THE DEBATE EARLIER. UH, OF THE 99, I BELIEVE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UM, PAID IN FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME POSITIONS AT THE AIRPORT. I BELIEVE 6.6% OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN. UM, AND SO THAT'S ABOUT THREE MORE PEOPLE THAN CURRENT ELECTED AFRICAN-AMERICANS. WE HAVE. SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SO INTERESTING THAT THEY, UH, OUR LABOR FRIENDS, THEY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE DATA THERE WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WHAT STAFF LOOKS LIKE AT THAT SITE. BUT, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM THAT WAS, UH, A GREAT, UH, STAFF REPORT. UH, I THINK THAT GIVEN THE RESOURCES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AVAILABLE, UM, YOU DO THE MOST WITH WHAT YOU GOT. SO IT'S VERY APPRECIATED. UM, I SPEAK TODAY AS A, AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE $9 MILLION A YEAR, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY TRUMP DOESN'T GET RID OF WHAT WE GOT. UM, AS A PROUD EXAMPLE OF, UH, PUBLIC HOUSING, UH, THANKS TO THE, UH, REFUGEE SUPPORT HOUSING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE HERE, CALIFORNIA, SPECIFICALLY THE ORD THAT MY FATHER, UH, A REFUGEE , MARXIST LENINS GOT TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND GET A VOUCHER TO LIVE IN SPRINGDALE. UH, AND THANKS TO A LOT OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE GOT TO DEVELOP HERE IN CALIFORNIA POST, YOU KNOW, WORLD WAR II, THAT MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS GOT TO LIVE IN THE TRUMAN BOYD HOUSING, WHICH WE KNOW NOW AS A GOLD STAR. AND SO, UM, FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE AS WE SHIFT OUR IDEOLOGICAL SHIFT WITH RESPECT TO ACCESS TO PUBLIC DOLLARS, A MORE DEDICATED, UH, FUNDING OF PUBLIC HOUSING, UH, AS A CITY. I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT IN VOGUE. IT HASN'T BEEN IN VOGUE IN A LONG TIME. BUT, UH, AS OUR DIRECTOR, UH, OF, OF HEALTH SPOKE TO WITH THE WEST FACILITY CENTER PRESENTATION EARLIER, UH, A SOLID THIRD OF OUR YOUTH, UH, LIVE IN ABJECT POVERTY. UM, AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING. AND WE JUST, AS A CITY, WE NEED TO SHIFT SOME OF THESE HOME DOLLARS. UH, I KNOW THAT WE'RE MOVING FROM THE PUBLIC SIDE AND GRAFFITI PROGRAMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY USING THE CBDG FUNDS FOR, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GRAND OPPORTUNITY TO BE INNOVATIVE WITH SOME OF THESE DOLLARS AND LEVERAGING THESE DOLLARS TO ENGAGE WITH, UH, EXPANDING OUR PUBLIC HOUSING THAT'S OWNED BY THE CITY. UH, WE ALREADY HAVE TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE 35 UNITS THAT ARE DEVELOPED BY THE CITY. UH, I THINK THAT THE CITY COULD DO A GREAT, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VACANCY AND SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL HOUSING, UH, BUT [04:35:01] SPECIFICALLY THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND ACQUIRE THEM AND EXPAND OUR PUBLIC HOUSING OWNERSHIP. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. 47 REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATION IN THE THAILAND'S OPERATING FUND GROUP IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BY $25 MILLION TO FUND FURTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. DISTRICT ONE. ALRIGHT, UH, IT'S TIME FOR SOME ELEVATE 28 UPDATES. STAFF LAID ON US. NO. WELL, ALL RIGHT. ERIC LOPEZ, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. [47. 25-55560 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the Tidelands Operating Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $25,000,000, to fund further capital improvements at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, as identified in the Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, offset by future bond proceeds. (District 1)       Office or Department: Public Works; Economic Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] SO, UH, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR WORK AND OUR INVESTMENTS AT THE, UH, LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER. UH, WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS SINCE WE LAST PRESENTED ON THIS ITEM. UH, WE HAVE, UH, SPENT ABOUT THE, WE HAVE SPENT JUST ABOUT FULLY SPENT THE FIRST, UH, 25 MILLION, UH, THAT WAS SET ASIDE TO IMPROVE, UH, ALL THE FACILITIES, UH, UH, AMENITIES, UH, UH, AT THE CENTER THAT NEEDED CRITICAL REPAIRS. UH, WE'VE, WE, WE, WE KNEW WHAT THOSE, UH, NEEDS WERE FROM A FACILITY CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT THAT WAS DONE. UH, AND WE FOCUSED ON, ON ROOFS, ON HVACS, ON, UH, PLUMBING AND, UH, AND OTHER, UH, OTHER CRITICAL REPAIRS, UH, AND A DA ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES, UH, THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING. UM, WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE, UH, SEEN ENORMOUS SUCCESS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. UH, WE'VE MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS OVER, OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO, UH, TO INCREASE ITS, ITS, ITS FUNCTIONALITY, ITS VISIBILITY, UH, AND, AND ITS PERFORMANCE, UH, AS ASSET CENTER. UH, BUT ITS BACK OF HOUSE, UH, NEEDS HAVE, UH, INCREASED OVER TIME. AND WE ARE REPLACING NOW, UH, UH, THINGS LIKE THE HVAC SYSTEM THAT'S OVER 30 YEARS OLD THAT HAS FAR EXCEEDED ITS USEFUL LIFE. UH, BUT NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE THEY, THEY THEY NEED TO BE, UH, REPLACED. UH, WE CAME, WE CAME TO YOU, UH, WITH A PLAN, UH, TO, UH, MAKE A $50 MILLION INVESTMENT IN TWO TRAN TRANCHES. UH, THE FIRST TRANCHE WAS APPROVED, UH, BACK IN, UH, 23 AND, AND IMPLEMENTED IN JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. AND WE'RE, WE, WE NOW HAVE BEFORE YOU, UH, THE SECOND TRANCHE, UH, TO, UH, BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH SOME OF THESE CRITICAL FACILITY, UH, IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE NEEDED. UM, IN, UH, 2020 WHEN WE DID THE FACILITIES CONDITIONS ASSESSMENTS, UH, WE LOOKED AT EVERY PART OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, THAT THE CITY OWNS. UM, AND IT'S OPERATED BY A SM GLOBAL. AND WE CAME UP WITH A LIST OF, OF, OF CRITICAL REPAIRS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE, UH, WOULD NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. UM, THE, AS I STATED EARLIER, A LOT OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE ORIGINAL TO THE BUILDING OR WERE LAST, UH, UPDATED, UH, UH, MANY DECADES AGO. UM, AND THEY HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR, THEIR CRITICAL, UH, LIFE, UH, SPAN. UM, SO, UM, WE HAVE, UH, UH, ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH A SM GLOBAL TO, UH, TO IMPLEMENT, UH, SOME OF THESE CRITICAL IMPROVEMENTS, UM, A LOT. I'LL SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES OF SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE DONE SHORTLY. UM, BUT, UH, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOT OF WORK DONE IN, IN THE LAST, UH, 12, 12 TO 15 MONTHS. UM, THE FIRST TRANCHE WAS, UH, FOCUSED ON A LOT OF THE ROOF, UH, REPAIR NEEDS. UH, IMAGINE HAVING A MAJOR SPECIAL EVENT, A MAJOR CONVENTION, AND THEN THE ROOF STARTS LEAKING. THAT ACTUALLY HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, UH, BUT WILL NO LONGER HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF, UH, THESE, UH, REPAIRS THAT WE WERE ABLE, UH, UH, TO MAKE. UH, SO, UH, HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF SOME OF THE, UH, OF THE WORK, UH, BEING DONE ON THE, ON THE ROOF, UH, AT, AT THE CENTER. UM, AND HERE'S A PICTURE OF IT COMPLETED. SO THIS IS WHAT A BRAND NEW, UH, 30 YEAR ROOF LOOKS LIKE. UH, A COOL ROOF LOOKS LIKE, UM, AND IT'S NOT CHEAP, BUT IT IS, IT IS, UH, GONNA REALLY HELP LOWER, UH, THE, UH, OPERATING COST OF THE CENTER. UM, AND IT'S GONNA REALLY HELP IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE, UH, OF THIS FACILITY, UH, FOR, FOR ITS, UH, INTENDED, UH, FUNCTIONS. UM, ON THIS ROOF, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT, UH, YEAR OR SO, YOU'RE GONNA SEE ONE OF THE BIGGEST SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATIONS, UH, THAT THE CITY HAS EVER INSTALLED. UM, AND THAT IS THROUGH A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO. AND THAT IS NOW MOVING FORWARD. THE SOLAR PANELS COULD NOT BE INSTALLED BECAUSE OF IN THE OLD ROOF, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE DONE WITH THIS ROOF, IT CAN NOW BE INSTALLED. SO WE'RE EXCITED, UH, TO SEE, SEE THAT COMING. AND THAT'S ALSO GONNA SAVE US A LOT OF MA MONEY ON ENERGY COST, UH, AS WELL. UM, SO, [04:40:01] UH, WE ARE, UH, WE ARE ALSO REPLACING SOME OF THE AIR HANDLING UNITS, UH, 17 IN TOTAL. UH, THESE ARE BRAND NEW UNITS THAT ARE GONNA HELP US REPLACE THE 30-YEAR-OLD, UH, UNITS THAT WERE THERE BEFORE. UH, AND IT'S GONNA HELP US MAKE, UH, UM, THESE ARE A LOT MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT, UM, AND, UH, AND THEY'RE REALLY GONNA HELP IMPROVE THE, UH, THE USER EXPERIENCE, UH, AT, AT, AT THE CENTER AS WELL. UH, SOME OF THE BATHROOMS HAS HAVE ALSO BEEN, UH, IMPROVED AND, AND RENOVATED. SO THIS IS ALL FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER SERVICE. SOME OF THESE RESTROOMS HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN DECADES, AND SO IT, IT REALLY NEEDED, UH, NEEDED THESE IMPROVEMENTS. THEN WE'VE DONE A LOT OF ESCALATOR AND ELEVATOR MODERNIZATIONS. UH, THOSE ARE IN PROGRESS, AND WE'VE, UH, REALLY HELPED BRING A LOT OF PARTS OF THIS FACILITY THAT WEREN'T UP TO CODE, UP TO CURRENT BUILDING CODE. I MENTIONED THE SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION, UH, EARLIER. AND, UH, THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON. WE'RE EXCITED TO INSTALL. UM, AND WE ARE, UH, NOW READY FOR THE SECOND TRANCHE, OUR STEEL, SOME ROOFS THAT LOOK, UH, LIKE THE PICTURE YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE. I THINK THIS IS THE SPORTS ARENA. SO WE'RE NOT DONE WITH ALL OF THE ROOFS AND WE'RE NOT DONE WITH ALL THE HVAC UNITS. UM, AND THERE'S A, A LOT OF ADDITIONAL FACILITY, UH, IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED AS PART OF OUR ELEVATE 28 PLAN, AND IN PREPARATION OF ALL THE SPECIAL EVENTS ARE COMING, UH, TO OUR CITY. UH, SO WE'VE LISTED THE BENEFITS OF MAKING SOME OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, HERE ON, ON THIS SLIDE. AND, UM, AND I'M GONNA PASS THIS OVER TO BO TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND, UH, SOME OF THE BENEFITS. BO. THANK YOU, ERIC. UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT SLIDE BECAUSE IT REALLY, UH, REFLECTS ON ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO WHEN WE, WHEN WE INVEST AND REINVEST IN OUR FACILITIES AND CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES, THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE CREATING MORE JOBS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE ACTUALLY, UH, PROVIDING MORE LABOR INCOME. WE'RE ALSO INCREASING OUR OWN TAX, OVERALL TAX REVENUES. AND WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN NEW REVENUE TO THE CITY. AND WHEN WE BRING IN CONVENTIONS, CONFERENCES, TRADE SHOWS, EVENTS, MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, UM, ALL THOSE THINGS TRANSLATE INTO TAX DOLLARS THAT COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO REVISIT NOT ONLY OUR FACILITIES, BUT ALSO, UH, COMMUNITY AMENITIES. AND SO WITH THAT, YOU CAN SEE THAT IN, UM, O OVER THE PAST, UH, YEARS THAT WE SAW OVER $38 MILLION IN TOT TAX, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS FOR US, AND LIKE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'RE, WE ARE OUTPERFORMING A LOT OF CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANS, UH, UH, UH, OCCUPANCY TAX, BUT ALSO OUTPERFORMING WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING IN MORE CONFERENCE AND CONVENTIONS AND EVENTS TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND I EXPECT THAT'LL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET READY TO SCALE UP FOR THE, UH, LA 28 28 ON MID OLYMPICS AND ALL THE EVENTS THAT ARE GONNA HAPPEN ALONG OUR WATERFRONT. THANK YOU, BO. AND THE QUESTION OF HOW WE'RE GONNA PAY FOR THIS, WE HAVE THAT OUTLINE. WE HAVE THE, UH, FIVE DIFFERENT SOURCES, UH, THAT WE'RE USING AS OUR STRATEGY TO REPAY THE DEBT OVER, UH, OVER THE, THE TERM OF THE, OF THE, OF THE FINANCING. UH, AND THAT WILL COME AT AN ANNUAL COST OF ABOUT 3.13 MILLION. UM, AND THERE'S A COMBINATION OF, UH, DEDICATED SOURCES AND SAVINGS FROM THE OPERATIONS OF THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE GONNA HELP, UH, COVER THAT O OVERALL COST. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION, AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, QUESTION FOR YOU, THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AT THE TERRACE THEATER THAT'S UNDER, UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW, RIGHT? THAT WAS UNDER THE LAST BOND. YES. THERE WAS SOME IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE, UM, UH, ENTERTAINMENT ROOMS AND, UH, OTHER IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO, TO, UM, SOME OF THE A DA AS WELL AS, UM, AREN'T WE DOING, AREN'T WE DOING THE DRESSING ROOMS AT THE TERRACE THEATER? YES, WE DID. WE DID. THAT'S COMPLETE. IT'S, IT'S STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT NEAR COMPLETION. IT'S, IT'S TURNING OUT REALLY NICE. OH, GREAT, GREAT. YEAH, I NEED TO GET OVER THERE. AND THE, UH, THE ROOF THAT'S GONNA LOOK, I MEAN, NOW THAT WE HAVE MORE ROOFTOP BARS AND ACTIVATION, IT, IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE, UH, MUCH BETTER FOR THE SCENE, FOR THE VIEW FOR THE PHOTOS, SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO CROP OUT THE TOP OF THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR THE NICE SCENIC VIEWS. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COOL ROOF AND, UH, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE SOLAR ARRAY. THANKS A LOT. WE'RE GONNA SEE IF THE COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS, JUST A MOMENT. MAKE OR THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR LOPEZ, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT ON IN, IN THIS AND THAT GREAT PRESENTATION. VERY SUPPORTIVE. GREAT. COUNCIL MEMBER THRASS TOOK [04:45:01] ANYTHING. UM, THIS IS GREAT. I JUST, I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE TIMING. I WAS WONDERING WHY, UH, TO WHY NOW, UM, GIVEN THAT THE PROCEEDS WON'T BE NEEDED FOR A BIT LONGER. UM, JUST QUICK UPDATE ON THAT. SURE. WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING THE IMPROVEMENTS NOW. SO WE SPENT THE FIRST 25 MILLION, AND WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED THE NEXT 25 MILLION, BUT THE, THE BONDS DON'T ACTUALLY NEED TO BE, WON'T BE DONE UNTIL, UNTIL LATER ON. BUT THERE'S CASH IN THE ACCOUNT TO COVER THOSE COSTS. UH, SO THAT'S THE SAME WAY WE DID THE, THE, THE LAST, UH, THE LAST, UH, TRANCHE. AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE SAME STRATEGY WITH THIS TRANCHE. THERE'S ENOUGH CASH TO COVER THE CURRENT COST, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE CITY GETS REIMBURSED WHEN WE ISSUED THE BONDS, UH, FOR, FOR THESE COSTS. SO YOU WON'T BE BACK BEFORE SPRING 26. THIS WILL JUST GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY SUCH THAT IF YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, USE ALL THOSE FUNDS UP, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SELL EVEN EARLIER IF NEEDED. UM, AND CONTINUE ON WITH, UH, CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. YES, AND WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO FINISH ALL OF THESE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, UH, PRIOR TO, UH, 2028. SO OUR GOAL RIGHT NOW IS 20 26, 20 27, BE FULLY DONE WITH ALL OF THE CRITICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AT THE CENTER. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO THOROUGH IN THE SOURCES OF REPAYMENT AND SHARING THAT WITHIN THE MEMO. APPRECIATE IT. THANK COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST OR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 48. PLEASE REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO SDC ENGINEERING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 51ST STREET GREENVALE PROJECT FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 3,166,217 AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS [48. 25-55561 Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7225 and award a contract to SDC Engineering, Inc., of Laguna Hills, CA, for the construction of the 51st Street Greenbelt Project, in the amount of $2,638,514, authorize a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $527,703, for a total contract amount not to exceed $3,166,217; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (District 8)       Office or Department: Public Works; Parks, Recreation and Marine         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS. DISTRICT EIGHT. ALRIGHT, NORTH LONG BEACH IS GETTING, GETTING ANOTHER, GETTING ANOTHER PARK. TELL US ABOUT THIS ONE. YEP, ERIC'S BACK. THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, THIS IS, UH, PROJECT, REALLY EXCITED, UH, TO, UH, BRING FORWARD AND, UH, GET READY TO, UH, START CONSTRUCTION. UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR, FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. UM, AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COBBLE TOGETHER ALL OF THE FUNDING NECESSARY, UH, TO MAKE THESE, UH, TYPES OF PROJECTS POSSIBLE. UH, IT IS A VERY, UH, UNIQUE DESIGN, SO I'M GONNA SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, UH, GOING THROUGH THAT. UH, BUT JUST SHARING SOME BACKGROUND OF ALL THE FUND FUNDING PARTNERS, UH, ON THIS, UH, ON THIS PARCEL THAT'S ADJACENT TO THE SEVEN 10 FREEWAY, UH, WE HAVE THE, UH, PORT OF LONG BEACH THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM, UH, THAT HAS HELPED, UH, FUND THE EFFORT. WE HAVE A $2 MILLION, UH, FEDERAL FUNDING, UH, GRANT, UH, FROM THE, UH, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED. UH, WE HAVE, UH, A $2 MILLION GRANT FROM THE SAN GABRIEL AND LOWER LOS ANGELES RIVERS AND MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY THAT'S HELPING US TO FULLY FUND THE PROJECT AND DIVISION. AND THERE'S ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL MEASURE A, UH, AND ELEVATE 28, UH, FUNDING, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S SUPPORTING. UH, SO JUST, JUST TO BE CLEAR, UH, WHERE THIS IS AT, RIGHT NEXT TO THE LA RIVER IN, UH, NORTH LONG BEACH, UH, BETWEEN JUST NORTH OF THE LAMO, UH, AND SOUTH OF 52ND STREET IS ONE OF THOSE PARCELS THAT, UH, THAT, UH, IS, IS RIGHT BY THE RIVER. UH, THE, UH, DESIGN WAS INFORMED THROUGH A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BACK IN 2018 THROUGH 2000 AND, AND 21. UH, WE HAD OUR PARTNERS AT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND PARTS RECREATION MARINE DEPARTMENT THAT, UH, THAT HELPED WITH ALL OF THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT TO DETERMINE KIND OF WHAT KIND OF, UH, WHAT KIND OF DESIGN WE WERE, WERE GONNA PURSUE, UH, FOR THIS, UH, FOR THIS PARCEL. A BRAND NEW PARK, UH, PARCEL. UM, WE ARE LOOKING, WE'RE LOOKING AT IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH, UH, THE INSTALLATION OF NEW SIDEWALKS, THE PARK ENTRY ACCESS POINTS, UH, CREATION OF NEW PLAZAS. UH, ALWAYS LOOKING TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND HEALTH THROUGH OUR, UH, WALKING TRAIL NETWORKS AND EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, UH, INSTALLED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE SITE, WE'RE LOOKING AT INCORPORATING A LOT OF NATURE INSPIRED EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS, UM, AND, UH, AND SOME PLAY SPACES AND TURF MOUNTS, UH, FOR, UH, FOR FUN ZONES, UH, FOR THE KIDS. UH, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT PLANTING A LOT OF NEW TREES AND ENHANCING LANDSCAPING, UH, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PARK AREA. HERE'S THE RENDERING OF, UH, OF THE, OF THE, OF THE DESIGN. UH, YOU CAN SEE THE TRAILS, YOU CAN SEE THE MOUNDS, YOU CAN SEE KIDS ON THEIR, ON THEIR BIKES. UH, YOU CAN SEE THE PLAYGROUND IN THE BACKGROUND, UH, AND A LOT OF VEGETATION, A LOT OF SHRUBS AND TREES, UH, THROUGH, UH, THROUGHOUT, UH, ALONG WITH SOME, UH, WITH SOME LIGHTING. [04:50:01] UM, THE ACTIVE PARK, UH, USES, INCLUDES FITNESS EQUIPMENT AND PLAY EQUIPMENT. AND IN, UH, AND WE'RE ALSO DOING A NEW CYCLE TRACK FOR BIKE LEARNING. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO, UH, PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, KIDS TO BE ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO BIKE AND LEARN ALL THE INSTANCE OUTS OF BIKE SAFETY. UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT NEW, UH, MOBILITY ELEMENTS. UM, WE ARE, UH, LOOKING AT CREATING, UH, JUST SOME REGULAR GATHERING SPACES FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, AND, UH, AND IMPROVING, UH, THE, UH, JUST, UH, THE AMENITIES AVAILABLE, UH, TO, UH, TO, UH, THE, OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS. UM, WE ARE INCLUDING, UH, NEW SEATING AREAS, UH, HYDRATION STATION AND TRASH RECEPTACLES THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THIS AREA, UH, TO, UH, SERVE, UH, THE USERS. UM, HERE IS A LIST OF ALL THE FUNDING SOURCES, UH, THAT ARE PAYING FOR THIS, UH, SIX POINT, UH, JUST UNDER $6.2 MILLION PROJECT. UM, AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE FOLKS, UH, I MENTIONED EARLIER. UH, THE PLAN, UH, IF APPROVED TODAY IS TO START CONSTRUCTION IN THE FALL. UH, AND THEN, UH, IT, AND THEN TO OPEN, UH, THE BRAND NEW PART TO THE PUBLIC IN, UH, FALL OF, UH, 2026 TO EARLY 2027, UM, DEPENDING ON, ON JUST VARIOUS CONDITIONS. BUT THAT, THAT'S OUR TARGET FOR COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WHAT A GREAT PROJECT. I'VE WATCHED IT FOR MANY YEARS, GET TO THIS POINT. EXCITED TO SEE THE BREAKING GROUND THIS FALL. AND, UH, WE'LL HAVE AN OPENING SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. WELL, IN ADVANCE OF 28, COUNCIL MEMBER THRESH TOOK MM-HMM . VERY EXCITING. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. GREEN SPACE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GREEN SPACE IN THE NORTH. UM, THIS IS CERTAINLY A SERIES OF SUSTAINED EFFORTS, UM, OVER A LOT OF YEARS TO BRING THIS TO LIFE AND THIS VISION HERE. UM, AND WHAT MAKES THIS SO SPECIAL IS THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT, WHICH WAS CENTRAL TO THE PLANNING PROCESS. AND IT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF COLLABORATION WE NEED TO BUILD OUT THE SPACES THAT REFLECT OUR NEEDS AND VALUES. TRANSFORMING THIS LAND INTO A PUBLIC PARK IS NO SMALL FEAT, AND IT IS A QUITE A COMPLEX EFFORT. SO WHILE THERE'S ALWAYS WAYS TO GO, YOU KNOW, TO, WHILE THERE'S ALWAYS WAYS TO GO, AS CONSTRUCTION BEGINS TODAY, MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE. ERIC, I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED MANY OF OUR PARTNERS, BUT I ALSO WANNA EXPRESS DEEP APPRECIATION TO THE RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY, CONGRESS MEMBER NANETTE BEGON, AND THE PORT OF LONG BEACH FOR HELPING TO SECURE THE FUNDING THAT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO BRING THIS PARK, UH, TO, TO LIFE. UM, SO THIS IS A MAJOR INVESTMENT FOR NORTH LONG BEACH. UM, AS WE SAW IN THE DESIGN CONCEPTS, THE, THERE WAS THOUGHTFUL DESIGNS IN THE WALKING TRAILS, THE FITNESS STATIONS, THE PLAYGROUNDS, AND THE LANDSCAPING, ALL TO HELP TO PROMOTE HEALTH, CONNECTION AND RECREATION. UM, THIS PARK WILL ALSO BE ABOUT, UH, ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT IN THE AREA. UM, FOR THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DESERVE IT, I WAS SO WORRIED THAT YOU WERE GOING TO CONDENSE THIS, UH, PRESENTATION BECAUSE OF OUR PACT COUNCIL AGENDA. BUT REALLY GLAD THAT YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO SHARE, UH, WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING HERE, WHICH REALLY, UM, LIFTS UP THE HARD WORK, CREATIVITY AND PLANNING THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS PROJECT. AND TODAY WAS ONLY A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IS TO COME. SO THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF AND FOR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CHERISH FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMAN BRIGGS OTI, SUPER EXCITED FOR NORTH LONG BEACH, AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, UH, IN DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, LIVING IN A COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE GREEN SPACE THAT IT DESERVES. I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED, UH, ON YOUR BEHALF. UM, AND MY ASK IS THAT, CAN I COME TO THE, TO, CAN I COME TO THE, THE GROUNDBREAKING AND THE RIBBON CUTTING WHEN YOU HAVE IT, PLEASE? MOST CERTAINLY. EXCELLENT . UM, SO I JUST WANNA EXPRESS MY EXCITEMENT IN INCREASING GREEN SPACE AND LOW IMPACT RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY FOR RESIDENTS IN NORTH LONG BEACH. AND HOPEFULLY AN ATTRACTION FOR VISITORS TO COME BY. I WORKED AT RMC WHEN THIS GRANT WAS MADE, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION BECAUSE IN THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS ABOUT CONNECTIVITY, NOT JUST, UH, FOR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO ARE USING THE LOWER LA RIVER TRAIL TO BE ABLE TO STOP INTO NORTH LONG BEACH, VISIT THE BUSINESSES AND CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENT ASPECT OF WHAT NORTH LONG BEACH HAS TO OFFER. AND THEN HOPEFULLY THEY'LL KEEP COMING DOWN AND VISIT THE REST OF OUR CITY. SO JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATION. AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD TO [04:55:01] THE JEWELS AS A, A JEWEL FOR NORTH LONG BEACH. SO EXCITED TO BE PART OF ONE OF THE VISITORS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, GREAT. UH, THE UPTOWN RENAISSANCE IS LIVE AND WELL. ANY, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, THE REST OF THESE ITEMS HAVE NO PRESENTATION. ITEM 39, PLEASE REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH A BM INDUSTRIES FOR PROVIDING CUSTODIAL SERVICES TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS FOR A REVISED TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $14,302,892 CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. IS [39. 25-55549 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 35089 with ABM Industries, Inc., of Tustin, CA, for providing custodial services to various locations, to increase the contract amount by $1,300,000, for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $14,302,892, and to extend the term of the contract to June 30, 2026. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CASH YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE'LL GO TO 42. REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO PROCURE PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR CITY BUILDINGS, CONTENTS, AND VEHICLES VIA ALLIANT INSURANCE SERVICES TO INCLUDE PRIMARY CYBER LIABILITY, BOILER AND MACHINERY AND PRIMARY PROPERTY LAYERS FOR QUEEN [42. 25-55552 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to procure property insurance for City buildings, contents, and vehicles via Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., Property Insurance Program (APIP) to include primary cyber liability, boiler and machinery, and primary property layers for Queen Mary. The total premium for these policies shall not exceed $8,729,338, for the period from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Human Resources         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] MARY. THE TOTAL PREMIUM FOR THESE POLICIES SHALL NOT EXCEED 8,729,338. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. 43. REPORT FROM LONG BEACH AIRPORT. RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY AMENDMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO ACCEPT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT. AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT AWARD FOR FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2025. FUNDING FOR THE PASSENGER CONCOURSE [43. 25-55554 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents, including any necessary amendments, with the Federal Aviation Administration, to accept the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Airport Infrastructure Grant award for federal Fiscal Year 2025 funding, for the Passenger Concourse Enhancements Project, in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000. (District 5)       Office or Department: Long Beach Airport         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25 MILLION. DISTRICT FIVE. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS PLEASE. CASH OR VOTE? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 44, PLEASE REPORT FROM LONG BEACH AIRPORT. RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD CONTRACTS TO VARIOUS CONTRACTORS FOR PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT IN A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT, [44. 25-55553 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFQ AP24-504 and award contracts to AECOM Technical Services, Inc., a California corporation; Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects Consulting, LLC (formerly known as Anser Advisory), a Delaware limited liability company; Jacobs Project Management Co., a Delaware Corporation; The Kennard Development Group dba KDG Construction Consulting, a California corporation; and Skanska USA Building Inc., a Delaware corporation, for providing construction management services for various development projects at the Long Beach Airport, in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $6,000,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contracts, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Districts 4, 5)       Office or Department: Long Beach Airport         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] NOT TO EXCEED $6 MILLION AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUB SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS DISTRICTS FOUR AND FIVE. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS PLEASE CLASS YOUR VOTE. MOTION. OH, WHY VOTE YES. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. 45. REPORT FROM LONG BEACH AIRPORT. RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR ADDITIONAL PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGES. AND IF APPROVED, EXCEPT IMPLEMENT, ADMINISTER, COLLECT AND EXPEND THE ADDITIONAL [45. 25-55555 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents to submit an application, including any necessary subsequent amendments, to the Federal Aviation Administration for additional Passenger Facility Charges (PFC); and if approved, accept, implement, administer, collect, and expend the additional PFCs related to the Airport Capital Improvement Program, within the existing authorized PFC level per enplaned passenger. (Districts 4, 5)       Office or Department: Long Beach Airport         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] PFCS RELATED TO THE AIRPORT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WITHIN THE EXISTING AUTHORIZED PFC LEVEL PER IN PLAIN PASSENGER DISTRICTS FOUR AND FIVE. PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT. COMMENT. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. 46. REPORT FROM LONG BEACH AIRPORT. RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD CONTRACTS TO BLUESTONE MANAGEMENT AND PMCS GROUP FOR PROVIDING PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT IN A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 1.5 MILLION AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY [46. 25-55556 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFQ AP-24-503 and award contracts to Blue Stone Management, LLC of Los Angeles, CA, and PMCS Group Inc., of Long Beach, CA, for providing project management services for various development projects at the Long Beach Airport, in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $1,500,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contracts, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Districts 4, 5)       Office or Department: Long Beach Airport         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, DISTRICTS FOUR AND FIVE. IS THERE ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. 50 REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND GROUP IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BY 850,000 TO FULLY FUND CRITICAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE DANA BRANCH LIBRARY. [05:00:01] OFFSET BY AB 32 PROCEEDS DISTRICT FIVE. [50. 25-55649 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $850,000, to fully fund critical improvements at the Dana Branch Library, offset by AB 32 proceeds. (District 5)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MAYOR? MAYOR, I JUST NEED TO PUT INTO RECORD THAT THIS WAS APPROVED BY THE UTILITIES COMMISSION TODAY, THE FULLEST OF AB AB 32 PROJECTS. GREAT. FANTASTIC. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU TO THE UTILITIES COMMISSION. NO MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. THAT SATISFIES THE AGENDA. WILL NOW MAYOR 40. WE NEED TO DO ITEM 41. I THOUGHT WE WERE CONTINUING. DOES THAT HAVE TO BE, HOLD ON, LET'S TAKE A LOOK. OH, WE'RE CONTINUING THIS ITEM 41. WE DIDN'T DO 41. NO, IT'S IN INSURANCE. ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO 41. DID YOU, I THINK WE DID 41 REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES. RECOMMEND. CAN YOU DO IT AGAIN? RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASE THROUGH ALLIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, VARIOUS INSURANCE POLICIES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 15,833,665 CITYWIDE. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. THANKS FOR STAYING. [41. 25-55551 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to purchase, through Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., various insurance policies in an amount not to exceed $15,833,665, for a period of twelve months between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. (Citywide) Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Human Resources         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] MOTION CARRIES. ANY OTHER ITEMS? SURE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW GO TO OUR CLOSING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. NOTHING. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE, UH, FIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. THANKS FOR BEING PATIENT. I WILL CALL YOUR NAMES AND PLEASE COME FORWARD. IS SANDY ALVAREZ HERE? ALRIGHT, I SEE YOU SANDY. COME ON DOWN AFTER SANDY IS ANDREW. IS ANDREW HERE? OKAY, WE'RE GONNA SCRATCH. ANDREW. [ 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. ] IS PALESTINE HERE? OKAY. YOU'LL BE NEXT AFTER. IS KEITH MASON? IS KEITH HERE? I DON'T SEE KEITH. AND THEN DAVE SHUKLA. IT'S DAVE HERE. THERE YOU GO. SO WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS. ALRIGHT, SANDY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? UM, NO, BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF GETTING HARASSED AGAIN ALMOST EVERY DAY. REALLY? SERIOUSLY. BY THE STAFF MEMBER. ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBER IS DOING CERTAIN THINGS THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT I'M NOT GONNA MENTION IT. BUT THE ONLY THING IS THEY'RE, UM, THEY, UM, WHAT THEY, THEY, ONE OF THE ROOMS THEY COMPLAIN. THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE GIRLS WAS TRYING TO TELL THE STAFF, OH, SHE HAS THIS OR SHE HAS THAT. THEN THEY WANNA BOMB THE ROOM. THEY BOMB IT LIKE MORE THAN FIVE. MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. AND I'M OVER HERE GETTING HARASSED BY THE OTHER COUPLES FOR NO REASON. JUST BECAUSE I'M HISPANIC. AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO HARASS PEOPLE. THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED, AND THEY'RE DOING DRUGS, STILL DOING DRUGS, COCAINE, MARIJUANA AT, IN THE FRONT PARKING LOT. THAT'S GOTTA STOP. THAT'S GOTTA STOP. YOU BETTER INVESTIGATE PEOPLE AT THE SHELTER. A, B, C SHELTER. A B, C SHELTER. THE ONE IN ATLANTIC. YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE THEM. YOU SHOULD MORE INVESTIGATE THEM AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE. 'CAUSE I, I, I WAS IN THE, UH, SHELTER FOR A WHILE. IT WAS ONLY FOR TEMPORARY. AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET HOUSING IN 2016. AND I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT LADY SAYS? WELL, YOU MAKE TOO MUCH. WHAT KIND OF PERSON IS THAT SAYING THAT TO A, A CLIENT. THAT'S WRONG. THAT IS WRONG. AND THIS IS THIS, YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THE DRUGS, THE COCAINE AND THE, AND THE, THE, THE SHELTER. IT IS GOTTA STOP. YOU GOTTA INVESTIGATE PEOPLE. THEY'RE GETTING ABUSE BY THE STAFF MEMBER. OKAY? FIRST OF ALL, GET RID OF SOME OF THE STAFF. KEEP THE ONES THAT DOESN'T DO DRUGS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON A PROGRAM, OKAY? AND I'M TIRED OF IT. AND I, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I CAME OUT AND TELL YOU THAT YOU GOTTA INVESTIGATE THE SHELTER BECAUSE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE, ARE, ARE BEING MEAN TO OTHER PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. AND I'M TIRED OF IT. AND I'M TIRED OF IT GETTING HARASSED, GETTING THREATENED, TRYING TO KICK ME OUT. PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO KICK ME OUT FOR NO REASON. MIND MY OWN BUSINESS DOING MY THING. THEY KICK MY DOG OUT. THEY LEAVE HIM OUTSIDE FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS GOTTA STOP. YOU GOTTA INVESTIGATE THE SHELTER. A, B, C SHELTER BECAUSE PEOPLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE STAFF. NOW THIS IS SERIOUS. THIS IS SERIOUS. THIS IS SERIOUS. I'M DONE WITH THIS. AND I TRY TO, YOU KNOW, I'M DOING THE BEST TO HANG IN THERE IN THE SHELTER. THAT'S ONLY FOR TEMPORARY. AND I GOT SOMEBODY, HE'S A SENIOR CITIZEN. BUT YOU GOTTA HELP THE SENIOR CITIZEN MOST LIKELY BUILD A NEW SHELTER OR GET SOMETHING SAFE FOR THE, THE, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP. [05:05:01] MEDICAL HELP. SERIOUSLY DO YOUR JOB, PLEASE. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS PALESTINE. GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, URGING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION IN TERMINATING THE CITY'S LEASE WITH SPACEX IN OUR PORT. WE, THE WORKERS, MOTHERS, STUDENTS, AND TENANTS OF LONG BEACH UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY CANNOT TERMINATE THIS LEASE UNLESS THEIR TENANT HAS BREACHED THE CONTRACT. WE ALSO KNOW THAT SPACEX HAS BREACHED THE CONTRACT WITH ITS HISTORY OF SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION AND LAPSES IN INSURANCE. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO YOU TO UPHOLD THE LAW AND PROTECT WORKERS. PROTECT OUR CITY FROM A CORPORATION THAT IS WILLING TO VIOLATE OUR STANDARDS AND AGREEMENTS, PROTECT OUR PORT FROM AN UNRELIABLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE TENANT. REVIEW THE BREACHES AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION. I INVITE THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND AND GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT IN THIS CHAMBER ON MONDAY, JUNE 23RD AT 1:30 PM AT THE HARBOR COMMISSION MEETING TO PRESSURE THE COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL TO BEGIN THE PROCESS TO TERMINATE BUSINESS WITH SPACEX. I CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S PERSONAL AND I KNOW IF IT'S PERSONAL TO ME, IT'S PERSONAL TO MY COMMUNITY. SPACEX IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AND I'M TERRIFIED IT WILL SOMEDAY BE A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. I HAVE SEEN WHAT CHRONIC ILLNESS DOES TO A FAMILY. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN PUBLIC POLICY THAT ADDRESSES HEALTH AFTER A COMMUNITY HAS FALLEN ILL. I AM INTERESTED IN PROACTIVE POLICY THAT PROTECTS US FROM POLLUTED AIR AND WATER BEFORE IT HAPPENS. HOW DO WE DO THIS? HOW CAN I EXPECT YOU TO PREDICT THE FUTURE? I DON'T, WE DON'T NEED TO PRETEND TO PREDICT THE FUTURE WHEN WE DISCUSS SPACEX BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY CONTAMINATED AIR AND WATER IN BOCA, TEXAS, AND SOUTH MEMPHIS. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN A SETTLEMENT CHECK IN 50 YEARS. WE WANT YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR HEALTH WHILE WE STILL HAVE IT. THANK YOU DAVE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'D, UH, JUST LIKE TO CLOSE BY, UH, PUTTING A FEW COMMENTS ON THE, THE RECORD, UH, ABOUT THE CURRENT POLITICAL MOMENT WE'RE IN. AND, UH, IN DOING SO, I'D, UH, UH, LIKE TO QUOTE EXTENSIVELY FROM, UH, STAFF REPORT THAT WAS FILED, UH, AT CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY, UH, IN THE LA TIMES, UH, BY SONIA SHARP, UH, TITLED OCCUPATION OR FIGHTING REBELLION. AND, UH, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME'S DAVE SHUKLA. I'M A SON OF THE CITY. UH, SO IN APPELLATE COURT, UH, THIS, UH, AFTERNOON JUDGE ERIC D. MILLER OF SEATTLE ASKED IF, UH, THE PRESIDENT'S, UH, AUTHORITY OVER OUR MILITARY WAS INDEED INFINITE. AND THE GOVERNMENT ARGUED THAT YES, IT INDEED WAS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE EVENTS OF JUNE 7TH, UH, 2025 ARE NOTHING AT ALL LIKE THE EVENTS OF APRIL, 1992 OR LIKE THAT IN SELMA IN 1965 CASES WHERE EITHER THE GOVERNOR CALLED ON A CALLED ON THE NATIONAL GUARD TO BE DEPLOYED, UH, FOR A LOCAL SITUATION, UH, THE RIOTING AND LOOTING IN 19 19 92 OR, UH, AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE GOVERNOR, WAS DEPLOYED TO PROTECT PEOPLE IN 1965. UM, THE EVENTS OF TWO WEEKS AGO WERE CLEARLY THIS PRESIDENT IMPOSING HIS POLITICAL WILL TO DISTRACT FROM HIS HORRIBLE NO GOOD. DOESN'T HELP ANYBODY BUT BILLIONAIRES BILL, AS WELL AS THE HORRENDOUS, UH, POLICIES OF HIS TARIFFS, INCLUDING THAT ON THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. NOW I CALL ON THE CITY COUNCIL. I CALL ON MAYOR RICHARDSON TO SUPPORT THE, UH, PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIONS AS FILED BY, UH, OUR, UH, CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA, WHO, UH, IN PROCEEDINGS FILED YESTERDAY AND TODAY HAS STATED THE ACTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY DEFENSE AMOUNT TO AN UNPRECEDENTED AND DANGEROUS ASSERTION OF EXECUTIVE POWER. THE PRESIDENT ASSERTS THAT THE LAW AUTHORIZES HIM TO FEDERALIZE STATE AND NATIONAL GUARD UNITS AND DEPLOY ARMED SOLDIERS INTO THE STREETS OF AMERICAN CITIES AND TOWNS. WHENEVER HE PERCEIVES OPPOSITION OR DISOBEDIENCE OF ILLEGAL COMMAND, HE ALSO ASSERTS THAT NO COURT CAN REVIEW THAT DECISION, ASSIGNING HIMSELF VIRTUALLY UNCHECKED. POWER ATTORNEY GENERAL BONTA GOES ON TO SAY THE DOMESTIC USE OF THE MILITARY IS CORROSIVE. EVERY DAY THAT THIS DEPLOYMENT CONTINUES, IT SOWS FEAR AMONG CITY RESIDENTS, ERODE THEIR TRUST IN THE CITY AND ESCALATES CONFLICTS THAT THEY HAVE WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT NATIONAL GUARD ON TRADE FOR CIVIL, UH, DISOBEDIENCE, UH, CIVIL DEPLOYMENT, AND THEY, ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA, IN OTHER STATES WHERE, UH, CONTINUED USE OF FOSSIL FUELS HAD LED, HAS LED TO HISTORIC [05:10:01] DROUGHT CONDITIONS. THEY'D BE BETTER OFF BEING USED TO FIGHT WILDFIRES. UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS IS NOT WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS. IT'S BEEN IMPOSED UPON US BY A RECKLESS UNACCOUNTABLE LEGAL ADMINISTRATION. AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT OUR GOVERNOR AND OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL IN OPPOSING IT, AND ESPECIALLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. DON'T F*****G SUPPORT US. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY. UH, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING. WE'LL NOW GO TO CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT. I'M GONNA START WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO, [ANNOUNCEMENTS] UM, INVITE ALL OF YOU TO THE SHORELINE VILLAGE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST, STARTING AT 6:00 PM AT 4 1 9, UM, Q SHORELINE VILLAGE DRIVE. ALSO, UM, JOIN US FOR THE COMMUNITY MILL MILLION MEAL PACK. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN. THE COMMUNITY MILLION MEAL PACK ON FRIDAY, JUNE 27TH AT 8:30 AM LOCATED AT THE QUEEN MARY. MANY VOLUNTEER SHIFTS ARE AVAILABLE ALSO, IF YOU HAVE A DOGGIE AND YOU THINK THEY ARE THE BEST, OR MAYBE THEY ARE THE MOST CHARMING, OR MAYBE THEY'RE JUST SUPER CUTE. IF SO, I INVITE YOU TO REGISTER THEM FOR MY FOURTH ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY VITO'S DOG PARADE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JUNE 28TH, STARTING AT 10:00 AM AT LINCOLN PARK. PLEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MY OFFICE. AND, UM, AS, AS A PROUD DAUGHTER OF AN IMMIGRANT PARENT AND AN IMMIGRANT MYSELF, NOW SITTING AS A COUNCILWOMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING IN DEEP SOLIDARITY WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES WHO ARE ENDURING THE PAIN AND THE HARDSHIP CAUSED BY RECENT IMMIGRATION RAID AND OPERATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. THIS PAST FATHER'S DAY WAS ESPECIALLY HEAVY FOR SO MANY, FILLED WITH HEARTACHE, FEAR, AND OVERWHELMING UNCERTAINTY. WE HOLD CLOSE THE WEIGHT OF THAT PAIN TO EVERY IMMIGRANT FATHER WE HAVE LOST. AND TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS OF FEAR, PLEASE KNOW WE SEE YOU. WE STAND WITH YOU, AND YOUR COURAGE AND HUMANITY ARE DEEPLY VALUED AND HONORED. ES THE LONG BEACH. I ALSO WANT TO SINCERELY THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PEACEFUL PROTEST THIS PAST WEEKEND. YOUR COURAGE, COMPASSION, COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE REMINDS US ALL OF THE POWER WE HAVE WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER. IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT EACH OF US DOES OUR PART IN SHOWING SOLIDARITY BECAUSE EVERY VOICE, EVERY ACTION, AND EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS HELPS BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYBODY FEELS SEEN, VALUED, AND PROTECTED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, NEXT WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ZENDEJAS. I THINK YOU SUMMARIZED, UH, MANY OF OUR SENTIMENTS PERFECTLY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UH, TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE MY TEAM'S EFFORTS IN PUTTING TOGETHER, UM, OUR FIRST, UH, DISTRICT NINE TOWN HALL OF THE YEAR. UH, WE DID IT YESTERDAY AT MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY. [05:15:01] UH, WE HAD OVER 70 ATTENDEES. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT. WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS A LOT OF REALLY IMPACTFUL THINGS LIKE, UH, STREET RACING, UM, STRATEGIES AROUND SIDEWALK BENDING, UM, AND ISSUES, UH, RELATED TO OUR, UM, GREEN WEIGHT SPINS AND, AND, AND, UH, SWEEPING SERVICES. SO I JUST REALLY WANNA THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT AND SHARED THEIR, THEIR QUESTIONS, THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR IDEAS. UM, AND SO AGAIN, YOUR VOICE MATTERS AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING DISTRICT NINE CONTINUES TO BE HEARD. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY WHO CAME. UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UM, TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE OUR COUNCIL, DISTRICT NINE FELLOW, UM, ANGELICA RUBIO PEREZ, UM, WHO'S NEARING THE COMPLETION OF OUR FELLOWSHIP TERM WITH OUR OFFICE. UH, ANGELICA HAS SERVED, WE CALL HER ANGIE. ANGIE HAS SERVED THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH LONG BEACH WITH PROFESSIONALISM CARE AND A STRONG SENSE OF PURPOSE. UH, THROUGHOUT HER TIME WITH US, SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING OUR CASE WORK, HELPING RESIDENTS NAVIGATE CITY SERVICES AND ADVOCATING ON THEIR BEHALF. MOST NOTABLY, SHE LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR INAUGURAL UPTOWN HOUSING EXPO, UH, SUCCESSFUL CAPSTONE PROJECT THAT CONNECTED RESIDENTS WITH CRITICAL HOUSING RESOURCES, HOME OWNERSHIP TOOLS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. UH, WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR HER WORK THAT SHE'S DONE ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT NINE. UM, AND I REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE TO APPLY FOR THE 20 25 20 26 LONG BEACH PUBLIC SERVICE CORE COHORT ON THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MONDAY, JUNE 30TH. UH, AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 19TH, WE BE COMMEMORATING JUNETEENTH AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT DAY IN OUR HISTORY. UM, IT'S REALLY JUST A DAY OF REFLECTION, A DAY TO HONOR THE STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LONG AND CONTINUING STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND EQUITY IN THIS COUNTRY. UM, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT FIGHT CONTINUE RIGHT NOW. UH, LASTLY, A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. UH, PLEASE JOIN US ON SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST FROM EIGHT TO 12:00 PM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 PM THE RAMONA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, UH, THAT WILL BE HELD AT RAMONA PARK, LOCATED AT 33 0 1 EAST 65TH STREET. UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY OUT TO, UH, UH, TO OUR COFFEE WITH THE COMMANDER, UM, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER ON FRIDAY, JUNE 27TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 11:00 AM IT'LL BE HELD AT THE STARBUCKS LOCATED AT 6 9 5 EAST ARTESIA BOULEVARD. UH, AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO OUR ANNUAL FIRE AND ICE EVENT. UM, THIS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JULY 12TH FROM 11:00 AM TO 3:00 PM THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT FIRE STATION 12 AT 11 9 9 EAST ARTESIA BOULEVARD. UM, FOR ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THESE EVENTS OR TO RSVP, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, SORROW. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SIN DEJA FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SOLIDARITY WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AS WELL AS IN JUST AS ACKNOWLEDGING THE PEACEFUL PROTESTS THAT ALSO OCCURRED THAT SATURDAY. AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN. UH, RICKS OTI FOR, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING JUNETEENTH IS THIS THURSDAY. I WANTED TO ALSO SHARE THAT THERE IS A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION AT KING PARK IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE ONE, UM, AT RAINBOW LAGOON. UH, THERE IS ONE THIS SATURDAY FROM 12 TO 5:00 PM AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE HOW EXCITED I AM THAT WE HAVE AN ELEVATE 28 PROJECT COMPLETION, AND THAT IS OUR BELOVED MLK PARK POOL. IT IS A BRAND NEW PAR UH, POOL. YOU WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE IT, UM, IF YOU CAME IN, WHICH IS GREAT 'CAUSE IT'S COMPLETELY MODERNIZED. AND IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, COME BY. UM, IT'S GONNA BE ON MONDAY, JUNE 23RD AT 11:00 AM. UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO, I'M GONNA ALSO BE HOSTING A SUMMER COMMUNITY CELEBRATION POPUP WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HELP BRING ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR INVESTMENT IN DISTRICT SIX, SPECIFICALLY TO MLK PARKS. SO WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE PROVIDING ICE CREAMS 'CAUSE WE ICE CREAM BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS WHO ARE OUT OF SCHOOL RIGHT NOW TO COME BY THE POOL AND JUMP IN AND ALSO COME OUT FOR ICE CREAM. UM, THANK YOU. ALWAYS A GOOD TIME FOR A POOL PARTY. COUNCIL MEMBER. THRASH INTU. ALRIGHT, WELL, GOOD EVENING. AS WE ROUND OUT TONIGHT'S EVENING, UM, I TOO WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UM, YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ABOUT THIS MOMENT AND TIME. AND A REMINDER THAT I TOO STAND WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, UM, AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE KNOWN, THAT THEY ARE SEEN, UM, AND THAT WE ARE BELIEVING THAT THERE IS DUE PROCESS STILL IN THIS COUNTRY. UM, AND THAT CHILDREN NEED TO BE PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES. WE WANNA THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO UPLIFT THOSE SAME VALUES, UM, AT RECENT, UM, PUBLIC EVENTS AND, UH, LAST, LAST WEEKEND. UM, AND WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS, UM, AND [05:20:01] TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE LEADERS WHO CARE. UM, LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUNETEENTH. UH, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A RECAP TODAY AT OUR MEETING, UH, REGARDING OUR ANNUAL JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL THAT WE'RE SO PROUD OF HERE IN LONG BEACH. BUT JUNETEENTH IS THIS COMING THURSDAY, AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO REFLECT ON THE DETERMINATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT THE, UM, NATIONAL, UH, PAN-AFRICAN, UH, FLAG IS RAISED, UH, TO COMMEMORATE THE, UH, JUNETEENTH FOR THIS THURSDAY AS A PART OF OUR APPROVED FLAGS, UM, ON OUR CITY. UM, AND FOR THE, UH, AMONG THE CITY MANAGER. IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE EITHER LAST SATURDAY OR THIS COMING SATURDAY, YOU CAN CELEBRATE IN THE NORTH AS WELL. JUNETEENTH, THERE'S A FESTIVAL AT NORTH POINT THAT IS GOING TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH FROM FOUR TO SIX. SO STOP BY, UM, ON YOUR WAY HOME. WE'VE TALKED A BIT ABOUT SUMMERTIME AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE OUT AT POOLS, BUT OUR MOVIES IN THE PARKS HAVE STARTED. AND SO WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH, GRACE PARK WILL BE FEATURING GARFIELD. UM, SO THIS, UH, EVENT, WE SAY BRING YOUR CHAIRS, YOUR BLANKETS, YOUR FAVORITE SNACKS, AND ENJOY RELAXING EVENING WITH NEIGHBORS. WE'LL BE OUT, UH, BEFORE THE MONTH IS OVER AT THE ELM AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, HOSTING A COMMUNITY CLEANUP ON SATURDAY JUNE 28TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM UM, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A GREAT WAY TO GIVE BACK, UM, GET CONNECTED, MEET OTHER NEIGHBORS, PLEASE JOIN US AT THAT TIME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL, I'LL, I'LL CLOSE OUT, UH, UH, THIS COUNCIL MEETING. I WANNA, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK EVERYBODY FOR PARTICIPATING. I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR, UM, THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, JUST THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AND THE THINGS, UH, HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE FRONT OF MIND FOR ALL OF US. UM, WE KNOW THAT IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, IN OUR COUNTRY. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE INTENTIONAL EFFORTS TO, TO DIVIDE US. AND WE KNOW THERE'S A HARD, IT'S A HARD TIME FOR OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND FRANKLY, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, UH, I WAS INSPIRED SEEING PEOPLE COME TOGETHER PEACEFULLY, UM, EX YOU KNOW, EXPRESS, UH, THEIR DISCONTENT WHILE STILL RESPECTING OUR DIVERSITY, RESPECTING OUR COMMUNITY. UM, UH, A LOT OF COMPOSURE WAS DEMONSTRATED. A LOT OF, UH, UNITY WAS DEMONSTRATED IN THAT MOMENT. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, AND LIFT UP, UM, OUR, OUR CITY LEADERS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED AND, YOU KNOW, WORKED THROUGH THE NO KINGS, UH, RALLY. I THINK, UM, OUR CITY TEAM, UH, DID WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THAT MOMENT. AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR, OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THAT MOMENT. UH, I ALSO, UH, KNOW THAT WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON DIVISION WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, AND THE WAY THAT WE, UH, SHOW UP BEST IS WHEN WE, WE REALLY COME TOGETHER AND LEAN INTO TO UNITY. UM, THIS TOO SHALL PASS. UH, BUT, BUT IT'S OUR SPIRIT OF UNITY AND, AND DETERMINATION IN LONG BEACH IS GONNA GET US THROUGH. UM, I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT, AND THIS, THIS ISN'T FUN, BUT, BUT I WANNA CLOSE TODAY'S COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEETING IN MEMORY OF CARLOS, A 15-YEAR-OLD, UH, LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, UH, WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, UH, A YOUNG MAN, UM, WAS JUST DAYS AWAY FROM HIS 16TH BIRTHDAY. WE WANT EXPRESS OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. UH, AND WE WANNA, UM, LIFT UP THE COMMUNITY, UM, WHO'S RALLYING TOGETHER AND LAUNCHED THE GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN. UH, YOU CAN JUST SEARCH, UH, HIS AUNT MONICA GONZALEZ SET IT UP FOR HER SISTER TO HELP WITH BURIAL COSTS. UM, SO THERE IS A GOFUNDME, UH, THERE. AND THIS IS, THIS IS A REMINDER THAT WHEN WE, THE THINGS THAT WE DO, UM, TO, TO, YOU KNOW, INVEST IN SAFE STREETS AND CHANGE, UH, CHANGE BEHAVIOR AND, AND, AND FOCUS ON TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE TO, TO ALLOW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO USE OUR STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND OUR BUS STATIONS, OUR BUS STOPS TO SIMPLY LIVE AND PARTICIPATE, UM, UH, UM, IN LIFE AND GO TO SCHOOL AND LEAD HEALTHY LIVES IN WAYS THAT ARE, THAT ARE SAFE. AND SO, UH, WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR, UH, STREETS ARE SAFE. UM, SO THAT SAID, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR PARTICIPATING. UH, IT IS 10 27 AND THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. WE'LL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS, NOT IN TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS. WE'LL SEE YOU IN LIKE THREE WEEKS, LIKE IN A MONTH. * 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.