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GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, ON THIS BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES ARE HALF OVER.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, CALL TO ORDER THE THURSDAY, JULY 17TH MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AT 9:06 AM UH, FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
DENNIS, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? YES, SIR.
SMITH DOES HAVE AN EXCUSED ABSENCE.
FOR THE RECORD, UH, COMMISSIONER ALLEN IS ON HIS WAY.
SHOULD PROBABLY BE ARRIVING AS WE FINISH THE ROLL CALL.
PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER SHOW HERE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME NOW TO, UH, SALUTE OUR BEAUTIFUL FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WISHES STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UM, DIRECTOR, WHY DON'T WE START WITH PRESENTATIONS AND I THINK WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE, IF NOT MORE PRESENTATIONS.
SO IF YOU RECALL LAST MONTH, WE DID HAVE ON OUR PRESENTATION OR ON THE AGENDA PRESENTATION FOR OUR, UH, MONTHLY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH RECOGNITION AND JUST BECAUSE OF SOME SCHEDULING CHALLENGES, BUT WE HAD TO DEFER THAT TO THIS MORNING.
SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO THE LEADER OF OUR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS, UH, COMMITTEE.
GLADYS KAISER WILL LEAD US THROUGH THIS ITEM.
UM, ON BEHALF OF ERC, UM, WE'RE ALWAYS PROUD TO BRING FORTH AN EMPLOYEE WHO STANDS OUT, HAS GO GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND, UM, AND JUST REALLY HAS SHINE SHINED THROUGH, UM, THEIR HARD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR MAY.
UM, SO WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE FOR PROGRAMMING REASONS, HAD TO BE AT SITE.
UM, AND THEN NEXT MONTH WE'LL ACTUALLY, UH, BE CELEBRATING TWO, WHICH WOULD BE JUNE AND JULY BECAUSE AGAIN, OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE ON SITE AND WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO READ THE NOMINATION THAT WAS WRITTEN BY, UM, BEHALF OF, UM, PALOMA IS IN OF A TEAM PLAYER.
ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA BRING PALOMA UP HERE FIRST.
SHE'S CURRENTLY WORKING AT STEARNS PARK, UM, AND I KNOW SHE PARTICIPATE.
SHE WAS A FORMER PARTICIPANT, GREW UP IN THE SYSTEM, LITERALLY, UM, AND NOW IS A FLOURISHING, UM, STAFF MEMBER ON OUR TEAM.
SO, PALOMA, THIS WAS WRITTEN ON YOUR BEHALF.
PALOMA IS THE EPITOME OF A TEAM PLAYER.
HAVING RECENTLY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO A NEW POSITION MYSELF, I'VE BEEN JUGGLING A NUMBER OF VARIOUS STUDENTS, BUT PALOMA AND I HAVE NEVER DIRECTLY WORKED TOGETHER.
SHE REACHED OUT TO ME AND ASKED IF SHE COULD ASSIST WITH THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WAS OFTEN THE LAST ITEM ON MY LIST OF THINGS TO DO.
I MET WITH PALOMA ONCE, AND SINCE THEN, SHE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
NOT ONLY HAS SHE BEEN A HUGE HELP MAKING SURE THE VOLUNTEER EMAILS AND QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, THIS PROGRAM DOESN'T REALLY NECESSARILY HAVE THE BUDGET TO ASSIST, UH, FOR ASSISTANCE REGULARLY.
SO PALOMA IS DOING THIS ON TOP OF HER NORMAL WORK DUTIES.
I OFTEN GET EMAILS FROM PALOMA STATING SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, OKAY, I FINISHED THIS.
WHAT'S NEXT? OR, I'M HAVING FUN WITH THIS.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED? PALOMA'S POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND GREAT WORK ETHIC HAVE GIVEN ME A LOT OF RELIEF AND ARE SUCH A GREAT REMINDER OF HOW IMPORTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE ASSISTANCE PALOMA OFFERED ME WITH NO RETURN BESIDES GAINING THE KNOWLEDGE OF A NEW PROGRAM.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
THEY'RE OFTEN, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, PAST PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PROGRAM OR SEEKING, UM, THEIR VOLUNTEER HOURS, WHETHER IT BE EITHER HIGH SCHOOL, A PROJECT, UM, OR COLLEGE CREDITS THAT THEY ARE TAKING.
SO IT'S A CONSTANT DEMAND YEAR ROUND.
UM, AND OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, OUR COORDINATOR, UM, KIND OF LEFT WITHOUT, UM, A LOT OF NOTICE TO US.
SO WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE NOT ONLY HER COLUMBUS DEPUTY IN DOING WORK FOR HER PERSEVERANCE TO SEE THAT WE NEEDED THE ASSISTANCE, UM, AND TO, UH, TO REACH OUT TO RHIANNON AGAIN, WITH NO REALLY CONNECTION THERE.
UM, BUT TO KNOW THAT THIS IMPORTANT, THIS, UH, PROGRAM WAS VERY, VERY VALUABLE.
AND WITHOUT PAL'S ASSISTANCE, IT WOULDN'T CONTINUED ON.
SO FORM, WE ARE VERY THANK YOU, THANKFUL OF ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.
I KNOW YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND SHARE.
I'M VERY HONORED AND VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS.
I ALSO WANNA THANK ANNE FOR HELPING ME, GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO
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GROW AND LEARN NEW THINGS, AND YEAH.CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE THAT? SO, OUR NUMBER ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, UH, THE ERC HAS A TRADITION OF SURPRISING THE HONOREE, AND WE HAD TO INTERRUPT A VERY, UH, ACTIVE KICKBALL GAME OVER AT PARK TO PULL, PULL HIM OFF THE FIELD, BUT ALSO HER MOTHER'S, ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WAS THERE TO HELP HONOR HER ALSO.
SO, UH, PAULA, CONGRATULATIONS.
I THINK THE NOMINATION, UH, THAT, THAT GLADYS SHARED WITH EVERYONE WAS THE PERFECT DEPICTION OF THE, YOUR CARING NATURE, AND YOU'RE VERY, VERY WELL DESERVING OF THIS HONOR.
SHE HAS TO GET BACK TO DAY CAMP SITE
SO SUSAN, MAYBE, YEAH, I'LL LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER ALLEN HAS ARRIVED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE PHOTOGRAPH.
UH, UH, THANK YOU GLADYS, FOR THAT WONDERFUL REPORT, AND THANK YOU, PALOMA.
I GUESS SHE'S GONE ALREADY, BUT DOESN'T
NO, YOU HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION.
DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION? THE OPEN SPACE? OH, YES.
I, I, UM, KIND OF WATCHING MY STAFF OVER HERE IN TERMS OF, IS THAT EVERYTHING WORKING NOW? YES.
AS YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, WHENEVER WE HAD PRESENTATIONS FROM TIME TO TIME, WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY HURDLE TO GET OVER.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR DEPARTMENT'S, UH, PARTNERING CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR, UH, VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
SO WE'VE BEEN OUT SURVEYING THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR OUR OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT.
SO, UM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR COLLEAGUES AT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
I'M A PLANNER WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT UPDATE.
UM, I, THERE MAY BE NEW FACES, I THINK, UM, BUT I WAS LAST HERE IN 2023 OR APRIL.
UM, THIS PROCESS WAS UNIQUE IN THAT INSTEAD OF COMING TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS, WE SAID, LET'S DEVELOP A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR GOING OUT TO CONSULTANTS TOGETHER.
SO WE COLLECTED FEEDBACK, UM, FROM EVEN THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS THERE.
REMEMBER KAREN WAS THERE AS WELL, TO REALLY IDENTIFY WHAT IT IS WE WANNA PUT INTO A CONTRACT TO BEGIN THIS OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION UPDATE.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU NOW THAT WE HAVE KIND OF EMOTIONS AND SET PLANS AND SET AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU ALL TO KIND OF ENGAGE WITH US, UM, IN TERMS OF THIS OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT UPDATE AND OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
SO SINCE THE RP WE HAVE, UH, IDENTIFIED CONSULTANTS, UM, THIS, UH, PROJECT IS A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE IN THAT WE DECIDED TO GO WITH TWO CONSULTANTS, ONE, UM, WALLACE, ROBERTS, AND TODD, TO REALLY LEVERAGE THEIR TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE IN OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT UPDATE, AS WELL AS JUST GENERAL TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OPEN SPACES AND PARKS WORK, UM, TO DO THE TECHNICAL WORK.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, WORKED, UH, CONTRACTED THAT WITH KBI, WHICH IS A CONCLUDING DESIGN INITIATIVE AS THE CONSULTANT OVERSEEING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL SUB CONSULTANTS UNDER THAT, INCLUDING, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ACTIVISTS, ACTIVISTS WITHIN THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY THEMSELVES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, WHO HAVE DECIDED TO COME ON BOARD AS, UM, FORMAL, UH, ORGANIZATION TO HELP INFORM OUR PROCESS AS WELL.
THIS PARTNERSHIP, OF COURSE, CANNOT HAPPEN WITH THE PARKS RECREATION MARINE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF WORK WITH, UH,
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STAFF.I KNOW, UH, PARKS, RECREATION MARINE STAFF WORKED REALLY HARD WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES THEY DO.
SO SINCE THEY'RE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JOIN US IN OUR MEETINGS IN TRYING TO PULL, UH, THIS WORK TOGETHER.
PUBLIC WORKS IS INVOLVED AS WELL AS OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
SO WE ARE ENGAGING DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO JUST ENSURE THE CONSISTENCY AND ROBUSTNESS IN TERMS OF, UH, HOW WE OPERATE INTERNALLY AS WELL AS EXTERNALLY.
THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT, WHAT IS IT? IT'S A LONG TERM PO POLICY DOCUMENT PLANNED TO BE COMPREHENSIVE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF OPEN SPACE LAND AND DISCOURAGES THE PREMATURE UNNECESSARY CONVERSION OF OPEN SPACE LAND FOR URBAN USES.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK, WHAT IS OPEN SPACE LAND? IT IS ANY PARCEL OR AREA OF LAND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY UNAPPROVED AND DEVOTED TO OPEN SPACE USE THAT DEVOTED TO OPEN SPACE USE IS LAND THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS SUCH UNDER THE LAND USE ELEMENT.
AND SO UNDER STATE LAW, THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF OPEN SPACE, UM, THAT INCLUDES PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, MANAGED PRODUCTION OF RESOURCES, OUTDOOR RECREATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, UH, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND TRIBAL RESOURCES.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WORDS.
UM, BUT I, I LIKE TO ALSO BRING IT DOWN TO LIKE A MORE UNDERSTANDABLE LEVEL OF WHAT IS OPEN SPACE.
AND A LOT OF US OPEN SPACE IS NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, OUR WETLANDS, OUR COMMUNITY GARDENS, OUR TRAILS, OUR ECOLOGICAL RESERVES, AND OUR WATERS.
UH, THE OPEN SPACE ELEMENT TODAY, HOW IT'S USED IS IT GUIDES DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF OPEN SPACES THROUGH THE PERMITTING TALENT PROCESS.
OF COURSE, IT AFFECTS THE STAFFING PARTNER, PROFESSOR MARINE, HOW WE DO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND PUBLIC WORKS IS SO MUCH MORE, UH, AND IT IS ONE OF NINE ELEMENTS OF THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN MANDATED BY THE STATE.
SO WE ARE UPDATING THIS AND IT WILL HELP US MEET STATE REGULATIONS AS AS TO DO SO.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA MENTION THAT IT'S NOT A DOCUMENT THAT REGULATES THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF PRM.
SO, PRM HAS THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT, UM, REGULATES AND OVERSEES WHAT THEY DO AND OUTLINES WHAT YOU ALL DO IN YOUR DAY TO DAY.
UM, AND IT, IT DOES NOT PROGRAM FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
SO, UH, BUT PUBLIC WORKS HAS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET.
THERE'S ELEVATE 28 AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL THAT WAS ADOPTED.
SO THERE'S VARIOUS, UH, PROJECTS, UH, AND PLANS IN PLACE THAT, UM, THIS OPEN SPACE ELEMENT IS VERY SMALL PIECE OF IT THAT REGULATES LAND USE.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, WE ALL HAVE OTHER REASONS WHY WE WANT UPDATE SENATE BILL 1425 REQUEST UPDATE ELEMENTS BY JANUARY 1ST, 2026.
UM, AS TO START OUR PROCESS FOR ELEMENT UPDATE, UM, THIS IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.
SO WE ARE WORKING WITH, UM, TO DO OUR OWN RESOURCES, WE NEED TO DO THIS UPDATE.
UM, IN THE MAYOR'S A HUNDRED DAY PLAN, UM, THERE WAS A CALL FOR THE OPEN SPACE RECREATION ELEMENT UPDATE, FOCUSING ON RESIDENT ACCESSIBILITY AND THE LONG BEACH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH CALLS EXPAND, UH, ENHANCE GREEN SPACE, PARTICULARLY PARKS AND GREEN SPACE AND COMMUNITIES MOST VULNERABLE TO EXTREME HEAT AND AIR QUALITY CLIMATE IMPACT.
UM, AND I, WE ALWAYS WANNA SAY THAT WE ARE NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH.
WE ARE BUILDING ON, THERE WAS A BUS OUTREACH FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT
UM, AND OUR, UH, OPEN SPACE ELEMENT WASN'T, HAS LAST UPDATED IN 2002.
SO THIS YEAR'S, UM, OPEN SPACE SPACE ELEMENT UPDATES GIVES US A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.
UH, THE OPEN SPACE RECREATION ELEMENT ITSELF, UM, HAS MANY STATE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, WE, WE TRY TO BUNDLE THEM UP INTO THESE CATEGORIES TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER.
UM, THEY INCLUDE HEALTH, WHICH INCLUDES ACCESS FROM STORES, THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, UM, PUBLIC HEALTHY SAFETY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE RECREATION THAT INCLUDES OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES, PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS, OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF THOSE IN, IN HOW WE SEE THAT AS A SYSTEM.
FINANCIAL RESILIENCE, OPEN SPACE RESOURCES, UM, INCLUDING THE OPEN SPACES THAT I'VE DEFINED BEFORE.
UM, AND OF COURSE THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, THE SUB CATEGORIES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, BUT THAT, THAT IS TO SAY THAT THERE ARE LOCAL GOALS THAT WE WANNA ACCOMPLISH THAT WILL, UH, WILL INTEGRATE INTO THE, UH, PLAN AS WELL.
SO THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, WE WANT TO MEET THE CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF TODAY, UM, AND THE PLAN PROFIT PROCESS AT WAYS TO EXPAND, IMPROVE ACCESS, ENSURE ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, MAKE OUR CLEAN SPACES MORE CLIENT READY, AND ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH EXISTING PLANS, INCLUDING HOUSING AND LAND USE ELEMENTS.
WE ALWAYS WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY OF REDLINING.
SO, UH, HOW WE LOOK AT OUR URBAN FABRIC TODAY AND HOW WE HAVE
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INVESTED HISTORICALLY HAS, HAS LED TO A LOT OF, UH, DISPARITIES IN TERMS OF UNEVEN OPEN SPACE ACCESS.SO THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, NUANCE THAT WE WANNA ADDRESS THAT WE TOOK FROM OUR HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMENT AND HOW WE'LL BE THINKING ABOUT EQUITY AS A THROUGH LINE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
THERE ARE PRIORITY AREAS IN WHICH COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THESE AREAS HAVE, UM, PERSISTENTLY HAD PEER, UH, QUALITY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, AS WELL AS BEING LEFT OUT OF THE PLANNING PROCESS.
SO WE WANNA BRING PLANNING TO THEM, MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND PROVIDING RESOURCES IN THE MOST ACCESSIBLE WAY POSSIBLE.
UM, THE GOAL OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS TO CONDUCT ROBUST OUTREACH THAT EMPOWERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP SAVE THE, UH, OPEN SPACE ELEMENT AND CITY'S PRIORITIES.
AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MORE ABOUT THAT.
WE WANNA WORK CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BUILD CAPACITY AND LEADERSHIP, TO BE INVOLVED IN PARKS OF OPEN SPACE DECISION MAKING AND RESOURCE PRIORITIZATION.
WE WANNA CENTER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSITIONALLY LEFT BEHIND AND INFORMATION WE SHARE, QUESTIONS WE ASK AND OUTCOMES ACHIEVE.
SO HERE'S A TIMELINE, UM, OF WHERE WE, WE'VE COME, UM, WINTER IN 20 20, 24 TO 2025 IS WHEN WE LAUNCHED OFF
WE STARTED A LOT OF INTERNAL WORK ABOUT HOW DO WE COME, COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP, ALLOCATE TIME, UM, IDENTIFY WHO ARE THE KEY PLAYERS TO REALLY HELP US GET THE WORK, UH, WORK, UH, PROGRAM STARTED.
UM, AND AS WELL AS STARTING EXISTING CONDITIONS VIRTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS EXISTING, UM, AND ASSESS HOW WE CAN, UM, BUILD ON TOP OF THAT TO ACHIEVE WHAT THE GOALS OF THAT WE MAY INTEGRATE INTO THE PLAN ITSELF.
UM, IN, WE HAVE LAUNCHED A SURVEY TO, UH, GATHER COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
IT IS A LONG SURVEY, I'LL SAY THAT, BUT PLEASE TAKE THE SURVEY BECAUSE THE INTENT IS THAT IT IS LENGTHY TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE DEPTH OF HOW YOU EXPERIENCE OPEN SPACE WITHIN YOUR LIVES TO COMPARE TO NATIONAL BENCHMARK METRICS SO THAT WE, WE CAN EASILY GO AFTER, MORE EASILY GO AFTER FUNDING GRANTS TO HELP, UM, US KEEP OUR PARKS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS A REALLY, UH, FUN OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S A REALLY RESIDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM.
AND SO IN AN EFFORT TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS, UM, WE ARE HEARING A RESIDENT LEADERSHIP THAT TEAM THAT IS OPEN TO ANYONE CITYWIDE.
BUT WE WANT THE MOST, UM, WIDE RANGE PERSPECTIVES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO MAY LIVE IN, UM, IN AREAS WITH, UH, LACKING OF PARK ACCESS AND THE RESIDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL BE PROVIDING WITH RESOURCES TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND HOW ALL OF THIS WORKS TO REALLY EMPOWER THEMSELVES TO CONTINUE TO EMPOWER THEMSELVES AND PROVIDE ADVOCATES FOR, UH, TO TALK AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AS WELL AS SETTING, JUST TYING UP, UH, SETTING SPECIFIC TIMES FOR US TO RECEIVE INPUT ON THE DIFFERENT STEPS WE HAVE, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, THE ADMIN DRAFT, UM, AND ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT THE SURVEY CLOSES ON AUGUST 15TH, UM, AND THE, UH, RESIDENT LEADERSHIP ACT TEAM APPLICATION IS CURRENTLY OPEN.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR COMMUNITY GROUPS AS YOU, UM, ARE ABLE TO, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THE COMMUNITY SURVEY, WE'LL USE THAT ANALYSIS TO REALLY, UH, BUILD UPON THAT FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS TO DEVELOP THOSE POLICIES, GOALS, AND PROGRAMMING.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE TO THEN DEVELOP A TRACK, WE STILL HAVE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND THAT, THAT COMES AFTER A LARGE PART OF THIS REVIEW.
'CAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE ACTUALLY WANT TO DO IN OPEN SPACE ELEMENT BEFORE WE COMPLY WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
AND THEN IDEALLY, WE'RE AIMING FOR ADOPTION EARLY SUMMER OF 2026.
UM, SO HERE'S THE QR CODE FOR THE COMMUNITY SURVEY.
UM, THE SURVEY GUIDE CLOSES AUGUST 15TH.
WE HAVE ON OUR PROJECT WEBSITE REGULAR UPDATES ON, UM, EVENTS AND COMMISSIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO, UH, TO BE ENGAGED.
THE ROT APPLICATION IS ALSO THERE AND AVAILABLE IF YOU WANT TO, UM, SIGN UP OR DISTRIBUTE IT.
UM, WE HAVE AN INTERESTED PARTIES LIST, SO IF YOU WANNA SIGN UP, UH, I, ME AND MY TEAM OVERSEE, UH, A LISTSERV THAT WE MANAGE OURSELVES.
THERE'S NO SOFTWARE TO OVERSEE IT.
WE DO IT, WE EMAIL YOU, WE CORRECT ALL THE INCORRECT EMAILS THAT WE PUT IN OR TRY TO GET, ENGAGE WITH YOU ALL REACH OUT TO YOU.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENTS AND INQUIRIES AT THIS EMAIL, CD LONG BEACH.
AND THAT WAS, UH, MY PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER TRAVIS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION.
AND IT'S, UH, KIND OF SURPRISING TO SEE THAT IT WOULD LAST UPDATED IN 2002.
UH, I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THAT TIME,
I KNOW A LOT OF CITIES HATE UNFUNDED MANDATES AND, UH, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT AND GET THAT,
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BUT DEFINITELY, UH, A WAY OVERDUE TO UPDATE THIS.ONE THING I DID WANT TO SAY IS I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HOW IN THIS PLAN THAT YOU, THAT THE PROCESSES ELEVATING THE ROLE OF, UH, RED LINING, UH, PARTICULARLY HOW, YOU KNOW, EVEN TODAY, EVEN THOUGH RED LINING WAS ENDED FORMALLY A LONG TIME AGO, A LOT OF OUR PLANNING DECISIONS ARE STILL DEEPLY, DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THAT.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, OUR CITIES WERE DESIGNED AROUND REDLINING FOR, UH, IN A LARGE PART.
AND, UH, SO WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH LEGACY OF THAT TODAY.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT BEING RECOGNIZED AND THAT BEING ELEVATED IN THIS, UH, PENDING PROCESS.
UH, ONE QUESTION I DID HAVE IS ON THE PRIORITY AREAS.
UM, SO IN THE CENTRAL AREA, THERE'S A BIG PART OF THE WRIGLEY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRIORITY AREA.
COULD YOU, IS THAT BASED OFF OF CAL VIRUS SCREEN SCORES OR, OKAY, GOT IT.
SO, UM, JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
SO CAVI SCREEN IS A TOOL DEVELOPED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARD ASSESSMENT, UH, THAT LOOKS AT SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS, POLLUTION IMPACTS, ET CETERA, SOCIOECONOMIC VULNERABILITIES.
SO I, I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THAT, UH, THAT GAP WAS ABOUT, BUT IF, IF YOU MAY BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THAT STUFF.
YEAH, SO LIKE YOU SAID, IT REALLY IS BASED ON HELEN BY SCREEN, UM, TO REALLY IDENTIFY THE PRIORITY AREAS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THESE AREAS.
BUT THERE, THAT IS TO SAY THAT THERE'S STILL COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE AREAS.
WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT IS SUPER FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY, UM, ORGANIZATIONS AT THIS TIME FOR, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, RIGHT? AND SO WE WANT THE MOST OUT OF THE TIME WE HAVE WITH, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR FREE TIME TO VOLUNTEER WITH US.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, WHAT WE WENT OUT WITH LATINOS IN ACTION WITH A LOT GOING ON.
THERE WAS GENERAL FEAR ABOUT, UM, CONGREGATING MEETING, BUT IN SPITE OF THAT, THERE WAS JUST THIS AMAZING, UH, TURNOUT.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SURVEY, FACILITATE THE SURVEY IN SPANISH, AND MOST OF THOSE RESIDENTS WERE FROM THESE PRIORITY AREAS.
UM, AND AS WELL AS OUTSIDE OF THOSE AREAS.
IN ADDITION, WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF OUTREACH IN, UM, ACCESSIBLE AREAS OUTSIDE OF THESE AREAS.
BUT I HIGHLIGHT THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WANNA ELEVATE COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE INCREASED ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEEDBACK BECAUSE IT IS ESSENTIALLY HARDER TO, UM, REACH COMMUNITIES WHEN THERE'S A LACK OF RESOURCES.
YEAH, SEAN, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, COULD YOU SHARE A FEW WAYS JUST FOR US AND ALSO THE PUBLIC THAT THE WAYS THIS SURVEY'S BEING DISTRIBUTED SURE.
BEYOND KIND OF ATTENDING COMMUNITY, MAYBE MEETING? YEAH, SO THE, WE HAVE A SUB CONSULTANT THAT IS IN, IN CHARGE OF, UM, PURCHASING AND, UH, DOING DIGITAL ADS AND PLACEMENT.
AND SO THAT HAS BEEN A LARGE PART OF IT.
THEY'RE ALSO BEING MAILED TO RANDOMLY SELECTED, UM, HOMES SO THAT THEY'RE DISTRIBUTED EVENLY THROUGHOUT AND REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY ACROSS DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS.
SO THEN WE HAVE THAT ONE KIND OF WAY OF OUTREACH.
WE OF COURSE, LIKE YOU SAID, ARE DOING COMMISSION MEETINGS, DOING OUTREACH, DOING A LOT OF TABLING AND POPUPS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST EMBEDDING OURSELVES IN EXISTING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND REGULAR MEETINGS, BUT THEN ALSO GOING TO OPPORTUNITIES LIKE AOC SEVEN'S, UM, BUCKETS FOR BOOKS, UM, GOING TO, UH, WE'RE GOING TO MOVIES IN THE PARKS SOON.
SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ENGAGE AND IF YOU HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES YOU'D LIKE TO SEE US AT, WE'LL DO OUR BEST, UM, TO ATTEND ALL OF THOSE AS WELL.
THE WEEKEND, ME AND MY STAFF, UM, I HAVE ON MY TEAM, YOUNG MOMS THAT ARE TAKING TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES TO WORK AFTER HOURS ON THEIR WEEKENDS TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS ROBUST OUTREACH.
SO THERE'S A DIVERSE WAYS, UM, AND THEN THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE, THE PRESS ONCOMING, UM, RELATED TO RADIO INTERVIEWS.
SO THERE'S, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO DIVER MAKE THE RANGE OF HOW WE OUTREACH MORE DIVERSE.
CAN I ADD ONTO THAT QUESTION REAL QUICK? UM, YOU MENTIONED KIND OF AS AN ASIDE THAT IT WAS A LONG SURVEY, UM MM-HMM
OBVIOUSLY I CLEARLY BY MY QUESTION, I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT YET.
LIKE, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW LONG IT TAKES? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, THAT THAT COULD BE A BARRIER FOR SOME, SOME PEOPLE, YEAH.
WHEN WE DID THE ORIGINAL DRAFT, WE GOT AN AVERAGE OF 15 MINUTES.
UM, BUT PEOPLE MAY TAKE LONGER 'CAUSE IT MAY TAKE TIME TO REVIEW OR PEOPLE, UM, THERE'S MAYBE TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS OR MANY OTHER, SO SOME PEOPLE I EXPERIENCED MAYBE 20 MINUTES, SO 15 MINUTES IS THE AVERAGE.
UM, AND I, I TOOK THE SURVEY MYSELF AND IT WAS ABOUT 15 MINUTES OR LESS.
AND I'M SURE YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A CONSULTANT WHO'S SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT IS
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A LONG SURVEY IN TERMS OF HOW LONG PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO KIND OF STAND AROUND IF, ESPECIALLY IF THAT THEY'RE AT ANOTHER ACTIVITY AND THEY'VE GOT LITTLE KIDS RUNNING AROUND AND THAT SORT OF THING.IS, IS THERE ANY SENSE OF HERE IS A STRIPPED DOWN, LIKE 10 QUESTION VERSION OF IT JUST TO GET THE BIG IDEAS? OR IS THAT NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO? YEAH, SO THAT, ACTUALLY YOU BRING UP A GREAT POINT, WHICH IS THE REASON WHY WE, UM, FOCUS ON GOING TO MEETINGS THAT ARE REGULAR.
BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PLANNED IN THEIR REGULAR SCHEDULE, LET'S SAY AN HOUR TO THEIR, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT WITHIN THAT HOUR, IF YOU'RE DEDICATED TO BEING THERE, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO SIT DOWN AND TAKE THE SURVEY.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE FOCUS IN ON IT.
UM, IN TERMS OF A MORE PARED DOWN SURVEY, UM, HOW WE'LL ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THAT IS, UM, PEOPLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR TABLE IN OUR POPUPS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY WANTING TO TAKE THE ENTIRE SURVEY THERE.
UM, WE HAVE, WE, WE CAN SOMETIMES GO THROUGH THE QUESTIONS AND SAY LIKE, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT KIND OF COME UP TO YOU, WE'LL HAND WRITE THEM AND WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THEM IN.
SO THAT'S PRIMARILY THE MAIN REASON, BUT WE DO WANT TO TRY OUR BEST TO ENCOURAGE THE MOST, UM, QUESTION, QUESTIONS ANSWERED FOR THAT SURVEY AS POSSIBLE.
I DID TAKE IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AS I RECALL.
AND IF YOU KNOW ME, I HAVE A TENDENCY, NOT ALWAYS, BUT SOMETIMES TO BE A LITTLE VERBOSE AND WANT TO BE A LITTLE NUANCED.
AND AS I RECALL IT, IT WAS LIKE MANY SURVEYS YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO, TO REALLY ANSWER HOW YOU WANTED TO, YOU HAD TO KIND OF PICK THE BEST KIND OF ANSWER.
I WISH THERE WERE MORE OPEN-ENDED POSSIBILITIES AS I RECALL.
SO, UM, BEING THERE IN PERSON IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO GET YOUR, YOUR ACTUAL THOUGHTS ACROSS.
AND IT WAS A WHILE AGO THAT I TOOK IT, BUT I DO KIND OF REMEMBER THAT FRUSTRATION.
I THINK THE INTENTION WITH, WHEN YOU DO RANKINGS, IT'S KIND OF OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR RESOURCES OR WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHICH ONES YOU'RE PRIORITIZING IN TERMS OF THE CABINET IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHEN WE HAVE THE STATS OF WHAT IS IT THAT COMMUNITY RESIDENTS MOST NEED, THAT'S A BETTER WAY TO KIND OF IDENTIFY HERE ARE THE RANKINGS.
THAT ISN'T TO SAY THAT WE'RE TAKING RESOURCES AWAY FROM ANOTHER, BUT HERE'S THE GREATEST NEED.
UM, AND THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, GRANT APPLICATIONS TO, TO IDENTIFY LIKE, HEY, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WAS RANKED HIGHEST.
UM, SO IN BY NO MEANS IS THERE, IS THAT A REASON TO, UM, TO SAY THAT THE REST OF THE RANKINGS OR MAYBE THINGS THAT ARE LOWER AND RANKED AREN'T DESIRABLE.
UM, AND I AGAIN, WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE ANY AND ALL FEEDBACK.
SO IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE VERBOSE, VERBOSE, I WILL RECEIVE ANY, ANYTHING YOU HAVE.
OH, YOU DUNNO,
UM, ON, UH, SLIDE EIGHT, UH, UNDER THE FRAMEWORK OF FOUR AREAS, OBVIOUSLY I UNDERSTAND HEALTH, RECREATION, OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, BUT UNDER OPEN SPACE RESOURCES, WHAT IS MANAGED PRODUCTION OF RESOURCES MEAN? SO A LOT OF OTHER CITIES MAY HAVE, UM, PRODUCTION OF RESOURCES.
I BELIEVE IT RELATES TO LIKE TIMBER PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.
SO NOT ALL OF THESE MAY APPLY TO US, BUT WE DO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE A MINIMUM WITHIN THE INVENTORY.
BECAUSE WHEN WE INVENTORY EACH PIECE OF OUR LAND IN THE LAND USE ELEMENT, THEN THAT DESIGNATES THEM AS OPEN SPACE.
AND THERE'S VERY LIMITED FUTURE DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT GOES BEYOND WHAT OPEN SPACE ZONING ALLOWS.
AND THAT'S THE POWER OF OPEN SPACE ELEMENT.
OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
UM, JUST GOING BACK TO THE SURVEY QUESTIONS,
SO IF IT'S A, IF IT'S A SCALED SURVEY ONLINE, HOW DO THOSE GET ADDED INTO THE AGGREGATED, LIKE TOTAL AT THE END OF THE DAY? YEAH.
IF THEY'RE WRITTEN, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE, BUT, UM, OUR, UH, SUB CONSULTANTS, WE, WHEN, WHEN ANYTHING'S HANDWRITTEN, WE TAKE THE TIME TO UPLOAD IT DIGITALLY OURSELVES.
UM, AND THEN THAT IS CONSIDERED IN THE METRICS OF IT.
I'LL BE HONEST, I'M NOT A STATISTICIAN, BUT THERE IS A WAY THAT THEY DO IT WHERE THEY MEASURE MARKET AND IDENTIFY, UM, INCOMPLETE SURVEYS.
AND THEN, UH, TO GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT HAS THE PRIORITY AREAS ON IT, TWO QUESTIONS ON THAT IS, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS A LONG SURVEY AND IT IS PROBABLY HIGHLY TECHNICAL, UM, 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LIKE USUALLY UNDERREPRESENTED AND STRUGGLE TO MAYBE UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE THINGS.
UM, AND THAT ARE MONOLINGUAL IN LOT OF CASES, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO GET THEM LIKE READY FOR THE SURVEY ESSENTIALLY? RIGHT? YEAH.
BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES KNOW WHAT THEY WANT INTERNALLY, WHAT WHAT WORKS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
BUT WORKING A 15 MINUTE SURVEY WITH A TON OF QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF PROBABLY CITY JARGON, UM, MAY NOT ALWAYS GIVE THE BEST RESULTS ALSO.
[00:30:01]
DOING ANYTHING TO LIKE PREP THE COMMUNITY FOR WHAT'S IN THE SURVEY IF THEY NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING BEFORE THEY GET THERE, TYPE OF, UH, PREPARATION? YEAH, SO THE, THE SURVEY ITSELF WENT THROUGH A LOT OF ITERATIONS IN WHICH WE TRIED TO REMOVE ANY JARGON.UM, WHEN YOU TAKE THE SURVEY, IT REALLY SHOULD REFLECT QUESTIONS THAT LIKE, SPEAK TO YOUR EVERYDAY, UM, IN TERMS OF THE LANGUAGES, WE TRANSLATED THE SURVEYS INTO THE FOUR LANGUAGES, SO THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WE DO HAVE OUR CONSULTANTS ACT AS FACILITATORS IN THOSE SPACES.
AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO HAVE ON ON HAND LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS.
SO WE WILL, WE ANTICIPATE BRINGING THEM TO THE EVENTS WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE,
UM, AND MY LAST QUESTION WAS, WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF SURVEY RESULTS? BECAUSE WE, I MEAN, WE KNOW THOSE AREAS ARE ALSO HARD TO REACH IN TERMS OF GETTING SURVEY RESULTS.
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES, LIKE IN THESE DILEMMAS, LIKE EAST LONG BEACH MIGHT ALWAYS OVERPOWER BECAUSE FOLKS ARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO TAKE THOSE SURVEYS.
SO IS THERE A PHYSICAL NUMBER OF SURVEY RESPONSES THAT THAT IS SUCCESS? IS THERE A PERCENTAGE OF OVERALL COMING OUT OF THOSE PRIORITY AREAS THAT REPRESENT SUCCESS? YEAH, SO OUR, UM, SUB CONSULTANTS WILL LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, UM, WHICH INCLUDES, I, I BELIEVE ZIP CODES.
SO THAT WILL HELP IDENTIFY GEOGRAPHIC MEANS OF UNDERSTANDING.
UM, AND AS WELL AS, UH, THE, THE, THE SURVEY THEMSELVES, UM, THEY, I'M TRYING TO PUT THIS IN THE RIGHT WAY.
UM, IN THE AREAS WHERE WE ARE MOST OUTREACHING, AND THESE ARE CRITICAL, UM, WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR CONSULTANTS IS IT'S QUALITY OVER NUMBERS AND WHICH PRE WE WANT THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
BUT THE INTERACTION OF ED, OF TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE, WHAT THIS IS, UM, AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ON WHAT THE OPEN SPACE IS 'CAUSE IT IS THIS LIKE VERY TECHNICAL PLAN AND BRINGING IT DOWN I THINK IS JUST AS KEY.
UM, SO OUR SUB CONSULTANTS ARE AIMING FOR AT LEAST 500 RESPONSES IN WHICH THEY HAVE TO ACHIEVE DIGITALLY.
AND THEN OUR OTHER SUB CONSULTANTS WHO ARE COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WHO ENGAGE AND COLLECT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THEY, UM, HAVE, UH, METRICS FOR WHAT THEY WANNA DO IN IN-PERSON SETTINGS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO REACH 166, UM, PEOPLE.
UM, AND IF YOU'VE EVER TAKEN A CITY SURVEY, I'VE SEEN THE RESULTS OF CITY SURVEY THAT'S PRETTY HIGH AND OF COURSE WE WANNA GO MORE.
SO IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT IT IS A LOT IN TERMS OF GETTING, WANT TO SIT DOWN.
AND ARE THOSE NUMBERS PRIORITY AREA NUMBERS OR CITYWIDE? CITYWIDE.
YEAH, SORRY FOR THE SECOND QUESTION.
UH, OR IN, IN COMMENTS FIRST ON THE COMMENT.
I DO ALSO WANT TO SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, TRUST MY APPRECIATION FOR, UH, THE STA CITY STAFF BEING, UH, SENSITIVE TO SOME OF THE, UH, CHALLENGES, IT'S CONCERNS FACING, LIKE SPANISH SPEAKING POPULATIONS AND, UH, CERTAINLY IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF UNDERSTANDABLE DISTRUST OF ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AT THE MOMENT.
UM, SO BEING ABLE TO BUILD THAT SORT OF RELATIONSHIP AND BEING SENSITIVE TO THOSE CONCERNS IS, IS COMMENDABLE AND CERTAINLY ENCOURAG TO SAY, TO CONTINUE DOING THAT AND FINDING A WAY TO, TO GET THAT POPULATION TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.
ONE QUESTION I DID HAVE, AND ACTUALLY CHAIR REDFIELD COMMENT BROUGHT THIS UP ABOUT THE MANAGED PRODUCTION RESOURCES.
I DO THINK THAT THERE IS ONE PARTICULAR PART THAT MIGHT BE IMPACTED OR MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, REQUIRE MORE DISCUSSION.
THAT'S WILLOW SPRINGS PARK BECAUSE YOU HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A CONCRETE AGGREGATE FACILITY ON PARK, YOU KNOW, IN THE PARK SPACE YOU HAVE, UH, COMPOSTING, YOU HAVE FARM LOT 59, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE CERTAINLY THE COMPOSTING, THE FARM LOT 59, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE REALLY TIED INTO KIND OF THE PARKS IDENTITY AND THE BEEKEEPERS ARE THERE.
SO I DO THINK THAT THERE, THERE MIGHT BE SOME ATTENTION BEING TO BE PAID FOR THAT, JUST GIVEN THE, THE CURRENT KIND OF VARIED USES OF THE PARK SPACE, UH, IN KIND OF MAINTAINING THE THINGS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY VISION OF THAT PARTICULAR PARK.
UH, AGAIN, LIKE, YOU KNOW, MY OPINION BEEKEEPERS AND THE, THE, THE, UH, THE COMPOSTING FROM 1 59 AND LOOKING AT THINGS WHICH MAY NOT, THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE, THAT MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE LONG TERM VISION FOR THAT PARK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PRISON.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, KAREN? UM, WE DISCOVERED WE'RE WORKING WITH ONE OF THE CONSULTANTS.
WE DISCOVERED SOME OF THE OLDER PEOPLE ARE NOT LITERATE IN SPANISH.
THEY COULDN'T READ THE SURVEY.
SO I WANNA POINT THAT OUT AS A, AND WE DID, WE COLLECTED 35 SURVEYS WITHIN TWO DAYS FROM THE SENIOR CENTER.
[00:35:01]
ARE VERY INTERESTED IN PROVIDING THEIR INPUT.AND WE DID A SIMILAR SURVEY TO SCAGS.
SO I'LL SHARE THAT WITH YOU LAST YEAR.
AND WE DID HAVE A STATISTICIAN WORK ON THE COURT.
OH, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GREAT PANTHERS.
WELL, AS, AS I STARTED TO SAY THIS, UH, UH, PRESENTATION, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND IT WAS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO THIS COMMISSION, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME.
AND WE, WE MAY HAVE HAD MORE QUESTIONS THAN OTHERS AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT GOES RIGHT TO THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.
COMMISSIONER, RECOGNIZE WE GOT SOME, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WAS ONLINE AT THIS CENTER.
YEAH, WE DID GET SOME PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS THAT WAS PUT ONLINE.
IS THAT RIGHT? FROM DIANA LEVINE RELATED TO THIS ISSUE? YEAH.
SO FOR CARLENE EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, I THINK YOU'RE BEING SO ARTICULATE AND CONFIDENT IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS VERY REASSURING.
I KNOW THE CITY PUT SURVEYS OUT QUITE OFTEN AND I WAS GLAD THE QUESTION RAISED ABOUT HOW DO YOU JUDGE SUCCESS? 'CAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE DID OUR NORTH LONG BEACH POOL FEASIBILITY STUDY AND OUR CITYWIDE SKATE PARK FEASIBILITY STUDY, WE, WE PUT IN EQUIVALENT EFFORTS.
AND WHEN WE KIND OF, I THOUGHT BRAGGED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE, WE HAD CRITICS SAYING, WELL, OUT OF A HALF A MILLION RESIDENTS, YOU THINK THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE.
BUT I, I FIND SOME, I GUESS, CONFIDENCE IN THE CONSULTANT GROUP.
IF THEY'VE HIT SOME THRESHOLD BENCHMARKS THAT THEY FEEL WOULD BE CREDIBLE, THEN UH, THEN I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
BUT I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY WE WERE SO HAPPY WITH A COUPLE SCORES OR A COUPLE HUNDRED SURVEYS WHEN WE PUT SO MUCH EFFORT IN.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE SO INVOLVED IN THIS.
I DO WANT TO ASK, I SAW WHERE THE SURVEY CLOSES IN AUGUST, AUGUST 15TH.
AND THEN WHEN YOU THINK IT MAYBE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE TO COME BACK TO THIS COMMISSION, JUST SO WE CAN MAYBE ANTICIPATE THAT WE ARE GONNA BE ON OCCASION, UM, SCHEDULING A COMMISSION MEETING OUT AT DIFFERENT PARK FACILITIES.
UH, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR A PRESENTATION LIKE THIS, THIS SPACE IS THE MOST CONDUCIVE, I THINK.
BUT THAT WOULD JUST BE A CURIOUS QUESTION I HAD FOR THE, THE OCTOBER OR EARLY 2026.
I WASN'T SURE IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, IDEALLY WAY EARLIER THAN 2026.
BUT, UM, SOMETIME AFTER THE SURVEY, WE DO WANNA BRING, EVERY TIME I COME TO A COMMISSION, I WANNA BRING ACTIONABLE ITEMS TO YOU ALL.
UM, AND SO IDEALLY THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE TAKEN IN AND THEY'RE ANALYZED AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROB PROBABLY DEVELOP THE ACTUAL POLICIES THAT WILL BE IN HERE.
UM, SO TALKING ABOUT LIKELY THE NEXT STEPS ARE WORKSHOPS AND HAVING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE.
SO I CAN CERTAINLY, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE, WE WORK TOGETHER TO, UH, PROMOTE THAT OPPORTUNITY AS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS ENGAGE ON FEEDBACK FOR, UM, THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE THAT GOES IN THE OPEN SPACE ELEMENT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT THEN THAT PRESENTATION.
AND NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
AND I'M GOING TO, UH, UM, GO TO ITEM TWO ONE, NO.
RECEIVE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD.
CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING FEE AND CHANGES FOR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS, AND THE USE OF PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
UM, DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION? YOU HAVE TO READ THAT, UH, THE MOTION.
DO WE HAVE TO READ IT AFTER THE, I THINK YOU HAVE TO READ THAT TO OPEN THE HEARING.
UH, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, AND THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE IS A FEE HEARING.
I WILL NOW OPEN THE HEAR FEE HEARING AT 9:45 AM THANK YOU.
SO, UM, ON MAYBE A MORE COMMON WEEK, UH, WHICH DOESN'T INCLUDE THE BUSYNESS OF SUMMER VACATIONS, UH, STEVE AND SCOTT, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR WHO OVERSEES BUSINESS OPERATIONS WOULD, UH, HANDLE THIS ITEM.
BUT WE'RE PLEASED THAT JANICE MCMULLEN IS HERE OF OUR BUSINESS OPS, UH, DEPARTMENT TO HELP ADDRESS THAT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY CHARTER PROVIDES THIS COMMISSION WITH THE STATED AUTHORITY TO APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL
[00:40:01]
FEES OF A RECREATION NATURE.SO ON A REGULAR BASIS, WE BRING FORWARD A LIST OF PROPOSED FEE CHANGES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TO RECOVER AT LEAST PARTIALLY THE COST OF PROVIDING OUR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO APPROVE SAID FEE CHANGES EACH YEAR.
AS PART OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BUDGET ADOPTION PROCESS, THE CITY CALCULATES A CITY COST INDEX OR A CCI, WHICH ESCALATES FEES BASED ON THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
THE RATE IS THEN APPLIED TO APPLICABLE FEES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
THE CCI RATE FOR FY 26 IS PROPOSED AT 6.6899999999999995% CONSISTENT WITH CITY DIRECTION.
THE DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING A CCI RATE INCREASE FOR A MAJORITY OF ITS GENERAL FUNDED RECREATION FEES AS THE COST OF DELIVERING SERVICES RISES.
THE CCI ADJUSTMENT ENSURES THAT, UM, OUR REVENUE INCREASE COINCIDES AND SUSTAINS OUR PREVIOUS LEVELS OF COST RECOVERY.
WITHOUT THE ADJUSTMENT, THE CITY WOULD NEED TO INCREASE ITS SUBSIDY FOR FEE RELATED SERVICES AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER SERVICES.
NOT ALL FEES ARE CHANGED BY CCI.
SOME FEES MAY BE EXEMPT FROM CCI.
EXAMPLES ARE THINGS THAT ARE SET BY THE MUNICIPAL CODE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THE DEPARTMENT EVALUATES ITS FEES, FACE FEES TO DETERMINE IF CCI OR ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT SHOULD APPLY BASED ON THIS EVALUATION.
FEES CAN BE INCREASED, DECREASED, RESTRUCTURED, OR REMAIN UNCHANGED.
SO WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FEES AREN'T AN ARTIFICIAL BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
FOR TODAY'S FEE HEARING, YOU WILL FIND A LIST OF PROPOSED FEE CHANGES IN ATTACHMENT A.
THERE ARE 284 FEES PROPOSED TO CHANGE BY CCI.
AS A REMINDER, THAT RATE IS 6.6899999999999995% FOR FY 26.
THERE ARE FIVE FEES PROPOSED TO INCREASE ABOVE CCI OR BE RESTRUCTURED.
OF THOSE FIVE THREE ARE FORFEIT FEES FOR BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, AND VOLLEYBALL.
AND THEY'RE PROPOSED TO INCREASE TO ACHIEVE FULL COST RECOVERY OF, UM, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT WE PAY THE OFFICIALS, UH, ONE FEE IS PROPOSED TO BE RESTRUCTURED.
UH, THIS IS THE ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD MONITORING STAFF FEE.
SO THE FEE IS $30 PER HOUR FOR STAFF.
IT IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE BY CCI TO 32, BUT IT'S BEEN RESTRUCTURED TO INCLUDE THE COST OF TWO STAFF FOR A TOTAL HOURLY COST OF 64.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS WOULD BE USED IN CASES WHERE EDUCATION AND NOTIFICATIONS AREN'T HEATED BY THE USER GROUPS.
THE FIFTH PROPOSED FEE TO INCREASE BY MORE THAN CCI IS THE LIFEGUARD STAFF FEE.
THIS ADJUSTMENT ENSURES THAT THE FEE IS APPLIED CONSISTENTLY ACROSS ALL COMMUNITY POOLS AND FUNDS.
THERE ARE ALSO TWO NEW FEES PROPOSED FOR, UM, GROUP RENTALS AT COMMUNITY POOLS.
THERE'S CURRENTLY NO FEE IN PLACE FOR A HALF POOL RENTAL.
THE NEW FEE RATE IS THE SAME AS THE EXISTING, UH, RENTAL FEE FOR A WHOLE POOL, BUT AT HALF THE RATE.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, THERE ARE 69 FEES UNDER THE COMMISSION THAT ARE PROPOSED TO REMAIN UNCHANGED.
UM, THIS, UH, SOME OF THOSE ARE LIKE USER FEES, CEMETERY FEES, UM, GATE ENTRY FEES.
SO, UH, WITH THESE CHANGES PROPOSED STAFF ESTIMATES, IT WILL RESULT IN APPROXIMATELY $168,295 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE GENERAL FUND.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL AS YOUR MANAGER PLA KAISER.
SO, QUESTIONS? YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION ON THE FEES.
I DO HAVE SOME PHILOSOPHICAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE, BUT ON THE ARTIFICIAL TURF FEE, DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT THAT IS ONLY APPLIED IF, IF YOU'VE HAD A PREVIOUS ISSUE? SO THAT THAT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY THAT USES THE FEE.
THAT'S IF YOU'VE HAD A PREVIOUS, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE MONITORS ON IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO COMMENTS THEN LET ME, LET ME JUST MAKE MY PHILOSOPHICAL COMMENT IF I COULD
UM, SO I ALWAYS STRUGGLE WITH THE RESIDENT, NON-RESIDENT.
AND WE STARTED THIS IN GOLF 35 YEARS AGO WHERE WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD HAVE A RESIDENT DISCOUNT OFF OF THE RACK RATE AND IT WAS LIKE THREE OR $4.
WELL, THE FIRST TIME WE HAD AN, WE HAD A INCREASE BECAUSE THE RESIDENT NON-RESIDENTS STARTED HIGHER, THEY GOT A LESSER INCREASE AND THE RESIDENTS ALL WENT NUTS.
AND SO WE STARTED INCREASING IN WHAT WAS A THREE OR $4 DIFFERENCE.
NOW, IN SOME CASES IS LIKE A 17 OR $18 DIFFERENCE.
[00:45:01]
SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE CCI AND WE TRY TO, BUT I HOPE THAT WE, THAT WE DON'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE START OVERCHARGING THE NON-RESIDENTS TO THE POINT OF, OF A, UH, BACKLASH TO WHERE WE CAN'T FILL OUR SITES OR WE, OR WE RUN PEOPLE AWAY.AND I, THAT MAY BE A COUNCIL ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE CCI AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GO OUT THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER PHILOSOPHICAL THING IS IT LOOKS LIKE WE ROUND UP TO THE NEAREST DOLLAR.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE IT AT, IT GOES FROM $10 TO 11 WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO 10 73.
DO WE LOOK BACK ON THESE 27 30 5 CENTS INCREASES AND ARE WE BUILDING IN A, A HIGHER STARTING POINT THAN IS REALLY ACCURATE? AND THAT'S DOWN IN THE WEEDS.
AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT MAY, MAY LOOK AT THAT OR MAY NOT.
JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, IN MY OPINION.
AND FOR CLARIFICATION THERE, YOU MEAN THE NEXT TIME WE GO THROUGH A CCI UH, INCREASE, ARE WE LOOKING AT $11, ARE WE LOOKING AT 10 73? THAT CORRECT? YES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
SO, UH, JUST QUICK CLARIFICATION, WHEN YOU, UH, OR AT THE END OF YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS IS FUNDING THAT GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND.
UH, IS THIS THE CITY GENERAL FUND OR IS THIS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO PARKS? IT, IT DOES GO INTO OUR DEPARTMENT'S GENERAL FUND, BUT IT'S THE OVERALL CITY GENERAL FUND.
SHARING THE POT, THE, THE PARKS FUND IS LIKE A SUBSET OF THE OVERALL GENERAL FUND.
THE REVENUE COLLECTED FOR ALL THE FEES THAT ARE THE COMMISSION GO INTO PARKS GENERAL FUND.
AND THIS IS TIED TO THE BUDGET THAT THE CITY IS DEVELOPING OR HAS PASSED? YES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UM, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS DEAR TO MY HEART.
WE USED TO DO A LOT OF EVENTS AND UM, WE CAN ONLY MAKE RESERVATIONS SIX MONTHS AHEAD AND I HAVE TO PAY, APPLY FOR GRANTS SOMETIMES UP TO 12 MONTHS AHEAD.
AND THAT'S WHAT I USE TO FUND MY EVENTS.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT THIS LAST YEAR.
IT'S SEVERELY LIMITED THE NUMBER OF EVENTS AND THE BENEFITS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO THE SENIORS.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, UM, EVERY TIME WE INCREASE THE FEES THAT IT MEANS THERE'S GOING TO BE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES IN THE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING DELIVERED.
AND, AND WHAT IT DOES LIKE FOR THE CLIP FOR THE, UM, SPORTS.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY YESTERDAY.
IT MAKES IT SO LOWER INCOME FAMILIES AND I AM ASSUMING THERE ARE SOME SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR LOWER INCOME CHILDREN.
IT ELIMINATES, I KNOW WHEN I WORKED AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, WE PAID FOR MOST OF THE SWIMMING LESSONS FOR THE KIDS THAT WENT THERE THROUGH PARTNERS PARK.
SO THESE ARE ISSUES THAT HAS HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HEA, CAN WE VOTE PLEASE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT, JANICE.
WE'LL NOW CLOSE THE FEE HEARING AND NOW WE WILL GO TO ITEM TWO, WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF JUNE 26TH, UH, 2025.
CAN I HEAR A MOTION? MR. SHANE? SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
THERE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE MINUTES? HEARING NONE.
UH, UH, MOTION, UH, BY COMMISSIONER SHONE.
UM, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR? A OPPOSED? SAME.
NOW IT CAN GO TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS, UH, RECEIVED BETWEEN TWO 12TH 2025 AND JULY 9TH, 2025.
UH, CAN I HEAR A MOTION? SO MOVED.
AND, UH, DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE A REPORT? YES, WE DO.
SO FOR ANY OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR, UH, DURING THE, THE COURSE OF A MONTH, UH, COMMUNITY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO BRING A FEE WAIVER REQUESTS FORWARD TO THIS
[00:50:01]
COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION TO HAVE THOSE COSTS, UH, WAIVED TO SUPPORT THEIR EVENT.AND THE BUSYNESS OF THIS SUMMER THAT TODAY WE ONLY HAVE THREE, BUT, UM, OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER LATTICE KAISER, WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THIS ITEM.
GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE THREE REQUESTS OF ON BEHALF OF THE LONG ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH.
THEY'RE REQUESTING TO HAVE THEIR CULTURAL EVENT AT EL GROVE PARK IN EAST GOLDEN GROVE AREA ON 1213 AND 1214.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT.
THEY'RE REQUESTING $2,520 IN FACILITY PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
THE FEES PAID ARE THE $920, WHICH INCLUDES A SECURITY DEPOSIT AND STAFF FEES.
THIS EVENT IS AT THE, UM, UH, REGIONAL PARK, THEREFORE THERE IS GATE REVENUE.
ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE IS ABOUT 1500, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE VONG ASSOCIATION.
UM, ANOTHER EVENT THAT THEY WILL BE HAVING ON THE 12 13TH TO 12 14TH CULTURAL EVENT, RECREATION PARK, SOCIAL HALL COMMUNITY EVENT, $440 OF FACILITY PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED, $1,005 SECURITY DEPOSIT STAFF AND MAINTENANCE FEES.
UM, AND THIS IS NOT AT THE GATE, AT THE REGIONAL PARKS THAT GATE REVENUE.
AND THEN ON BEHALF OF THE FED FEMINIST UPRISING, THIS IS A NEW GROUP TO US.
THEY'RE REQUESTING THE USE OF RECREATION PARK SOCIAL HALL IN OPEN SPACE FOR THEIR THIRD ANNUAL FARE ON AUGUST 26TH.
COMMUNITY EVENT, $515 FACILITY PERMIT AND SPECIAL USE FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
$885 WITH THE SECURITY DEPOSIT STAFF AND MAINTENANCE FEES.
AND THERE'S NO REVENUE TOTAL FEES REQUESTED.
WAIVE ON BEHALF OF THE, UM, C COMMUNITY, $3,475 COMMISSIONERS.
I HAVE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? GLAD TO ANSWER I IF WE HAVE ANY REPRESENTATIVES IN
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME? OKAY.
UH, WHAT WE NORMALLY DO IS GO DOWN THE LIST AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY FROM THESE GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS US ABOUT THEIR EVENT OR ABOUT THE P WAIVER.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM THE HUMMON ASSOCIATION? YES.
WOULD YOU, UH, STATE YOUR NAME THERE? A FEW WORDS.
UM, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME BECAUSE THERE ARE RESIDENTS HE SAW OCCASIONALLY.
SO HE ASKED ME TO, UH, REPRESENT THE IZATION IN LONG BEACH.
AND WE HAVE KAREN POPPERS HERE WITH ME.
UM, FIRST I WILL APPRECIATE TO THE COMMISSIONER TEAM TO HELPING US, UH, SAY OUR LIFE MANY, MANY YEARS IN THE PAST, MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME FOR OUR CULTURE THAT WE TEACHING OUR YOUNG KID AT THE HOMELAND CULTURE AND THEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE FESTIVAL AND TO BRING ALL THE YOUNG KID FROM DIFFERENT, UH, COUNTY TO DIFFERENT AREA TO COME AND ENJOY THEM, HOW WE PERFORM IN THE LONG BEACH BECAUSE WE HAD THE, UH, LONG BEACH COMMISSIONERS THAT HELPING AND SAVE OUR LIFE FOR MANY TIME.
I
I LIVE IN LONG BEACH, NEVER MOVE OUT.
AND LONG BEACH IS MY, MY HOMETOWN.
SO I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE TO YOUR, UH, COMMISSIONER TEAM AND, UH, TO CONSIDER TO AMONG ASSOCIATION AT LONG BEACH AS YOUR NEIGHBOR IN THE LONG BEACH.
AND I CONTINUE TO DO ALL, UH, CULTURE AND ALL, UH, HOMELAND, IN THE HOMELAND CULTURE TO SHOW ALL KIDS MANY GENERATION TO MANY GENERATION TO KEEP ALL CUSTOM GOING ON.
AND I, I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR COMMISSIONER TEAM TO HELP US IMPACT AND CONTINUE TO HELP YOU OUT AND OUR KIDS GROW TO KNOW OUR CUSTOMER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THAT? THANK YOU.
AND NOW, UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM THE FEMINIST UPRISING? YES MA'AM.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ASHLEY AND I'M ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF THE FEMINIST UPRISING.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HEARING US TODAY.
I GREW UP A PART OF A PARKS AND REC KID THROUGH AND THROUGH.
THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR HAVING THE FAIR AT A PARK AND I'M REALLY EXCITED.
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT TYPE OF ORGANIZING.
SO, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HEARING US ABOUT THE FEE WAIVER.
THE FAIR HOSTS ABOUT 40 PLUS ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS THAT ALL BENEFIT THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF LONG BEACH.
WE BRING A LOT OF COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
SO THESE, THESE RESOURCES REALLY, REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF LONG BEACH.
UM, AS WELL AS WE PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT AND FUN AND A LOT OF SWAG.
SO ALL OF THAT, THE FUNDRAISING AND STUFF GOES INTO THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ANY FEE WAIVERS 'CAUSE WE ARE 100% VOLUNTEER GRANT BASED.
[00:55:01]
YOU.ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THANK YOU.
SO ON BEHALF OF VICE CHAIR WHO TI SMITH, SHE ASKED ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS FOR THE FEMINIST UPRISING.
UM, AND JUST THAT, UH, THEIR ORGANIZATION, THE PURPOSE CENTER COACHING AND CONSULTING, UH, IS EXCITED TO SEE THEIR SISTER ORGANIZATION BE HERE TODAY.
UH, AND THEY'RE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE INCLUSIVE EVENT THAT UPLIFTS AND GIVES VOICES BACK TO WOMEN.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THEIR CONTINUED TIRELESS WORK THEY DO TO ENSURE EQUITY AND EQUALITY EVERY DAY.
THANK ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER
WE HAVE A, A, A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON.
AND, UM, IT IS, UH, NOT NECESSARY FOR YOU TO REMAIN HERE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO, YOU'RE WELCOME TO.
BUT IF YOU'RE FINISHED WITH YOUR BUSINESS, FEEL FREE TO LEAVE.
ASHLEY, CAN I JUST DO ONE MORE THING? I'M SO SORRY.
WE ALSO HOST FIERCE WOMEN AWARDS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL, IT'S KIND OF NEW.
UM, THIS YEAR'S DEDICATED TO IDA B.
UM, IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN NOMINATING A FIERCE WOMAN OR GIRL OF LONG BEACH POLICE, GO TO OUR WEBSITE.
GO TO OUR INSTAGRAM, ALL THE THINGS GREAT.
I THINK THAT MISSED SOMETHING.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS RECREATION MARINE TO EXECUTE A PERSONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH ELIZABETH GORDON TO PROVIDE FREE AND LOW COST PUBLIC CULTURAL ARTS CLASSES AT DEPARTMENT OF PARKS RECREATION MARINE FACILITIES FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AND ONE MONTH FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026 WITH A TWO TWO YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2030 AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? SO MOVED.
UH, DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE A REPORT? YES, WE DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR DEPARTMENT'S REALLY PROUD TO OFFER SUCH A WIDE DIVERSE OFFERING, UH, THROUGH CONTRACT CLASS PORTAL.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXCELLENT EXAMPLE.
SO I'LL TURN THE ITEM OVER TO GLADYS SKIER, OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER.
UH, SHELY BE WILL BE LEADING YOU THROUGH THAT ITEM.
AND GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, SO AIM FOR THE HEARTS PARTS SESSIONS IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL TOPIC BASED WORKSHOP THAT FOSTERS AND DEVELOPS EMOTIONAL LITERACY IN VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PART.
SESSIONS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE HOMELAND COMMUNITY FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
A TOPIC GETS SELECTED AT THE END OF EACH WORKSHOP AND THE PARTICIPANTS WORK THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO CREATE PIECES TO PERFORM AT THE FOLLOWING WEEK'S WORKSHOP.
SO THE TOPIC ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO EXPLORE THE RANGE OF HUMAN EMOTIONS AND ISSUES SUCH AS IDENTITY, RACE, GENDER, AND CULTURE, WHILE BUILDING CULTURAL COMPETENCIES AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL AWARENESS.
PAST TOPICS HAVE INCLUDED MEDIA, VICTORY, JUDGMENT, AND EMPOWERMENT.
ART SESSIONS WELCOME ALL INSPIRING AND AMATEUR POETS, VISUAL ARTISTS, SONGWRITERS, RAPPERS, SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS, ACTORS, COMEDIANS, AND MUSICIANS TO ATTEND.
THE WORKSHOPS ARE ON TUESDAYS FROM SEVEN TO 9:00 PM AND THEN AZAR GABO AT THEATER AT THE HOME AND CULTURAL CENTER.
ELIZABETH GORDON WILL BE A NEW ADDITION TO THE HOMELAND INSTRUCTORS.
THE PERSONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW HER TO FACILITATE THE WORKSHOP WHEN MARSAL IS NOT AVAILABLE AND MARSAL IS THE PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR FOR THE WORKSHOP.
SO THIS WILL BE A SUBSTITUTE BEING ABLE TO COME IN.
UM, THE TERM IS FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.
UM, THIS ALIGNS WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER HOMELAND PERSONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS.
IT'S FOR TWO YEARS WITH TWO YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2030.
ALL PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF THE COST OR PUBLIC BENEFIT, ALL PROGRAMS OF HOMELAND ARE FREE TO PARTICIPANTS AND, AND INSTRUCTORS ARE PAID $25 PER HOUR.
UM, THIS ACTIVITY ALIGNS WITH OUR PARKS MAKE, LONG BEACH DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION, MARINE STRATEGIC PLANS, OBJECTIVES OF EXPANDING ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAM AND PARKS ACROSS THE CITY, AND CREATE SPACES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY LED CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON BLACK, LATINX, SOUTHEAST ASIAN, OTHER HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, UH, ITEM I SUPPORT? ANYTHING AT, AT HOMELAND? THERE YOU GO.
WE HAVE A A, OH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT OR QUESTIONS OF, UH,
[01:00:01]
STAFF? THANK YOU.UH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHOWN, UH, ALL IN FAVOR, COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER HUG HAD THE WRONG ONE.
AND NOW WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
AUTHORIZED THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS RECREATION, MARINE TAX, EXECUTE A RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMIT AND ANY OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH CREATIVE CLASS COLLECTIVE CALIFORNIA CORPORATION TO ENTER LINCOLN PARK FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MAINTENANCE OF ONE MURAL FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR FROM JULY 21ST, 2025 THROUGH JULY 20TH, 2026 WITH THREE, THREE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS AT THE DIRECTOR.
THE DIRECTOR, UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
AND, UH, DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE A REPORT? YES, WE DO.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE OUT ACROSS OUR PARKS, A LOT OF PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE ART AND THE PRESENCE OF MURALS THROUGHOUT OUR, UH, SYSTEM.
AND, UH, ONCE AGAIN, THE SPOTLIGHT ON CHARLOTTE FOR WALKING FOR THIS ITEM.
SINCE 2015 LONG BEACH WALLS, WHICH IS FORMERLY KNOWN AS POWWOW LONG BEACH, HAS INSTALLED MORE THAN 120 MURALS IN OVER 40 SQUARE MILES OF LONG BEACH, CREATING A WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE PUBLIC ART EXPERIENCE.
LONG BEACH WALLS IS A WEEK LONG CITYWIDE E EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE SUMMER THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH.
THE CORE OF LONG BEACH WALL'S MISSION IS TO BRING ART AND CULTURE TO PUBLIC SPACES WHILE BEAUTIFYING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND CULTIVATING COMMUNITY PRIDE.
THE 2025 LONG BEACH WALL'S ART AND Z EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE JULY 20TH THROUGH JULY 26TH, 2025, AT VARIOUS IMPLICATIONS ACROSS THE CITY, AND WILL INCLUDE NINE MURAL INSTALLATIONS, A NIGHT MARKET FOR MURAL BIKE TOUR, AND ART EXHIBITS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LONG BEACH WALLS.
ART REZI CREATIVE CLASS COLLECTIVE HAS COMMISSIONED LONG BEACH ARTISTS, RASHI TO PAINT THE CROWN MURAL AT THE LINCOLN SKATE PARK.
DESIGNED TO BE BOTH VISUALLY IMPACTFUL AND FUNCTIONAL FOR SKATERS.
THE ARTWORK FEATURES TWO CLASSICAL MUSIC FIGURES.
CRADLING SKATEBOARD WILL SYMBOLIZING CARE ADMIRATION AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE ENERGY OF SKATEBOARDING NATIVE PLANTS, RADI FROM THE CENTER REPRESENTING LIFE AND POTENTIAL.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ARTWORK AND YOUR ATTACHMENT BE THAT WAS ALONG WITH THIS DOCUMENT TO ENSURE SKATERS ARE NOT DISTRACTED DURING USE OF THE SKATE PARK.
COLOR SATURATION AND CONTRAST WAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.
THIS MURAL AIMS TO CELEBRATE SKATEBOARDING AND ART AS POWERFUL LIFE-CHANGING FORMS OF EXPRESSION FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE TERM IS FOR ONE YEAR, JULY 21ST, 2025 THROUGH JULY 20TH, 2026, WITH THREE, THREE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR.
IN TERMS OF SAFETY, PRE-APPROVAL WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE PLACEMENT OF ANY COMPANY OR PERSONAL EQUIPMENT.
SO THAT INCLUDES A PLACEMENT OF LADDERS, SCAFFOLDING OR CRANES SPRAY, WHATEVER IS NEEDED AT THE TIME OF PAINTING.
SO THAT HAS TO BE PRE-APPROVED AND A PROTECTIVE BARRIER MUST BE PLACED AROUND THE AREA OF THE MURAL AND UNDER THE ARTIST EQUIPMENT AND PAINT TO PROTECT THE WALKWAY IN ADJACENT AREAS FROM THE PAINT OVER SPRAY.
UM, THE SURFACE MUST BE PROPERLY PREPARED AS REQUIRED IN A FOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO ANY PAINTING OF THE MURAL.
AND AN ANTI GRAFFITI PROTECTIVE COATING MUST BE PROVIDED ONGOING MAINTENANCE.
SO THE PERMIT WILL ALSO COVER ONGOING COSTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MURAL, EITHER DIRECTLY THROUGH THEIR WORK, OR THEY CAN DO A 5,000 DONATION DEPARTMENTAL PARKS, WHICH WE USE THEN TO COVER THE CITY'S COST FOR THE MAINTENANCE.
UM, NOTIFICATION OF LIGHT GRAFFITI OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE BY ANY CAUSE MUST BE REPAIRED WITHIN 72 HOURS OF THE DAMAGE REPORT.
OR WE HAVE TO RECEIVE PROVIDED WRITTEN NOTICE TO OUR DEPARTMENT AS TO WHEN THE REPAIRS WILL BE FULLY COMPLETED.
AND THEN IF THE MURAL IS NOT REPAIRED OR MAINTAINED TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE MURAL MAY BE REMOVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY HAS A DISCRETION TO REMOVE THE MURAL AT ANY TIME GOING FORWARD.
SO IN TERMS OF FISCAL IMPACT, SITE SUPERVISION WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS PART OF ITS NORMAL OPERATION DUTIES, AND THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING UTILITIES AS NEEDED AND AS AVAILABLE.
UM, THAT'S WHERE CAME THE MERRILL, AND THEN HIS ACTIVITY ALIGNED WITH THE PARKS MAKES LONG BEACH STRATEGIC PLANS OBJECTIVES OF EXPANDING ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIP PROCESSES.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE, UH, COMMISSIONERS? YES.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS A VERY POPULAR SKATE PARK.
SO HOW LONG WILL IT BE CLOSED FOR THE MURAL TO BE EXECUTED? SO IT'S BEING EXECUTED DURING THE WEEK OF THAT ACTUAL EVENT.
SO IT'S KIND OF, UM, JUST FOR THAT ONE PARTICULAR DAY, AND I BELIEVE, 'CAUSE IT'S PART OF THE EVENT AND THEY DO ACTIVE MURAL PAINTING AS A PORTION OF THE EVENT.
SO COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE MURAL BEING DONE.
AND WE, I KNOW, I KNOW REPORT I MENTIONED THERE'S NINE MURALS, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S ON OUR PARK.
UH, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU A QUESTION, UM, BUT ALSO THANK YOU.
UH, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE ART THAT BEING PROPOSED.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY NICE ARTWORK.
I AM CURIOUS, UM, WHAT SORT OF CONSULTATION HAS THERE
[01:05:01]
BEEN WITH THE USERS OF THAT SKATE PARK? WHETHER THE YOU KNOWS COMING OR, UM, I, I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SKATEBOARDING OR SKATE PARKS OTHER THAN LETTING YOU BALL GET HURT, BUTSO I KNOW FOR THIS PARTICULAR MURAL, IN THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, THEY WORKED THE COLLECT THE COLLECTIVE, WORKED ALONG WITH OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AS WELL AS ESPECIALLY EVENTS PLANNING TO REALLY COME UP AND BE, VIEW THE ARTWORK AND WORK TOGETHER TO COME TO THE FINAL CONCLUSION OF THIS PARTICULAR WORK.
WE WERE NOT ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE PLANNING FOR IT, BUT THEY DID LOOK AT A COUPLE DIFFERENT DESIGNS AND REALLY LOOK AT HOW IT WOULD IMPACT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WOULD BE VERY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON ON THAT LINE.
WERE ANY OF THE SKATERS INVOLVED WITH THE INPUT? DO YOU KNOW? DID THE MANAGER TALK TO ASK OR ANYBODY LIKE THAT? I, I LOVE IT.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF, IF, IF IT WILL AND, AND, UM, TO, IF IT WILL BE LIKED BY THE SKATERS AND YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SEE ALL OF IT WHEN YOU'RE DOWN RIGHT THERE DOING IT.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, UH, IT'S ONLY ONE YEAR, A LOT OF ACTIVITY AND SKATING AND EVERYTHING.
WHAT IS THE, THEY'RE GONNA GIVE $5,000.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE IT STARTS TO SHOW WHERE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION, BUT THE DOES HAVE THE EXTENSION, SO THAT'S WHY THE THREE HERE.
EXTENSIONS ARE BUILT IN TO ALLOW FOR THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE THAT SEATED, AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ONGOING MAINTENANCE FOR THAT.
SO I, I LOVE LOOKING, I LOVE THE ARTWORK, BUT IT, WHEN THE ARTWORK FAILS OR, OR DETERIORATES, THEN IT LOOKS WORSE THAN JUST A CEMENT FLOOR.
SO IT HAS THOSE ADDITIONAL YEARS.
AND THEN WE ALSO GIVE HER THE RIGHT TO
WE HAVE SIMILAR, UM, AT THE BOWL, AT H PARK MM-HMM
IT'S ALL PAINTED AND THE MURALS ALL THROUGHOUT.
BUT ISN'T THAT ONGOING ARTWORK? UM, IT IS, UH, IT NOT NECESSARILY ONGOING ARTWORK THAT'S SIMILAR TO HOMELAND.
UM, BUT THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THERE ACTUALLY IS NOT AS BAD WORK WITH THE ARTIST AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP THE UPKEEP.
BUT IT DOES SURPRISINGLY WELL, UM, 'CAUSE THEY PUT THE PROTECTIVE GLAZE ON TOP OF IT.
SO SINCE WE HAVE ANOTHER PARK THAT ALREADY HAS A A GROUND MURAL LIKE THIS, UH, WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE BEEN TO TO THAT? FANTASTIC.
IT'S BEEN VERY, I MEAN, WITH THE HILTON BOWL, PHENOMENAL, UM, PHENOMENAL.
AND IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT BRINGS CULTURAL AND THEY, YOU KNOW, FOR THEM TO, TO SKATE ON IT VERSUS A PLAIN BOWL, UM, EXECUTE, IT'S REALLY WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
MR. ALLEN? YEAH, I GUESS I, I DON'T KNOW IF I HEARD THIS DIRECTLY OR NOT.
SO THEN THE SKATERS THAT ACTUALLY USED THIS PART WERE, WERE, OR WERE NOT CONSULTED ON.
I'M NOT AWARE OF THE PROCESS THAT I JUST THOUGHT, I WASN'T AWARE I COULD FIND OUT.
SO DO WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN IF THEY WEREN'T, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S AN ISSUE,
AND THE SKATING COMMUNITY AND HOW PROTECTIVE THEY ARE OVER THEIR SKATING SPACES.
AND SO I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T KNOW, WHICH MEANS IT'S NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO US.
UM, IF THAT, IF THAT WAS INDEED WHAT HAPPENED? WELL, I DO JUST, I GO KIND OF GO BACK TO THE CONTRACT WHERE WE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO, IF WE DEEM FOR ANY REASONS THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS MURAL IS NOT WORKING FOR US.
WHETHER WE RECEIVE AN ABUNDANCE OF FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY SAYING, HEY, THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK.
AND WE CAN, BUT I CAN GO BACK AND JUST KIND OF TABLE
I BELIEVE IN OUR AUDIENCE, WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM THAT CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
BUT I CAN SPEAK TO SOMEONE OF THIS.
SO COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE? OH, YEAH, BLAIR COHEN.
AND IN THIS ROLE I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE CLASS COLLECTIVE, WHICH IS, UH, THE NON-PROFIT FROM INTER TREND IN DOWNTOWN.
AND, UH, LONG BEACH WALLACE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
ARTISTS ARE STARTING TO FLY IN AND, AND, UH, THE PROJECTS WILL BEGIN.
WE'VE BEEN, MOMS THE WORD ABOUT THIS, BUT THIS HAS GOT A BIG IMPACT BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING TO TOWARDS THE OLYMPICS.
SO THIS PARTICULAR INSTALLATION IS THE FIRST THAT WILL TRANSITION.
WE'LL TRANSITION FROM MURALS ON WALLS THROUGH PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS AND BIGGER PIECES.
UM, THAT WHEN THE CAMERAS ARE HERE, WHEN THE TOURISTS ARE HERE FOR THE OLYMPICS, THAT LONG BEACH, YOU KNOW, SHINES.
AND THERE'S, THERE'S MORE THERE, THERE.
UH, THIS IS ALSO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VANS WARP TOUR THAT'S HAPPENING, UH, THIS PARTICULAR WEEKEND.
WHERE WILL UNVEIL ETTE THE SKATE PARK.
SO VAN SKATERS WILL BE INVOLVED, UH, MIKE DOLAN AND ASK WILL BE, UH, INVOLVED WITH THIS AS WELL.
AND IT'S OFF THE WALL IS KIND OF THE PERFECT TIMING FOR US TO SAY WE'RE GETTING OFF THE WALLS AND MOVING TO PUBLIC GARDEN INSTALLATIONS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE BIRD CAGE AND DOWNTOWN PAINTING THAT AT SOME POINT, EVEN AN INSTALLATION ON THE THUMBS ISLAND.
[01:10:01]
UH, WHEN FIFA'S HERE, YOU KNOW, THE TOWER THAT'S THERE, TURNING THAT INTO, UM, THE WORLD CUPAND WHEN THE TOUR COME, THERE'S, THERE'S BIGGER THINGS THAN OTHER THINGS TO, TO SEE.
SO THIS MURAL IS UNIQUE THOUGH.
WE HAVE DEN PARK, UM, THE SKI COMMUNITY IN DOWNTOWN WILL EMBRACE AND, AND ABSOLUTELY GO BANANAS FOR IT.
UM, AND IT WILL HELP ACTIVATE.
AND I STOOD UP, UH, WITH MAYOR RICHARDSON, WE OVERLOOKED FROM HIS OFFICE.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS A LITTLE QUIET OUT HERE.
I SAID, WELL, LET US DIAL IT UP A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU, AND YOU'LL SEE THERE'LL BE SOME ACTION.
SO, UH, YOU'D BE SURPRISED WITH THE PUBLIC ARGUMENTS, UH, THE SKATE COMMUNITY, UH, IT WOULD BE WELL RECEIVED.
AND THE, THE ARTIST ROSHI IS LOCAL.
SO WHEN, IF OR WHEN THE NEED IS TO PREPARE AND TO MAINTAIN, UH, HE'S, HE'S AT THE READY TO HELP.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS? PUBLIC? OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHAVE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
UH, OPPOSED WITH THIS UNANIMOUS.
WE'RE GONNA GO BY THE PAINT RIGHT NOW.
UH, WE NOW GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS REPORT.
WE CREATE COMMUNITY AND THE DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR JULY, 2025.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHANCE.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
UM, AND, UH, DIRECTOR, I, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TODAY OTHER THAN JUST CONNECTING SOME COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT MURALS AND OUT PARK.
SO THE JEFFREY DEMPSEY IS A MEMORIAL OF SKATE PARK EVENT THAT WILL BE HELD AT OUT PARK, I THINK A WEEK FROM SATURDAY.
THAT'S ALWAYS LED BY THE ASK FOUNDATION, BUT IT'S ALWAYS MEANINGFUL TO A LOT OF THE SKATERS WHEN THEY REALIZE THAT ONE OF THEIR, UM, WELL HAVE FRIENDS LEFT TOO EARLY.
SO IT'S ALWAYS A VERY, VERY MEANINGFUL EVENT.
WE HAVE A MOTION, UH, UH, FROM COMMISSIONER.
OH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE DIRECTOR.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER SCHOEN, UH, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
AND NOW WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER SEC SEVEN.
RECOMMENDATION TO RE UH, REQUEST POTENTIAL TOPICS FOR FUTURE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETINGS AND OR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? SO MOVED.
IS THAT SHANE OR ARE YOU GOOD? ME, SEAN, I'M SORRY.
UM, AND, UH, UH, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY, JUST ONE THING, UM, BASED ON SOME OF THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT OR AN EMAIL THAT WE RECEIVED, UH, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO SCHEDULE A MEETING OF THE MAINTENANCE AND I DON'T KNOW IF, REMEMBER IF WE CALL IT MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, BUT OF THE MAINTENANCE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING FOR EARLY AUGUST.
UH, COMMISSIONER ALLEN, DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE PRESENTED IN PAST MEETINGS? BECAUSE WE'VE ASKED ABOUT LIKE THE EQUITY PLAN AND SOME OF THE OTHER, WE, WE'VE BROUGHT UP SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE PAST MONTH.
SO LET ME ADDRESS THAT IF I MAY.
SO WE GET THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING LAST THURSDAY.
WE DISCUSSED A BETTER PROCESS FOR THAT.
SO STAFF, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENT ITEMS IS KIND OF OUR OWN INTERNAL REPORTED REPORTS PER SE.
UM, THEY'RE GOING TO BE, UH, PRESENTING THAT AT GOVERNANCE AS A STARTING POINT AND THEN FOLLOWING THE REVIEW COMMENTS AND DIRECTION AT THAT LEVEL.
UM, MOST LIKELY IT'LL BE BROUGHT FORMALLY TO AN AGENDA FOR THE FULL COMMISSION.
BUT, UH, YEAH, AND THIS IS THE BUSIEST TIME OF OUR YEAR TO TRY TO CARVE OUT TIME TO START CHIPPING AWAY AT THOSE, BUT, UM, HAVE NOT GONE FORGOTTEN.
SO I'M GLAD YOU RAISED THAT 'CAUSE WE DID DISCUSS THAT LAST THURSDAY.
COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, THAT WAS GONNA BE MY QUESTION.
AND, UH, MR. LIVINGSTON, UH, I AM HOPING THAT THE ITEM THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS IN RESPONSE TO
[01:15:01]
MY EMAIL, UH, HAVING TO DO WITH THE USE OF, UH, HERBICIDES AND THE PARKS.I'M NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC, BUT AS I SAID, WE GOT SOMETHING, UH, IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT WAS AN EMAIL AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A, A SCHEDULE A COMMITTEE MEETING.
AND WILL THE PUBLIC BE INVITED TO THIS COMMITTEE? YEP.
IT WILL BE NOTICED AND PUBLIC CAN ATTEND.
AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FULLY AWARE OF THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SCHOEN.
UH, WE NOW MOVE TO THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ELECTION.
UM, I, UH, FOR THE CHAIR, I WILL CONTINUE.
I DECLARE THE NOM, DO MY
EACH MEMBER MAY NOMINATE ONE PERSON FOR CHAIR, INCLUDING YOURSELF, SPEAK THESE NOMINATIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE SUSAN REDFIELD.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? OKAY.
THERE BE NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS.
I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS CLOSED FOR CHAIR.
UH, I'M SUPPOSED TO, IN ORDER, IN THE ORDER OF NOMINEE, I INVITE EACH NOMINEE TO BRIEFLY SHARE WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ELECTED CHAIR FIRST.
WE'LL, HER FROM SUSAN REDFIELD
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH STAFF, TO WORK WITH MY COLLEGIAL, UH, COMMISSIONERS AND TO GET TO KNOW THE PUBLIC.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND BELIEF IN THE MISSION OF OUR PARKS.
OUR PARKS MAKE LONG BEACH BETTER, SO I APPRECIATE THIS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING ANOTHER YEAR IF ELECTED.
UH, ALL THOSE, UH, UH, I'M GONNA CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSAN REDFIELD PER CHAIR, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
SUSAN REDFIELD REMAINS IN THESE CHAIR FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
AND NOW DO WE DO THE SAME FOR VICE CHAIR? RIGHT CHAIR.
I NOW DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
EACH MEMBER MAY NOMINATE ONE PERSON FOR VICE CHAIR.
THESE NOMINATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS? CHAIR? YES.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE OUR VICE CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR? HEARING NONE.
THERE ARE BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS.
I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS CLOSED FOR VICE CHAIR.
AND DO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONER? YEAH, I HAVE A STATEMENT FROM HER.
SO ON BEHALF OF, UH, VICE CHAIR ATE SMITH, SHE SAYS, I'M SORRY TO MISS MY FIRST MEETING IN ALMOST THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
UH, I AM PRESENTING TODAY AT THE LONG BEACH GIFT SUMMIT.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE, ESPECIALLY AS OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS ENDURE THESE DAUNTING AND CHALLENGING TIMES.
I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND IMPACTED COMMUNITIES THROUGH MY VARIOUS PUBLIC LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH PARKS AND RECREATION AT THE TOP OF MY LIST.
UH, SO WE WILL, UH, NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE FOR THE NOMINEE OF, OF, UH, COMMISSIONER TY SMITH.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF COMMISSIONER TY SMITH FOR VICE CHAIR, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER
RIGHT, RIGHT NOW,
YOU'RE TELLING, UH, COMMISSIONER, WE ARE ON TOP OF STUFF.
WHAT'S GOING ON? ALRIGHT, UM, I THINK THAT WE CAN CLOSE THIS AND IT IS NOW ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, OPPORTUNITY OR COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MARK, UH, TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THANK YOU, KAREN.
[01:20:01]
OUT WITH CATARACT SURGERY AND, UM, I'M GLAD TO BE BACK.AND, UH, WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY.
WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED SENIORS PARTICIPATE WITH TABLING FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.
WE ONLY HAD ONE CASE OF THE ELDER ABUSE REPORTED THIS YEAR, SO THE NUMBERS GOING DOWN.
BUT, UM, DANA CLARK WAS WONDERFUL.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT A CATERING DEAL WITH THE KITCHEN, AND WE THINK WE'VE DISCOVERED A NEW BUSINESS FOR THE SENIOR CENTER.
AND I ALSO WANNA ANNOUNCE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST MONTH THAT LA CASA IS, UM, GOING TO START RECEIVING MONEY.
UH, LA CASA WAS, UH, A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WE WORKED HARD ON AND SENIORS WE DID SUBMITTED OVER A THOUSAND POSTCARDS AND IT PASSED, AND IT INCREASED SALES TAX A QUARTER OF A PERCENT.
AND, UM, IT'S GOING TO GENERATE $17 MILLION FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND REX, OUR MAYOR, IS THE CHAIR IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
AND, UM, A PORTION OF THAT MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ALLOCATED FOR SENIOR HOUSING AND FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND WE CONSIDER THAT PARKS ARE PART OF SENIOR MENTAL HEALTH.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY CAN BE APPLIED TO PARK EXPENSES.
SO MAYBE THERE CAN BE, UH, REDUCTION IN FEES.
BUT WE WANNA MAKE YOU AWARE, AND THIS IS A UNIQUE MOTION BECAUSE IT WAS A COALITION LED BY TOMMY NEWMAN AT THE UNITED WAY.
AND IT WAS COALITION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, OF WHICH THE GRAY PANTHERS WERE THE FIRST ONE THAT SIGNED ON.
AND, UM, UNIONS AND, UH, CITIES.
SO ALL OF THE CITIES THAT ARE IN THE LA COUNTY REGION, IT'S GONNA BE ADMINISTERED BY LA COUNTY AND IT'S GONNA GENERATE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS FOR LA COUNTY.
SO THIS IS MONEY THAT US AS CITIZENS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO HOW IT'S SPENT BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE ALLOCATED FOR SENIORS IN METRO HEALTH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO, AND, UH, IT'S BEING A MODEL THAT'S BEING LOOKED AT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO WE HOPE THIS WILL BE A NEW SOURCE OF, CAN BE A NEW SOURCE OF INCOME FOR PARKS.
UH, OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE.
UH, I HAVE BEEN, HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A QUITE A WHILE 'CAUSE OF COVID AND, UH, I SEE SOME NEW FACES, UH, AND SOME OLDER FACES
UM, I HAVE BEEN, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT SPRAYING HERBICIDES IN THE PARK FOR YEARS.
UH, ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE COUNCIL ASKED AN ORDINANCE THAT THERE COULD BE NO ROUND ROUNDUPS SPRAYED IN PUBLIC PARKS EXCEPT FOR THE GOLF COURSES AND THE MEDIANS.
AND, UH, WE THOUGHT THAT THOSE DAYS WERE GONE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UH, I'VE RECENTLY BEEN ADVISED BY, UH, TWO LONG BEACH CITIZENS, ONE THAT LIVES ON THE WEST SIDE THAT WAS SEEN SPRAYING, DONE IN CAESARS CHAVEZ, DRAKE, AND BLOCK PARK, AND THE OTHER, UH, BEING DONE IN EL DORADO PARK.
AND WHEN I CONTACTED, UH, PARK'S MAINTENANCE WITH, UH, SUPERVISOR SARZA, HE ADMITTED THAT ROUNDUP HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH LIFELINE AND, UH, I GUESS IN CAESAR, UH, CHEETAH P CEDAR PRO RATHER.
UH, GULF GULF OF CATE, WHICH HAS BEEN BANNED BY THE EUROPEAN, UH, UNION AS A POSSIBLE CAR.
AND, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THE TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE WITNESSED THIS AND MADE VIDEOS WE'RE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.
[01:25:01]
BUT I HAVE SENT YOU, UH, A VIDEO IN, UH, CORRESPONDENCE, AND I HOPE YOU'LL LOOK AT THIS.AND ALSO, UH, JILL BRENNAN SENT YOU PICTURES OF SPRAY.
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WALK OUT THE DOOR AND LOOK AT THE TREES IN THE PARK HERE AND SEE THE BARE CIRCLE AROUND THEM TO KNOW THAT THIS IS BEING DONE IN ELDER ROCK.
AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON YOUR AGENDA FOR YOUR, UH, COMMITTEE, AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER WITH YOU IN AUGUST.
YES, CORDLESS, COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE? YEAH.
HI, I'M CORDLESS LEE, AND I LIVE ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS FROM HERE.
UM, I'M ALSO ADVOCATING FOR A BAN ON THE USE OF, OF POISONS IN THE PARK.
I SENT YOU ALL A LETTER LAST NIGHT, AND IT WAS LATE, SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT YET.
BUT, UM, I, I PUT A LOT OF LINKS IN THERE.
AND ONE OF 'EM WAS TO THE AUDIT REPORT IN 2016 THAT CAME OUT AND SAID THAT ONE IN FOUR TREES IN OUR PARKS ARE DEAD OR DYING.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, THEY WENT OUT AND GOT A, UM, A GRANT TO GET THOSE DEAD TREES REMOVED.
SO IF YOU TURN AROUND AND LOOK, YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE EVIDENCE OF THE PROBLEM ANYMORE.
THE EVIDENCE IS, HAS BEEN REMOVED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL IS GOING ON.
THE ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS ON THAT AUDIT, I BELIEVE WAS INCOMPLETE.
THEY DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE POISONS BEING SPRAYED AT THE TIME.
THEY'VE JUST REPLACED THAT POISON WITH ANOTHER ONE THAT'S JUST AS BAD, BUT NOT ON A BAND LIST.
YOU CAN SEE THE COLLAR AROUND EACH TREE.
THAT IS A CHOSEN AESTHETIC THAT HAS LONG-TERM DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS.
POISONS ARE AN EASE OF USE FACTOR FOR YOUR CONTRACTOR.
IT MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND MANUALLY REMOVE THE GRASS AND THE WEEDS.
IT'S A SIMPLE POINT OF LOGIC THAT LONG-TERM SPRAYING OF POISONS AROUND EACH TREE IS GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE TREES.
AND I WANNA ADD TO THAT, THAT THE WAY I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM EARLY ON WAS I USED TO WALK MY DOGS IN THIS PARK AND MY DOGS, THE PADS ON THEIR FEET WERE INFLAMED.
AND I TOOK 'EM TO THE VET AND HE SAID, OH, THEY SPRAY POISONS IN THAT PARK AND YOUR DOG IS GOING UP TO THE TREES, LIFTING ITS LEG AND PICKING UP THE POISONS.
IF THEY'RE PRETTY FRESH, ONCE THEY'RE DRIED, EVIDENTLY IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
AND I ALSO PLAY TENNIS AT THIS PARK.
AND ONE DAY I GO OUT ONTO THE TENNIS COURTS AND I SEE DEAD BEES FLAPPING AROUND ALL OVER THE TENNIS COURT.
AND I SAID, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? AND THEY SAID, OH, THEY JUST SPRAYED AROUND THE TENNIS COURTS WITH THE POISONS.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT THIS POISON PROBLEM, IT'S AN EASE OF USE FOR YOUR CONTRACTOR.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR TREES, I MEAN,
YOU HAVE, UM, ALL THE CARS GOING BY WITH THE ADMISSIONS, AND YOU HAVE THE BEST AIR IN LONG BEACH RIGHT AROUND HERE BECAUSE OF THESE TREES.
WE NEED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF 'EM AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF BETTER CARE OF THE PEOPLE, THE ANIMALS, THE INSECTS.
YOU DO NOT SEE A LIZARD IN THIS PARK.
AND THAT SAYS TO ME THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
SO I'M, I'M ASKING YOU TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO THIS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR, UH, BY THE PUBLIC ALL DONE HEARING NONE.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE STAFF AND COMMISSION.
THEN I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH, UH, GLADYS KAISER.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE ALMOST HALFWAY THROUGH, AS YOU ALLUDED TO AT THE BEGINNING.
UM, AND, UH, IT IS BEEN A JOURNEY GIVEN MY STAFF MEMBERS IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND YOU MIGHT FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, A LITTLE BIT TIRED.
BUT THEN YOU GO OUT AND YOU SEE OUR, OUR OLDER ADULTS AND OUR YOUTH AND OUR TEENS AND OUR ACTIVE SITES.
[01:30:01]
UM, IT REENERGIZES TO, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU ARE ARE, WHAT WE DO IS YOU SERVES A PURPOSE.UM, IT IS A NATIONAL, UM, MARKETING, UM, FOR US, BUT FOR US, IT IS REALLY HARD WHEN IT SAYS JULY IS RECREATION.
BUT BECAUSE OUR DEPARTMENT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN RECREATION, UM, BUT WE CELEBRATE IT.
UM, IF YOU'RE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR INSTAGRAM PAGE THIS DAY, BEAUTIFUL PICTURES AND STORIES ABOUT OUR PARTICIPANTS IN THE IMPACT WE MEET, UM, WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE JULY WITH US.
'CAUSE UM, IN OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, THE MANY FOLKS, I THINK WE'RE A THOUSAND PLUS IN OUR, IN OUR DEPARTMENT, WORK VERY HARD AND DILIGENTLY TO SERVE THAT, UH, PURPOSE FROM THE, LIKE YOU SAID, THE FUTURE IN HAVING PALOMA HERE.
UM, BRETT MENTIONED THAT HER, OUR MOM WORKS FOR US TOO.
SHE LITERALLY GREW UP IN OUR PARKS PROGRAM.
UM, AND TO SEE, YOU KNOW, UM, HER FLOURISH AND BECOME, YOU KNOW, A A A FUTURE CONTINUED LEADER HERE IN THE CITY.
UM, BUT OUR, OUR PARKS ARE BUSY.
YOU COULD ASK ERIC, WE MAKE SURE THERE'S A, A GUARANTEE AND DOCK GUARANTEE THAT, UM, UM, BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT GO OUT AND CHECK OUT NEXT WEEK.
UM, AND WAS GONNA MENTION WE HAVE A BUSY WEEK WITH, UH, REOPENING SOME OF OUR PARKS.
UM, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
UM, AND SO THE COUNTDOWN AS WE ARE ON THE TOP OF THE HILL, THE COUNTDOWN.
THIS IS MY 25TH YEAR, MY 25TH SUMMER HERE IN IN PARKS AND REC.
UM, AND EVERY DAY IS A, UM, YOU KNOW, A BLESSING AND A CHALLENGE ALL IN ONE.
UM, BUT IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE.
SHOULD WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS THE 25TH YEAR FOR HAVE AROUND THE TABLE.
WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN THE 40 PLUSES, UM, IF NOT MORE.
I KNOW ERIC AND WE HAVE 'EM ON OUR TEAM.
SO THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, IS THAT, UM, IT'S GOOD PLACE TO MEET? IT DOES.
UM, JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL ABOUT, UM, THE DATES HAVE BEEN RELEASED FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS FOR FY 26.
UM, THERE WAS A TWO FROM FOUR, I BELIEVE SO SHOULD BE ON THE CITY'S INTERNET.
UM, SO, UH, AUGUST IS VERY BUSY WITH FY 26 PLANNING.
OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION IS ON AUGUST 26TH.
OKAY, CARLY, JUST RUN AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
OUR RFP FOR THE TENANTS VEHICLE OPERATOR HAS BEEN RELEASED AND IT IS OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 20TH.
ERIC, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
I HAVE A FEW UPDATES ON THE MAINTENANCE, UH, TEAM.
SO I'M PLEASED THAT WE BROUGHT IN, UM, FOR MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT NON CAREER IN A ONE POSITIONS, UH, MAINLY CUSTODIAL DUTIES.
UM, THAT'S THE POSITION THAT'S CURRENTLY JUST FLUID.
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WANTING BE PROMOTED, AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS HIRING.
SO IT'S A PROCESS AND I WANT TO THANK STEVE'S TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE CANDIDATES IN.
AND THEN ALSO WE STRIKE OUR PARTNER OUT HERE AT THAT BUILDING, WHICH IS REALLY NICE.
AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO GIVE, UH, SOME OF OUR STAFF THAT HAS AND HAVE, UH, EXPERIENCE DOING THESE THINGS.
AND I'M A BIG, UM, PROPONENT OF TRYING TO CROSS TRAIN FOLKS.
UM, THAT ALLOWED ME, MYSELF BEING AN INMATE ONE CAREER MANY YEARS AGO TO GET TO THIS LEVEL.
AND THEN WE ALSO DID SOME TRAINING FOR OUR JET MACHINE, WHICH IS, UH, CLEANING SEWER LINES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO WE HAD A VOLUNTEER, WE HAD PEOPLE VOLUNTEER WHO WANTED TO BE TRAINED ON THESE THINGS JUST TO GAIN THAT KNOWLEDGE, TRY TO GET SOME UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO DO, DO SOME, WE HAVE OUR STAFF THAT'S ON CALL OR STANDBY BY AND THEY COME OUT AND EAT IT.
JUST TO HAVE THEM BETTER PREPARED AND HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AND, AND JUST TO EMPOWER THEM INTO THAT CONFIDENCE.
AND THEN FOR OUR AMBASSADOR TEAM, WE UM, INSTALLED, UH, SEVEN SIGNS THIS MONTH.
IT SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT, UM, USED THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT WE SLOWED DOWN WITH THE SIGN INSTALLATION, BUT WE PICKED UP WITH THE PRESSURE WATCH.
SO ALL OF OUR PATIO AREAS AND OUR PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE EVENING TIME WE TRY TO PRESSURE WASH THOSE, UM, LOCATIONS.
A LOT OF OUR OWN HOUSES, THEY SOMETIMES STAY HERE, MAKE MESS.
SO AS WE HAVE THE SENIORS COMING IN, OF YOUNG KIDS COMING IN, IT'S FRESH.
AND THEN FOR GROUNDS TEAM, UH, THUS FAR THIS YEAR, WE, UM, HAVE COMPLETED 2065 QUARTERS.
UM, THEN FOR, UH, CABINET CLEANUPS AND CABINET CLEAN BEEN FOUR 14 IN CLEAN THUS FAR EACH YEAR.
AND THAT'S, UH, 282 TIMES THAT WE HAVE REMOVED.
AND SO WE HEAR A LOT OF TIMES ABOUT THE CLEAN TEAM AND THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE DOING A MARVELOUS JOB AS FAR AS INSIDE OF OUR PARKS AND AROUND OUR PARKS.
UH, I JUST WANTED NEED TO KNOWED THAT.
[01:35:01]
DOING OUR PART AS FAR AS KEEPING OUR PARKS CLEAN, SAFE.AND SO, UM, SIMON AND WE ALSO, WE JUST TREE TRIMMING OVER AT, UH, DRAKE PARK.
UH, THOSE ARE, YOU ARE A BUSY TEAM,
SO, UH, WILLOW SPRINGS CAME UP, UH, EARLIER IN SOME OF THE COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AND I SAW WE HAVE IN FRONT ROW ANOTHER CHAMPION OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK.
SO, UM, I KNOW MAYOR RICHARDSON AND COUNCILWOMAN AND MEGAN KERR ARE EXCITED AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE AN EVENT TO FOCUS ON THE RELOCATION OF THE COMMUNITY MULCH, UH, THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE REATING THAT WORKING WITH CONSERVATION CORPS, BUT ERIC'S TEAM, UH, INSTALLED SOME REPLACEMENT OF FENCING THAT HAD BEEN REMOVED AND SOME GATES.
AND, UM, ANTONIO AND HIS TEAM IS DOING THE FLAG SIGN.
UH, BUT IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL EXCEPT FOR PEOPLE THAT DO APPRECIATE, UM, OUR PROVISION OF, OF FREE MULCH FOR THEIR GARDEN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN JUST AS IN MEMORIAL, SO ERIC AND I'LL BE ATTENDING, UM, AARON LAURA'S FUNERAL, I GUESS A WEEK FROM TODAY.
SO HE WAS OUR YOUNG, UH, MAINTENANCE WORKER THAT LOST HIS LIFE IN AN UNFORTUNATE, UM, MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
BUT ON A A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, I'LL REMIND YOU THAT IN NOVEMBER WE GATHER OUT AFTER THIS COMMISSION MEETING, SO THE THIRD THURSDAY, AND WE DO READ THE NAMES OF, UM, TEAM MEMBERS WHO HAVE PASSED ON, AND THAT'LL BE AT THE MEMORIAL TREE UP IN NEIGHBOR PARK.
SO OTHER THAN THAT, UM, GLADYS MENTIONED SHE'S BUSY.
WE HAVE THREE REALLY GREAT, UM, RIBBON CUTTINGS THIS COMING WEEK, MONDAY WITH THAT, AND I KNOW YOU GET THE INVITES, BUT MONDAY WE WILL BE AT EL DORADO BACK BY THE BASEBALL FIELDS AND THE NEW RESTROOMS, UH, CELEBRATING THOSE IMMENSE IMPROVEMENTS IN EL DORADO PARK.
AND THEN FRIDAY WE HAVE BIG SWEET PARK BAN SHOP.
UM, I WAS AT THE, UM, CONCERT ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT BIXBY SPARK AND IT'S REALLY AMAZING.
AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN IS ACTUALLY BRINGING IN SOME ENTERTAINMENT, I THINK A TWO PERSON BAND, UH, JUST TO UPLIFT THAT NEW, UM, AMENITY.
AND THEN ON SATURDAY WILL BE AT THE LONG AWAITED DEDICATION TO MACARTHUR PARK, SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
UH, I KNOW WE WERE THANKFUL THAT LENA GONZAL, SENATOR GONZALEZ HAD A $8.5 MILLION EARMARK THAT REALLY PUSHED OUR ABILITY TO BUILD OUT THAT MASTER PLAN WITH THAT WAS REFLECTING THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT.
SO THREE BIG THINGS ALL IN ONE WEEK, AND THEN WE'LL CATCH OUR BREATH ON SUNDAY.
SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE EXTRA THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU.
UM, SO DR. DENNIS ALLUDED TO THE, UH, THE EL DORADO PARK BATHROOMS THAT I KNOW HAVE BEEN KIND OF, UH, BECOME KNOWN FOR BEING THE PERSON WHO'S TALKING ABOUT THE BATHROOMS
UM, WHICH IS FINE, WHICH IS FINE.
UM, BUT, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, EXTEND MY, MY GRATITUDE AT OUR LAST, UH, MONTHLY MEETING.
I SHARED SOME OF THE PUBLIC'S CONCERN AROUND THE WAY THAT, THAT THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT BY THE BASEBALL FIELDS, THE WAY THAT IT'S, IT HAD KIND OF DRAGGED ON.
UM, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT, UM, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS BECAUSE OF DIRECTOR DENNIS'S ADVOCACY THERE, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE, I KNOW WE SHARED IT, UH, LAST WEEK THAT THE BATHROOMS WERE ACTUALLY OPENED COUPLE DAYS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED IN TIME FOR OUR STATE TOURNAMENT, WHICH WAS, UM, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE.
EVERYONE WAS BUZZING ABOUT IT.
IT WAS ALMOST MORE EXCITING THAN THE BASEBALL
BUT, BUT IN, IN REALITY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, IT WAS, IT WAS A, A MAJOR EVENT FOR THAT FACILITY AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE, YOU KNOW, THE BEST OF, OF WHAT WE CAN DO HERE WAS REALLY SPECIAL.
I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UM, MY SON WHO WAS BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY, UM, HE, WE ASKED HIM WHAT HE WANTED TO DO FOR HIS, HIS BIRTHDAY.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SUMMER, FALL AND SPRING SPENT HERE AT THE BASEBALL FIELDS.
AND WE ASKED HIM WHAT HE WANTED TO DO FOR HIS BIRTHDAY AND HE SAID HE WANTED TO SPEND THE DAY AT THE PARK.
SO WE, WE SET UP A BIRTHDAY PARTY, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST RIGHT OVER THERE, UM, NEAR THE SKATE PARK.
AND HE JUST HAD THE BEST TIME RUNNING AROUND WITH ALL, WITH HIS FRIENDS GOING TO THE BASKETBALL COURTS AND THEN TO THE BASEBALL FIELD AND JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH.
UM, AND AT ONE POINT MY DAUGHTER NEEDED TO USE THE RESTROOM AND I SAID, OKAY, I'LL WALK YOU OVER TO THE SOFTBALL FIELD.
AND SHE SAID, NO, I WANT TO USE YOUR NEW BATHROOM.
AND SO WE GOT TO THE WALK, YOU KNOW, AND IT, IT WAS SO NICE TO FEEL COMPLETELY SAFE TO HAVE MY LITTLE 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL GO ALL THE WAY OVER BY HERSELF WHO COULD KIND OF SEE HER GOING.
AND SHE JUST FELT VERY COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL LOCKING STALLS.
WE KNEW THAT SHE WAS SAFE AND WE GOT TO
[01:40:01]
WATCH HER COME BACK AND SHE WAS SO PROUD AND SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THAT FACILITY.UM, I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT PART OF, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT SHE WANTED TO DO THIS SUMMER WAS MY BROTHER'S IN TOWN FOR THE SUMMER AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WANTED HER UNCLE TO TAKE HER TO THE NATURE CENTER AND SHE SPECIFICALLY SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE THERE.
UM, AND SO THEY WENT ON A NICE NATURE WALK.
UM, WE DID CONCERT IN THE PARK ON FRIDAY.
UM, JUST BEING ABLE TO MAKE SUCH USE OF EL DORADO THIS SUMMER IS, IS SO SPECIAL.
UM, ESPECIALLY GIVEN, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE MEETING THAT, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE GENERATIONS AGO MY FAMILY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO, TO BUY PROPERTY IN THIS AREA.
SO BEING ABLE TO MAKE SUCH FULL USE OF IT, I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL.
UM, I JUST WANNA GIVE A EXTRA THANKS TO ALL THE STAFF THAT HELP WITH THESE EVENING PROGRAMS. I, UH, I'M A COMMUTER NOW AND SO I, I WAS DRIVING DOWN OCEAN ON TUESDAY AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT JUST WERE KIND OF IN AWE OF SEEING THE BIXIE ANNEX ACTIVATED, UM, I DEFINITELY HEARD, AND I ALSO STOMPED MY CAR, BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE LIKE, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT STUFF, LIKE THIS HAPPENS HERE 'CAUSE RIGHT.
IT'S SO TIED TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS LIKE THE FREE YOGA THAT'S HOSTED THERE.
SO TO SEE, UM, A VERY PLANNED ACTIVATION AND JUST THE PUBLIC REACTION, I KNOW THAT THAT IS BECAUSE OF MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND BEYOND THIS ROOM 'CAUSE RIGHT.
THAT'S DEDICATED EVENINGS AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HAVING EXTRA LONG DAYS.
SO VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND I THINK RIGHT.
THE COMMUNITY REALLY RECOGNIZES THAT.
UH, JUST ONE UPDATE FROM VICE CHAIR.
WE GOT SMITH, UH, ABOUT A REMINDER FOR LONG BEACH GIVES THAT IT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER, UH, COMING UP ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH FOR ALL OF OUR NONPROFITS.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS OF GROUPS PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
UM, SO SHE JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A REMINDER TO THAT.
I NOTICED THAT WHEN I PARKED TODAY.
REMINDED US OF HOW BAD THE ASPHALT IS.
TAKE THE WIND, YOU CAN GET, UM, IT LOOKS PRETTY NOW LIKE COMMISSIONER HICKS SAID, GREAT JOB ON GETTING ON RE ON, RESPONDING TO THE PUBLIC WITH THE RESTROOMS. THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR THAT.
UH, I WENT TO LOS CERRITOS PARK FOR MY FIRST CONCERT, UH, AT LOS CERRITOS PARK AND I WALKED AROUND BEFORE AND NEW SLIDES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR MENTIONED THAT THE SLIDES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DOWN THERE.
OUR, I CALL IT TREE HOUSE THEME, BUT I THINK IT'S A CAMPING THEME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT OUR THEMED PARKS ALWAYS MAKE ME EMOTIONAL WITH HOW MUCH GOES INTO PROVIDING OUR SERVICES.
AND THEN, UH, THE ONLY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT I GOT MY FIRST SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK YESTERDAY, SO GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU THAT ARE STILL WORKING.
HOPE YOU EVERY READ THE NEWS RECENTLY.
NO, I WANT YOU ALL TO KEEP WORKING
AND I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENT OTHER THAN TO THANK EACH AND, AND EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR, UH, SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO PARKS.
NOT TO MENTION THE WONDERFUL STAFF AND THE DIRECTOR.
BUT WITH THAT, I WILL CALL THE MEETING, UH, ADJOURNED AT 10:49 AM.