* 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. [00:17:37] TEST, [00:17:37] TEST. [00:17:38] IT [00:17:38] WORKS. [CALL TO ORDER] ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, LET'S CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. PRESENT. COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. COUNCILMAN ANA? HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KIRK. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. VICE MAYOR. ORANGA. WHAT IS THAT NAME? COUNCILWOMAN THRASH AND TUCK HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. ALL RIGHT. WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI COMING OFF A VERY SUCCESSFUL UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL, WOULD YOU DO US THE HONOR OF THE MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I CERTAINLY SHALL. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] UM, I THINK AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE IN A, [00:20:01] WE'LL CALL IT A VERY UNIQUE, UM, TIME IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. UM, AND SO I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO FOCUS AND TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, UM, FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MAYBE IN YOUR IMMEDIATE CIRCLE, UM, THAT ARE FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, UM, BECAUSE OF IT. UM, AND LIFT THOSE PEOPLE UP. THANK YOU. UM, IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. READY? BEGIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ALRIGHT, WELL THANKS EVERYONE FOR JOINING US, UH, TO IS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, WHERE WE'RE GONNA HEAD OUT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND VISIT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND, UH, ENCOURAGE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY LIGHT AGENDA THIS EVENING, UM, AFTERNOON RATHER, THERE'S NO PRESENTATIONS, BUT I'M GONNA TAKE A MATTER OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, UH, AND RECOGNIZE WITH DEEP GRATITUDE AND DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THEIR YEARS OF SER OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE CITY. BRENT DENNIS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, [ RECOGNIZING PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE DIRECTOR BRENT DENNIS] BRENT HAS BEEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. SO WELCOMING, SO PLEASANT, UH, UH, JUST, JUST INVITING ALL OF US TO REALLY CELEBRATE AND, UH, CELEBRATE OUR PARKS. HE SPEARHEADED PARK BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS. HE'S PROMOTED HEALTHY URBAN FORESTS. HE'S LAUNCHED THE PARK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. UH, HE'S CHAMPION INCLUSIVE, COMMUNITY DRIVEN INITIATIVE INITIATIVES. HIS LEADERSHIP HAS TRANSFORMED OUR PARKS AND LEFT A LEGACY, A LASTING LEGACY ACROSS OUR CITY. AND SO WE ARE JUST HONORED THAT HE CHOSE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO BRING HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER, TO FINISH THIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER HERE WITH US. UH, AND SO WE JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S MORE TO COME LATER, BUT WE WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU. SO IF YOU COULD JUST COME DOWN TO THE FRONT. I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU. YOU'RE ALLOWED. OH, THERE'S WE GO. OKAY. I MAY DO ON MY PHONE TOO THOUGH. CONGRATULATIONS. SO PROUD. HOLD ON. OKAY. HERE. OKAY. OH MY GOD. OH, YOU'RE FINE. SHE'S FINE. SHE'S FINE. , SHE'S FINE. NO. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN OVER HERE. ONE, TWO. GOTCHA. OKAY. RIGHT HERE. READY? 1, 2, 3. THERE WE GO. OKAY. I'M GONNA GO AROUND. ALL RIGHT. WE KNOW THIS IS BRENT'S LAST COUNCIL MEETING. DID YOU WANT, DID ANYONE WANT TO ADD ANYTHING BEFORE WE PROCEED? TOM, YOU GOT ANYTHING? YEAH. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. UH, MR. MAYOR BRENT HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF OUR, UH, EXECUTIVE TEAM. SO, UH, HE'S BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS, UH, AND, UH, CAME IN DURING COVID. WE ACTUALLY, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE, WE DIDN'T EVEN MEET HIM BE IN PERSON UNTIL HE ACTUALLY STARTED THE JOB. UH, IF YOU TAKE US BACK TO THOSE TIMES, IT WAS RIGHT, I THINK JUNE OF 2020. UH, AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR FROM THE OFFSET, UH, OUTSIDE HOW MUCH OF A PROFESSIONAL HE IS. UH, HIS CHARGE WAS REALLY TO BRING THE POSITIVITY, BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, HELP US GET TO, UH, A CULTURE OF YES, IN, IN PRM AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO ALL THESE PROJECTS AND, AND ALSO REENGAGE. AND HE IS THE MOST OUT THERE, [00:25:01] I THINK, DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WE'VE EVER HAD. EVERYWHERE. HE'S JUST EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME, AND HE LOVES IT. SO, UH, WE JUST CAN'T THANK, UH, THINK ENOUGH ABOUT, UH, BRENT AND THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE. AND, UH, IT IS TRULY AMAZING THAT HE'S DONE 47 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE. SO WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM FOR FIVE, BUT TO 47 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE. BRENT, INCREDIBLE. 47 YEARS DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE AND HIS SOCIAL MEDIA GAME'S. PRETTY GOOD TO HAVE 47 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND SOCIAL MEDIA GAME FIRE. SO IF YOU WANT TO INTERN IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WE GOT YOU . WE GOT YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANKS A LOT. UH, BRENT. OKAY. UH, LET'S TAKE UP CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE. [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 44.)] OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. I SEE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. TASHA HACKETT AND CHRISELLE D ARE YOU THE SECOND PERSON? YEAH. FIRST IS TASHA. SHE'S ELLE YOUR TIME BEGINS NOW. OKAY. YES. UM, THIS IS OFF SUBJECT, BUT IT'S VERY PERTINENT. IT'S ABOUT THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. OKAY. WELL, IF IT'S NOT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, THIS IS NOT THE TIMEFRAME. UH, YOU'RE GONNA HAND HAVE TO HANDCUFF ME. I HAVE REPORTED ADULT FINANCIAL ABUSE FOR 90 TO $88. I'LL JUST TELL YOU. HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. NO. HANDCUFF ME. TAKE ME AWAY. THE LONG BEACH POLICE IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. NOT A XLP ZI CALLED INTERNAL AFFAIRS. THEY NEVER FREAKING CALLED ME BACK. THEY'RE TELLING ME IT'S CIVIL HONEY, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THE RIGHT 88 TO 90. NO, NO. HANDCUFF ME. GO AHEAD. TAKE ME AWAY. WE'RE NOT GONNA HANDCUFF YOU AND TAKE YOU AWAY. IT'S OKAY. WE'RE JUST GONNA GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE RIGHT TIME. THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. OKAY? NO, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE GONE. IT'S COMING UP PRETTY QUICK. GO. IT'S PRETTY COMING UP PRETTY QUICK. SO JUST GIVE US A FEW MINUTES. WE'LL GET RIGHT THERE. NO, NO. YOU HEARD ME? NO, I'VE HAD IT. ALRIGHT. TELL YOU WHAT, WE'LL GIVE YOU 60 SECONDS OUT OF ORDER RIGHT NOW. YOU THINK YOU CAN GET IT IN THEN? YEAH. OKAY, GREAT. COURT NUMBER ID LB 2 4 0 1 1 5 4. ALSO, WE NEED TO DECLARE THE KKK AND ILLEGAL GANG. AND THEY HAPPEN TO BE A LITTLE OLD WHITE DISABLED LADY JUST OUT OF THE KKK. THEIR OFFICE IS ON GATA AND ON ANAHEIM. PLEASE DON'T ANYBODY BURN IT DOWN. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD ASK THIS. WHY? 'CAUSE IT'S IN CAMBODIA TOWN AND WE'VE DONE ENOUGH WITH ILLEGAL BOMBINGS TO CAMBODIA WITH AGENT ORANGE, WITH, WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE. AND THEY'RE STILL AT, THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT WAR WITH. THEY JUST GOT A CEASEFIRE WITH, UH, UH, I'VE BEEN THERE. OH, SHOOT. THAILAND. THAILAND, YOU'VE GOT IT. YEAH. SO DON'T BURN 'EM DOWN. IT'S TEMPTING THOUGH. DISMISS ANY OFFICERS THAT ARE PART OF THE KKK IMMEDIATELY. YEAH, YOU HEARD ME? THEY WANT ME. THAT'S WHY I'M NOT SAYING WHAT DISTRICT I'M IN. I'M NOT GIVING MY ADDRESS. THEY WANT ME, THEY CAN COME AND FRICKING GET ME. I JUST TOOK THE SHEET OFF. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. WHO, WHO, WHO WAS THE OTHER, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTER. TASHA HACKETT. TASHA IS TASHA HERE. ALRIGHT, SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE ONE REQUEST TO SET ASIDE ITEM 19 BRIEFLY, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO GET TO PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA DO ALL OF THEM EXCEPT ITEM 19. SORRY. IT'S OKAY. EXCUSE COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN. YES. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, LET'S HEAR. ITEM 19, PLEASE REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH DIAMOND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR FURNISHING [19. 25-55908 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36773 with Diamond Environmental Services LP, of San Marcos, CA, for furnishing and delivering chemical toilets and related products, to increase the annual contract amount by $100,000, for a revised annual contract amount not to exceed $400,000. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation.  ] AND DELIVERING CHEMICAL TOILETS AND RELATED PRODUCTS FOR A REVISED ANNUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $400,000 CITYWIDE. LET'S HEAR ABOUT THESE TOILETS. BRENT, WE NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND. YEAH. SO THIS IS THE CONTRACT, UH, TO PROVIDE, UH, PORTABLE TOILET SERVICES. WE NEED SERVICES THROUGH DIAMOND. [00:30:03] GO AHEAD. GREAT. IS THERE A BRIEF REPORT ON THESE TOILETS? WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A BRIEF REPORT. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO FLAG SOMETHING AROUND DIAMOND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. SO I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS WITH, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION. UM, THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR IN MY MIND IS NOT DOING THE CITY OF SERVICE. SO THEY HAVE A, UH, A COUPLE OF, UH, PORTA POTTIES AT DIVORCE PARK THAT I HAVE FLAGGED FOR PARKS, RECREATION, MARINE, UM, THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN THEM NOT SERVICE APPROPRIATELY. MM. UM, AND SO I JUST, I'M FLAGGING THIS AS AN ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE FOR A CONTRACTOR THAT I THINK IS NOT, UM, FOLLOWING WHAT THEIR CONTRACT SAYS. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING THEM ACCOUNTABLE, UM, AROUND WHAT THAT CONTRACT REQUIRES, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE COLLECTING THE PROPER EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE DOING THAT AT OTHER PARTS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY ARE ADHERING TO THAT AND IF NOT, UH, THAT WE'RE APPROPRIATELY ASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD CONTINUE WORKING WITH THEM. THANK YOU. SO AS YOU USE WHATEVER TOOLS WE HAVE TO, UH, ENSURE THIS CONTRACTOR IS OPERATING AT THE SERVICE LEVELS THAT ARE EXPECTED OF THE FOREST PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND ANY OTHER CONTRACTORS THEY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THAT SAID, UM, WE DON'T NEED A SECOND MOTION IN SECOND, CORRECT? WE DO. WE NEED, WE HAVE ONE, A MOTION TO SECOND JUST ON 19. WE HAVE IT. OKAY, GREAT. UM, AND DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT? WE ALREADY THAT PUBLIC COMMERCE FOR ALL OF IT? YES. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE HAVE A REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU MAYOR. WE HAVE NO REPORT FROM CLOSED. THE BEST KIND. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, THIS IS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SIGNED UP, UH, TO SPEAK. LET'S READ, LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UH, READ OFF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. [ 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. ] MARVIN STEWART. DAVID WESBAR. DENNIS DEACON JOHN ENGLISH. MARIO DIAZ. NATASHA, BE ALRIGHT. IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT. ARE YOU MARVIN? OH, YES, THAT IS I ALL RIGHT. YOU ARE UP. I'M UP. AH, YES, YOU ARE WELL. AND AFTER MARVIN, MARVIN IS DAVID AND DENNIS, PLEASE LINE UP. THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY. UM, I'M DR. MARVIN STEWART. AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS, I'M HERE TODAY TO PROTEST THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. JOINING WITH THE A CLU LAWSUIT AGAINST THE RECENT ICE RAIDS, INCITING THE FOUNDER, INCITING THE FOUNDER OF THE A COU, MR. ROGER NASH BALDWIN FROM HIS 1958 ARTICLE ENTITLED FREEDOM IN THE USA AND THE USR STATING YES, QUOTE UNQUOTE. YES, THEY TOO WOULD ACCEPT WORKERS' DEMOCRACY AS FAR AS SUPERIOR TO WHAT THE CAPITALISTS WOULD OFFER JUST TO ANY BUT A SMALL MINORITY. YES, THEY WOULD ACCEPT AND ACCEPT. REGRETTABLY, OF COURSE, THE NECESSITY OF A DICTATORSHIP. WHILE THE JOB OF REORGANIZING SOCIETY ON A SOCIALIST BASIS IS BEING DONE AT PRESENT DAY, RIGHT NOW UNDER THE RICO ACTIONS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THESE THINGS ARE BEING DONE IN THIS NATION HERE AS A DIRECT RESULT OF SENATE BILL 54 THAT WAS PASSED IN, UH, YEAR OF, UH, 2019, THAT, UH, GOVERNOR BROWN, OR 2017 THAT GOVERNOR BROWN SIGNED INTO LAW. I'M HERE TO PROTEST THE CITY OF THE CITY JOINING IN LITIGATION WITH THIS SOCIALIST, COMMUNIST ORGANIZATION ON THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS. OUR PREAMBLE OF THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH, WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, GRATEFUL TO THE ALMIGHTY GOD FOR OUR FREEDOMS. IN ORDER TO SECURE AND PERPE AND TO SECURE AND PERPETUATE ITS BLESSING, DO ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE ONE, SECTION 26 OF THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION SAYS, THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTIONS ARE MANDATORY AND PROHIBITORY UNLESS EXPRESSED WORDS, EACH ONE OF YOU. AND THAT GOES TO THE CITY MANAGERS CHIEF OF POLICE. EVERYBODY IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN THIS MUNICIPALITY AND ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAVE TAKEN OF OATH PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 20, SECTION THREE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH STATES AND READS, AS MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE [00:35:01] AND ALL PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, EXECUTIVES, LEGISLATIVE AND THE JUDICIAL. EXCEPT SUCH INFERIOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES MAY, AS MAY BE BY THE LAW EXEMPTED SHALL BEFORE THEY ENTER UPON THE DUTIES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICES, TAKE AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE FOLLOWING OATH OR AFFIRMATION. I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF YOUR UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. PARDON? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WELL, THAT WAS YOUR TIME, I THOUGHT TO GET THREE MINUTES ON, UH, THAT WAS THREE MINUTES. THAT WAS THREE MINUTES. THAT WAS A FULL THREE MINUTES. WELL, THAT'S A FAST CLOCK. IT MOVES FAST. I JUST BEG THAT EACH ONE OF YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT. HAVE, TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR OATH, SIR. YOUR COMPLICIT IN VIOLATION OF BOTH LAW, FEDERAL AND STATE REGARDING THIS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN OUR NATION HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS DAVID WEISS, BART, AFTER DAVID IS DENNIS, AFTER DENNIS IS JOHN. HI, I AM DAVE WEISS. BART, UM, I OWN A PROPERTY HERE IN LONG BEACH. I'VE, UH, LIVED IN THIS CURRENT HOUSE FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS, AND WE HAVE SOME, UH, SHRUBS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE THAT PUT OUT LITTLE PURPLE FLOWERS. AND THE BEES LOVE OUR PURPLE FLOWERS. AND EVERY YEAR I'VE SEEN LOTS OF BEES, EXCEPT THIS YEAR, NONE GONE. I CALLED THE OFFICE OF, UH, VECTOR CONTROL AND I ASKED THEM IF THEY KNEW OF ANY HIVES THAT HAD BEEN RELOCATED IN THE, THE AREA I'M NEAR CARROLL PARK. AND SHE COULDN'T GIVE ME ANY SPECIFICS, BUT SHE TOLD ME SOMETHING I THOUGHT WAS RATHER SHOCKING. THIS IS FROM THE OFFICE OF VECTOR CONTROL. SHE SAID THAT ON, ON CITY PROPERTY, IF A BEEHIVE IS CONSIDERED A NUISANCE, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO DESTROY THE HIVE AND KILL THE BEES. THIS IS NOT 1960 ANYMORE. THIS, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TELL THIS AUGUST BODY THAT THE BEES ARE IN CRISIS IN NORTH AMERICA. I READ ON AB, UH, ON THE A, B, C NEWS, WE'RE LOSING 70% OF OUR HONEYBEES IN 2025. BEES ARE NECESSARY FOR AGRICULTURE, AND THAT IS A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR, UH, AFFAIR IF THE BEES GO AWAY, AND IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE EAT. SO I WOULD, I WOULD PROPOSE THREE ACTION POINTS FOR THE CITY. ONE, FIND OUT IF THAT IS IN FACT TRUE THAT THE, THE VECTOR CONTROL DEPARTMENT IS DESTROYING BEEHIVES. TWO, IF IT IS, CHANGE THE POLICY, WHETHER THROUGH LEGISLATION OR THROUGH JUST A POLICY DOCUMENT AND HIRE A, A REPUTABLE BE RELOCATOR. AND FINALLY, SINCE THIS ONLY APPLIES TO, UM, THE, UH, CITY PROPERTY, SEND OUT SOMETHING IN THE WATER BILL TO THE HOMEOWNERS. DO YOU HAVE A BEEHIVE ON YOUR PROPERTY? PLEASE GO AND FIND A BEE RELOCATOR RATHER THAN SPRAYING THE HIVE WITH INSECTICIDE. UM, THAT IS ALL I HAD TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS DENNIS. AFTER DENNIS IS JOHN, THEN MARIO DENNIS DEACON, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK GOD. UM, I JUST CAME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. UM, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS MY STORY. UH, I WAS BORN HERE IN 1945 IN LONG BEACH AT THE SEASIDE HOSPITAL, NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE. UM, MY HA, MY FAMILY HERITAGE IS THAT, UH, MY FAMILY CAME HERE MANY, MANY YEARS AGO FROM IOWA, AND THEY WERE FARMERS AND THEY CAME TO LONG BEACH AND THEY REALLY WERE PIONEERS OF DEVELOPING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS UNTIL JUST IN THE LAST YEAR THROUGH DOING RESEARCH, UH, HOW MUCH WE DID FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND I'VE GOT, UH, I'VE GOTTA TELL YOU, I LOVE THIS CITY AND I MADE IT MY CITY. THIS IS MY HOLY GROUND. UH, I DON'T CARE WHERE OTHER HOLY GROUNDS ARE, BUT I CARE ABOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF VOLUNTEER WORK ON MY OWN. [00:40:01] YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIRE ME. I JUST WANT THE CITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND BE THE BEST IT CAN BE. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT TIME, UH, THAT YOU, THANKS FOR COMING DOWN AND INTRODUCING YOURSELF. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS JOHN ENGLISH, AND THEN MARIO, AND THEN NATASHA MAYOR, COUNCIL PEOPLE. MY NAME IS JOHN ENGLISH AND I'M REPRESENTING 1 7 1 1 BROADWAY, WHICH IS THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR ON GAVIOTA THERE. UH, WE'VE BEEN HERE SIX MONTHS, UH, TRYING TO FIND A RESOLUTION TO A LICENSE. UH, WE WERE MISREPRESENTED BY THIS PERSON BEFORE US AND BECAME VICTIM. WE SIGNED A LEASE. WE'RE HERE FOR 10 YEARS. WE'RE NOT GONNA GO AWAY IF I HAVE TO MAKE IT A WAREHOUSE OR WHATEVER, BUT I'M PLEADING THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER OUR LOCATION AS A FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER THAT WILL BE A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE ORIGINAL PLAN FROM DAY ONE IS NON-ALCOHOLIC OPEN IN THE DAYTIME, NOT LIKE THERE'S SEVEN OTHER BARS RIGHT THERE AS WELL. AND THEY'RE ALL NIGHTLIFE. WE ARE DAYTIME, WE ARE ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, UH, SERVERS OF THOSE MEETINGS. UH, WE DO CAVALRY CHAPEL. DOWNEY HAS SPONSORED US AS WELL AS FAR AS HAVING SUNDAY SERVICES IN THE FACILITY. WE WANT TO HAVE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. THAT MEANS JUKEBOXES, ARCADE GAMES LESSONS. WE HAD AN EVENT THAT WAS PLANNED FOR THIS LOCATION BECAUSE WE ALSO OWN GOOD TIMES FAMILY BILLIARDS ON PARAMOUNT AND CARSON. WE HAVE 28 POOL TABLES THERE. WE HAD AN EVENT THAT WE PLANNED FOR LONG BEACH. WE HAD LONG BEACH COLLEGE AND THEIR, UH, ROBOTICS CLASSES TO HAVE HERE. WELL, IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS, SO WE ENDED UP HAVING IT OVER AT GOOD TIMES. SO WE HAD 60 OF THE STUDENTS GO OVER THERE AND DO THEIR COMPETITION AND ROBOTICS. UH, IN THE BILLARDS COMMUNITY, WE HAVE THE BILLARDS EDUCATION FOUNDATION. WE SPONSOR THAT MONTHLY. WE HAVE THE CHRISTIAN TRICK SHOT ARTISTS, AND WE SPONSOR THEM AS WELL. SO WE WANT TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR. WE HAVE OVER 300 RESPONSES TO OUR, UM, QUESTIONNAIRE THAT WE PUT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS IS 90% OF IT IS PEOPLE WALK IN THEIR DOGS ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE STORE AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PAINT IT, CLEAN IT UP, TAKE OUT ALL THE JUNK, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT TIME. UH, BUT NOW WITH THE LAST THREE MONTHS, WE'VE HAD TO STOP SPENDING MONEY. YOU JUST CAN'T. WE'RE PAYING THE RENT EVERY MONTH, THE LIABILITY, EVERYTHING. BUT NOW WE'VE GOT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE MOVING BACK ON THE FRONT SIDEWALK. THE LAST NIGHT THEY BROKE A WINDOW. WE NEED TO ACQUIRE A ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT. SO WE NEED THE PLANNERS TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO ALLOW US TO DO BUSINESS THERE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, THE ADJACENT PRODUCTS OR PROPERTIES AROUND US, UM, HAVE ALL APPROVED OUR RESIDENCY THERE WITH THEM. AND WE'VE OFFERED TO HELP CLEAN UP THEIR PROPERTIES ON BOTH SIDES TO MAKE EVERYTHING IN THAT CORNER LOOK LIKE WE WANT IT TO LOOK CLEAN, SHARP, AND READY TO GO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MARIO AND THEN SASHA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR RICHARDSON. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY HELLO. UM, WELCOME BACK FROM YOUR MONTH OF DARKNESS. AND, UM, I'M THE GUY WHO, I GUESS I HEARD FROM SOMEBODY NAMED APPLEGATE THAT MY PROPERTY'S ON THE CITY TABLE, 1635 WEST PCH, UH, ON YOUR NIGHT OUT. UM, I KIND OF, WELL, I DO INVITE YOU, BUT, UM, WEAR COMFORTABLE TENNIS SHOES AND LIKE, NOT A SUIT. IT'S NOT PRETTY OVER THERE. UM, I HAVE A FRIEND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. HE IS A BEAUTIFUL MAN. UM, THE ONLY HUMAN BEING FROM WILMINGTON AND LONG BEACH, WHOEVER CUPPED HIS HANDS IN DEFERENCE TO OUR GOOD GOD. AND, AND I TRIED TELLING A BEAR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT IT, AND THE BEAR DIDN'T BELIEVE ME AND KNOCKED ME ON THE HEAD AND, AND, UH, JUST THE WAY I HAD FAITH IN MY FRIEND. UM, THEY CALL HIM DUMP TRUCK. UM, WE FOUND BEAR'S BIKE AND EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY THAT NIGHT. BUT MY HEAD IS STILL A LITTLE BIT, UM, PAINFUL, BUT I STILL DID FORGIVE THE BEAR. BUT, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, MOVING FORWARD THAT, UM, YEAH, I'M TRYING TO CLEAN UP OVER THERE AND I NEED HELP ON A BIGGER LEVEL. UM, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THIS IS, THIS PLASTIC IS, THEY CALL IT PLASTIC NUMBER TWO. TECHNICAL NAME IS HIGH DENSITY, HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE. ROCKVIEW MAKES IT WITH OJ AND MILK, BUT IT'S TRASH. WHEN IT'S MILK, IT'S SCRAP, AND THERE'S MORE VALUE [00:45:01] IN OJ. SO WHY ARE WE DISCRIMINATING IN THE SAME, THE SAME SUBSTANCE? I ALSO WANT TO GIVE PROPS TO THE WOMEN WHO CREATED BUZZ BALL, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND NOT MIXING PLASTIC WITH ALUMINUM, BECAUSE WE'RE OBVIOUSLY HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN AS IT IS. AND, UH, ALSO WE NEED TO SUPPORT SOLAR MORE BECAUSE SOLAR'S NOT JUST FOR MAKING ELECTRICITY, IT'S FOR MAKING SHADE. AND, UM, SHADE IS VERY, UM, HELPFUL. IT'S COMFORTING. AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO WORK IN WAREHOUSES AND OFFICES FORGET HOW UNCOMFORTABLE IT IS OUT IN THE SUN. AND, UH, UM, ONE REASON WHY I'VE BEEN TOLERANT WITH PEOPLE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AROUND MY COMMUNITY IS BECAUSE I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF IT HELPS SOME PEOPLE SURVIVE THE OUTDOOR LIFE. I MYSELF DON'T DO DRUGS, BUT, UM, I'M A LITTLE TOLERANT OF IT, AS A MATTER OF FACT. UH, THE INCIDENT WITH MY FRIEND DUMP TRUCK AND THAT, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD BEAR INVOLVED, UM, SOME FETTY OUT THERE. AND, AND, AND SO I WAS THINKING, WHERE'S KAISER IN THE COMMUNITY? YOU KNOW? SO ANYWAY, UM, LAST, I JUST REALLY WANNA SAY THAT I'M MOVING FORWARD. I NEED TO WORK AND, AND WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH DIFFERENT, UM, CITY PERSONNEL. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS NATASHA. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS, AND I WENT ON EARLIER. SO , I HOPE I'M BETTER PREPARED. SO MY NAME IS NATACHA BARRI. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. I'M THE HOMEOWNER OF 86 WEST 49TH STREET IN LONG BEACH, 9 0 8 0 5. I'M A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT COLLEGE GRAD AND INVESTOR. AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO BRAG, BUT TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT OF WHERE I COME FROM. AND NOTE THAT I'M NOT JUST ANOTHER LANDLORD COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED, BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED IN FINANCIAL GAIN, BUT RATHER I WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY FEEL SAFE. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ON OUR BLOCK. AND BY WHAT I HEARD FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS EARLIER TODAY, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF NORTH LONG BEACH. THERE WAS A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED ON JULY 7TH, 2025. REPORT NUMBER WAS 2 5 0 0 3 0 2 7 2, BETWEEN LONG BEACH BOULEVARD AND DEL AMMO. I CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT A COUPLE DAYS AGO FOR AN UPDATE, AND NO DETECTIVE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS CASE, WHICH TELLS ME THAT IT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. AND THE PERSON THAT DID THIS IS STILL OUT THERE. I WORKED REALLY HARD TO BUILD SOMETHING STABLE HERE. I'VE BEEN RENTING OUT MY HOME TO A FAMILY WHO DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE. AND I LIKE TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT ZIP CODE 9 0 8 0 5 APPROXIMATELY HAS 28,000 HOUSES. AND ASSUMING THAT ALL OF THEM PAY PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS BETWEEN 6,000 TO 12,000 PER YEAR, THAT MEANS THAT THIS ZIP CODE ALONE COLLECTS ABOUT 170 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX EVERY YEAR. AND I'M ASSUMING THAT 15% OF THAT GOES TO THE CITY GENERALS FUND. SO THAT'S ABOUT 25 TO $35 MILLION THAT REACHES THE CITY OF LONG BEACH GENERAL FUND. I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THE LOGISTICS, BUT THIS IS SOLELY BASED ON LIKE A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH. SO PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THE POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE HERE IS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE PAYING SO MUCH IN PROPERTY TAX, ESPECIALLY NEW HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA, AND YET WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE RISING CRIME, DANGEROUS SPEEDING, AND LACK OF VISIBILITY, SAFETY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN LITERALLY TWO BLOCKS AWAY IN BIXBY KNOWS, IT FEELS LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD. SO WHY IS THAT MONEY NOT BEING DIRECTLY REINVESTED IN NORTH LONG BEACH IN THE AREAS THAT NEED IT THE MOST? UH, WE'RE PAYING OUR SHARE AND THEN SOME. UM, SO AT THE VERY LEAST, WE SHOULD INCLUDE AN INCREASE POLICE PRESENCE, ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES, SPEED BUMPS OR TRAFFIC CALMING SECURITY CAMERAS OR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SUPPORT, STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENT IN YOUTH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES, WHICH I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT TO INVEST IN. UM, SO IT'S TIME THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NATALIE? NATALIE, NATASHA. WAS IT? NATASHA? OH, UM, UH, JUST BRIEFLY. NATASHA. UH, NATASHA. YEAH. I LIVE IN NORTH LONG BEACH. YOU HAVE A NEW COUNCILWOMAN IN THAT AREA. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET. OKAY. BECAUSE WE'RE RECRUITING NEW LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY ONGOING OKAY. FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD [00:50:01] TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET OUR STAFF, OKAY? WE'RE HERE TONIGHT AND LET'S GET YOU PLUGGED IN. OKAY? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NICE TO MEET YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL, THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, WELL NOW GONNA BEGIN OUR BUDGET HEARING. LET HEAR HEARING ITEM 45, PLEASE REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO CONDUCT A BUDGET HEARING TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS AN OVERVIEW [45. 25-55935 Recommendation to conduct a Budget Hearing to receive and discuss an overview of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN CITYWIDE. ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA PROVIDE, UH, SOME FRAMING COMMENTS AND WALK THROUGH, UM, UH, MY BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS. THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO STAFF TO WORK THROUGH THE BUDGET. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA, UH, GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. ACTUALLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL. THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET DELIBERATIONS AT CITY COUNCIL. I WANNA THANK STAFF FOR ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK, UH, THAT'S TAKEN PLACE TO GET US TO THIS POINT. UM, WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IS WHAT WAS PRESENTED, UH, A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK AGO TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND NOW THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE, WHERE IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AS MAYOR TO PRESENT THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS OUTLINED IN OUR CHARTER. THIS IS OUR PROCESS THAT'S OUTLINED. YOU CAN'T START IT. YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A WINDOW, THERE'S A DEADLINE. YOU CAN'T, YOU CANNOT MISS THOSE DEADLINES. UM, SOME FOLKS MAY WANNA START THE BUDGET PROCESS LATER, SOME EARLIER, BUT THERE'S A TIMELINE OUTLINED IN OUR CHARTER, AND WE ARE NOW MEETING THAT, UH, BEGINNING THAT PROCESS. SO THE BUDGET IS TYPICALLY A REFLECTION OF VALUES OF OUR CITY. AND, UH, WE'RE IN A MOMENT WHERE OUR VALUES CONTINUE TO BE TESTED. UH, AND THEY HAVE DONE SO FOR THE PAST, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS THAT I'VE, I'VE BEEN MAYOR, AND WE'VE SEEN SOME REAL CHALLENGES, UH, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. WE INHERITED ALMOST A $90 MILLION STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. UH, WE SAW A FRAGILE, UH, ECONOMY AND, AND OUR DOWNTOWN IN OTHER AREAS POST PANDEMIC. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN CHALLENGES FROM HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER THINGS. BUT I'M PROUD THE WAY LONG BEACH HAS REALLY RALLIED, UH, TO ADDRESS MANY OF THESE CHALLENGES AND MADE REAL PROJECT PROGRESS. UH, SO LONG BEACH HAS GOTTEN TO WORK TOGETHER. WE'VE REDUCED THAT STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, WHICH WAS $89.8 MILLION, JUST, UH, JUST TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. WE BROUGHT THAT DOWN TO 57.3 MILLION. THAT IS, UH, WITHOUT RAISING TAXES ON RESIDENTS, WE BROUGHT THAT DEFICIT DOWN, UH, NEARLY 40%. AND SO THAT'S GREAT PROGRESS AND WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. UH, AND THIS IS OUT OF TIME WHERE WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN THE OPPOSITE TAKE PLACE IN JURISDICTIONS, UH, AROUND US. UH, WE PASSED MEASURE LB. SO WE WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS AND VOTERS FOR DOING THAT. UH, THAT HELPED CLOSE OUTDATED TAX LOOPHOLES, UH, ON POWER PLANTS IN OUR CITY. THAT WAS THIS PAST NOVEMBER THAT HELPED US TO BRING IN NEW, RELIABLE, ONGOING REVENUE, UH, THAT WILL HELP US PROTECT THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER IN OUR CITY. SO THAT WAS A VERY START, SMART MOVE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. WE PASSED MEASURE JB, UH, TO HELP SPEED UP HIRING. WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE CAME IN, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO, YOU KNOW, UM, OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED VERY HARD WE'RE VERY, VERY SHORT STAFFED. AND SO WE MADE IT THE TOP PRIORITY. AND WE PASSED MEASURE JB, WHICH BROUGHT OUR CIVIL SERVICE, OUR HR TOGETHER. AND NOW WE'RE ON TRACK TO BE THE FIRST MAJOR CITY, FIRST BIG CITY IN CALIFORNIA, TO REACH A 90 DAY HIRING STANDARD, WHICH IS, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE STANDARD. UH, WE CONTINUE TO BREAK HOUSING PRODUCTION RECORDS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. UH, WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXPAND SHELTER AND SERVICES. IN FACT, THIS WEEK WE'RE OPENING OUR FIRST YOUTH NAVIGATION CENTER AND SHELTER. AND THROUGH OUR GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE, UH, COMING OUT OF PANDEMIC, WE ARE CATALYZING LOTS OF INVESTMENT, NEW JOBS WE'RE FOUND LAYING A FOUNDATION FOR A STRONGER, MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY. AND JUST THIS MORNING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR AND I WERE TOGETHER WELCOMING FORD MOTOR COMPANY BACK TO THE CITY, CITY OF LONG BEACH, WHO USED TO HAVE A PLANT HERE WHO BUILT ONE AND A HALF MILLION FORD VEHICLES IN LONG BEACH AND LEFT 65 YEARS AGO. WELL, FORD IS BACK WITH HUNDREDS OF ENGINEERS DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES. AND SO, WHAT A STARK CONTRAST FROM WHERE WE WERE. THE, THE BUDGET WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY, UH, IS RESPONSIBLE. IT'S BALANCED. IT ACCELERATES OUR PROGRESS, FOCUSING ON FOUR PRIORITIES TO BUILD A MORE VIBRANT AND PROSPER PROSPEROUS CITY. FIRST, CONTINUING OUR FOCUS ON PROVIDING CORE CITY SERVICES AND IMPROVING THE DELIVER OF DELIVERY OF CORE CITY SERVICES AND ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY AS A PART OF IT. THAT IS FIRST. SECONDLY, CONTINUING THE FOCUS ON PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS AND EXPANDING OUR FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND OUR FOCUS ON, UH, EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. NEXT IS PROTECTING OUR LONG BEACH VALUES UNDER AN INCREASINGLY HOSTILE FEDERAL LANDSCAPE. AND FOURTH, FUELING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND CONTINUING TO INVEST IN ECONOMIC GROWTH. SO THESE FOUR, THESE [00:55:01] FOUR AREAS WILL HELP US TO DELIVER SERVICES. THEY'LL HELP US PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. AND WE'LL KEEP MOVING LONG BEACH FORWARD AND PUTTING POINTS ON THE BOARD. LET'S TALK ABOUT CORE SERVICES FIRST. SO WE'RE MAKING SOME REAL PROGRESS ON PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY. WE'RE SEEING A NOTABLE DECLINE IN CRIME ACROSS OUR CITY. UH, PROPERTY CRIME IS DOWN WITH CATEGORIES LIKE COMMERCIAL BURGLARY DOWN 34.5%, AND PROPERTY DOWN PROPERTY DAMAGE DOWN 25%. UH, THESE ARE INCREDIBLE. UH, THIS IS INCREDIBLE. PROGRESS SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN 29%. HOMICIDES ARE DOWN 28%. THOSE ARE JUST A FEW, BUT THEY DEMONSTRATE THAT WE'RE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE AND WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND WE WANT TO THANK THE HARD WORK OF OUR LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, HIGH CRIME FOCUS TEAM, OUR DETECTIVES, OUR PRO PATROL OFFICERS. WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS INTO, UH, VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND INITIATIVES LIKE STRONG BEACH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THAT'S RIGHT. I, I SEE, I SEE YOU. UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE, MAKE, UH, DELIBERATE INVESTMENTS IN PERSONNEL, UH, PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS CAN WALK SAFELY THROUGH THEIR LOCAL PARKS AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE PEACE OF MIND THAT THEY DESERVE. SOME OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY INVESTMENTS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS BUDGET INCLUDE 1.3 MILLION TO CONTINUE OUR HIGH CLIMB FOCUS TEAM PROACTIVELY ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME, CITYWIDE ADDITIONING, ADDING CIVILIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE ASSISTANCE TO CONTINUE IMPROVING RESPONSE TIMES AND SUPPORTING CALLS FOR SERVICE. UH, CONTINUE. UH, 1.3 MILLION TO CONTINUE THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD AMBULANCE UNIT OPERATION, UH, TO CONTINUE THAT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AT FIRE STATION TWO. UH, WE ARE NOW CONTINUING ON A CITYWIDE BASIS, THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS. THIS IS A NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, EMERGENCY, UH, RESPONSE TEAM, UH, THAT RESPONDS TO BEHAVIORAL CRISIS AND QUALITY OF LIFE CALLS. THIS WAS PILOTED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND NOW WE ARE FUNDING THIS ONGOING IN OUR BUDGET. WE'RE CONTINUING STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR THE BE SAFE INITIATIVE SUMMER ACTIVITIES AND FRIENDLY ENVI ENVIRONMENT ACROSS 11 PARK SITES, UH, ACROSS OUR CITY. UH, WE ARE CONTINUING, UM, THROUGH THE BUDGETS RECOMMENDATION. THE SAFE PASSAGES PROGRAM, WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, IS BEING ADDED INTO THE BUDGET, UH, WHICH ENSURES THE SAFETY OF YOUTH WHO ARE WALKING TO AND FROM DESTINATIONS LIKE SCHOOLS AND PARKS. UH, WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO THE LONG BEACH YOUTH FUND AND OUR YOUTH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROCESS TO SUPPORT DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN THE PROGRAMS WHILE REINFORCING THE YOUTH VOICE IN OUR CITY. NEXT, WE'RE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON OUR CITY'S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. IT WAS ANNOUNCED JUST, JUST THE OTHER DAY, UH, THAT WE SET AN INITIAL GOAL TO GET OUR CITY'S PAVEMENT, UH, CONDITION INDEX, WHICH WAS IN THE FIFTIES, UP TO OUR FIRST GOAL OF 60 AND CONTINUE WHERE WE'RE NOW, WE'RE AT 61. SO IT SHOWS THE PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX HAS CONTINUED TO HEAD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND SO INVESTMENTS INTO OUR STREETS, INTO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDE 13.8 MILLION ON RESIDENTIAL STREET EMPLOY IMPROVEMENTS, 31.7 MILLION IN ARTERIAL STREETS AND CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENTS. THE CONTINUATION OF THE CITY'S SIX DAY POTHOLE REPAIR PROGRAM, CONCRETE PROGRAM, AND IN-HOUSE CRACK SLURRY SEAL PROGRAM. SO, WHILE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE CONTRACTING OUT, LONG BEACH HAS BEEN CONTRACTING IN, AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM HAS BEEN DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. SO WE WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, UH, FOR CONTINUING, UH, THE HARD WORK OF MAINTAINING OUR STREETS. WE'RE ENACTING KEY PRIORITIES OUTLINED IN THE CITY, AUDITOR, STREET STREETS, STREET PROJECTS, AND PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT, PERFORMANCE AUDIT. SO WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY AUDITOR, AND WE WANT TO TAKE HER RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM BETTER. UH, OUR CITY'S EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF WATER MAIN BREAKS OVER THE PAST YEAR. UH, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT. AND SO WE'RE ASKING OUR UTILITY DEPARTMENT TO LEVERAGE NEW TECHNOLOGY. WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING THAT CITIES ARE USING AI AND OTHER THINGS TO ANTICIPATE WHERE THE NEXT WATER MAIN BREAK MAY, UH, MAY EXIST AND GET AHEAD OF IT. AND SO WE ARE ASKING OUR, OUR TECHNOLOGY, OUR, UH, UTILITY SERVICES TO LOOK AT FUTURE TECHNOLOGY TO SEE HOW WE CAN PREVENT FUTURE CATASTROPHES. WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ELEVATE 28 CAPITAL, CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT PROGRAM, IS COMING TO AN END IN 27, WHICH IS GOOD. THAT MEANS MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS INVESTMENT WILL BE, WILL HAVE BEEN INVESTED BY, UH, SUMMER OF 27. SO IT'S TIME TO BEGIN PLANNING IN 2026 FOR WHAT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS LOOKS LIKE. SO THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION TO BEGIN THE EARLY WORK OF WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO INVEST, WHAT DOES THE NEXT BILLION OR SO OF INFRASTRUCTURE LOOK LIKE, UH, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH? HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE PROJECTS ACROSS OUR CITY AND BEGIN THAT DISCUSSION. WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, THAT WE'RE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON HOUSING. WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ADVANCE AND ACCELERATE HOMELESS PREVENTION, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION, UH, IN OUR CITY THROUGH MEASURE A, UH, WE SAW THAT WE'VE, WE'VE HOUSED RECORD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, BUT DESPITE HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU'VE BROUGHT IN AND CONNECTED PERMANENT HOUSING, UNLESS YOU TURN OFF THE INFLOW, UNLESS YOU KEEP PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS TO BEGIN WITH, [01:00:01] YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SEE YOUR NUMBERS GO UP. THAT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE. AND SO NOW WITH MEASURE A, WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE WILL BE THE FIRST CITY IN LA COUNTY TO SUBMIT A MEASURE, A PLAN FOCUSED ON, ON PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND UPSTREAM PREVENTION. AND SO, THAT'S RIGHT. SO MANY OF YOU DID THE WORK KNOCKING ON THE DOORS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ADOPTION OF MEASURE A. IT PASSED WITH 57% OF THE VOTE COUNTYWIDE, BUT IN LONG BEACH, IT WAS 60% OF THE VOTE, BECAUSE WE WENT OUT, KNOCKED ON DOORS, AND WE, WE, WE MADE SURE WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO ENSURE THIS WAS A, A, A PRIORITY. AS A PROPONENT OF THIS MEASURE, AND AS CHAIR OF THE NEWLY FORMED LA COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS AGENCY, I'M PROUD THAT MEASURE A IS EXPECTED. AND WE'VE SECURED MORE THAN $16 MILLION ANNUALLY TO BRING HOME TO THE CITY, UH, TO CONTINUE THIS IMPORTANT WORK, UH, WITH A FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND PERMANENT PATHWAYS INTO STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND SO, UH, WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT THE UPSTREAM LONG BEACH, UH, PLAN, WHICH IS A PLAN TO HELP PREVENT PEOPLE FROM LOSING HOUSING STABILITY AND PATHWAYS, NEW PATHWAYS TO HOUSING FOR EVERYONE. THESE DOLLARS COULDN'T, COULDN'T HAVE COME AT A MORE CRITICAL TIME CONSIDERING, UH, RECENT FEDERAL, UH, FUNDING CUTS TO SOCIAL SECUR SOCIAL SERVICES, UM, THREATS TO HOMELESS STUDENT PROTECTIONS, BUDGET CHALLENGES AT STATE LEVEL, THIS FUNDING AND MEASURE A IS ALLOWING US TO PROTECT OUR CITY'S PROGRESS AND RESPOND TO NEWLY VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. AND SO WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL HOW WE USE THESE IMPORTANT DOLLARS. UH, THESE ARE LIMITED DOLLARS. SO WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC AND TO, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TARGET SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. SO, BASED ON DATA AND NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE, THIS PLAN, FOCUS ON THREE KEY POPULATIONS. FIRST TRANSITION, AGE, AND AT RISK YOUTH. IF YOU CAN PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BEING HOMELESS AT THAT VULNERABLE TRANSITION AGE, YOU CAN PREVENT A LIFETIME OF HOMELESSNESS THAT IS AS UPSTREAM AS IT GETS. SECONDLY, VULNERABLE SE SENIORS BASED ON THE DATA, THIS IS A VULNERABLE POPULATION WHERE WE HAVE, WE CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT WITH FOCUSED SUPPORT, SO OLDER ADULTS CAN AGE WITH DIGNITY. SO THAT'S A SECOND, UH, AREA THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON WITH THESE DOLLARS. AND THEN THIRDLY, WE ARE FOCUSED ON COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY RECENT FEDERAL POLICY ACTION. SO THIS INCLUDES PEOPLE NOW AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS DUE TO CUTS TO HEALTHCARE, UH, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS IMPACTED, AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY INCREASING, UH, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, WHICH CREATED ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS AND PUSHED PEOPLE TO THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS. SO IF WE WANT TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REAL CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE TO MAKE A CHO CHOICE BETWEEN GETTING HEALTHCARE OR PAYING THEIR RENT, UH, OR CHOOSE BETWEEN GOING TO WORK OR THE RISK OF POTENTIALLY BEING SEPARATED FROM YOUR FAMILIES. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE LEVERAGE THESE DOLLARS TO KEEP OUR OUR COMMUNITIES STABLE. UH, WITH THAT IN MIND, HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS UNDER THIS PLAN. 5.2 MILLION FOR THE PREVENTION OF FOLK FOR PREVENTION FOCUSED PROGRAMS. THAT INCLUDES A MILLION DOLLAR SHALLOW RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS. THIS WAS INTRODUCED AT THE STABLE STATE OF THE CITY, A SHALLOW SUBSIDY PROGRAM. ESSENTIALLY, LET'S SAY YOU'RE ON A FIXED INCOME AND YOUR RENT GOES UP 200 BUCKS. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PAY YOUR WHOLE RENT, BUT MAYBE WE CAN GET YOU SOME CASH TO HELP COVER THAT SUBSIDY AND KEEP YOU STABLE THROUGH THAT CIRCUMSTANCE. AND THAT WAY YOU CAN HELP MORE PEOPLE, UH, UH, WHO ARE MAYBE IN THAT, THAT CIRCUMSTANCE. SO THESE ARE FLEXIBLE DOLLARS AND SHALLOW SUBSIDIES TARGETED AT VULNERABLE SENIORS. UH, WE HAVE SHALLOW RENTAL SUBSIDIES, UH, UH, PROGRAM FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY FEDERAL POLICY ACTIONS. WE HAVE, UH, 1.5 MILLION TO THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND TENANT EDUCATION, KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, AND 500,000 IN CASH ASSISTANCE TO TRANSITION AGE YOUTH. UH, THESE INVESTMENTS IN YOUTH ARE ACTUALLY TIED TO OUR, UH, OUR GOAL OF ACHIEVING, UM, ENDING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN LONG BEACH. AND THE FIRST MILESTONE IS ACHIEVING FUNCTIONAL ZERO, ESSENTIALLY, MEANING YOU HAVE MORE CAPACITY THAN YOUR ONGOING NORMAL NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, SO THAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN GET TO THAT FIRST MILESTONE WITH THIS PLAN IN THE FIRST YEAR. AND SO WE'LL BE INVE INVESTING, UH, UNDER CRISIS RESPONSE, MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF MILLION OF SUPPORT FOR EMERGENCY INTERVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING OUR CON CONTINUING OUR COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS, INTERIM HOUSING OPERATIONS, COORDINATED OUTREACH AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT UNDER PATHWAYS OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, THERE'S NEARLY $8 MILLION IN SUPPORT, UH, WHICH INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION, UH, DOLLARS. IT MEANS YOUTH HOUSING SUBSIDIES. IT MEANS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR, UH, GROUPS LIKE COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. SO WE'RE, SO WE'RE CHOOSING TO INVEST IN VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. AND BY DOING SO, UH, WE'RE MAKING AN IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE ALSO HAVE SEEN, UH, AS I MENTIONED, INTENSE FEDERAL, IN FACT, UH, ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND OTHER, UH, UH, ACTIONS THAT HAVE, UH, NOT ONLY PUT PEOPLE AT THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS, BUT CREATED A LOT OF FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO [01:05:01] THOSE HAVE PUT, UH, OUR VALUES TO THE TEST. SO IN LONG BEACH, UH, WE, WE ARE A CITY THAT BELIEVES IN BELONGING AND EQUITY AND JUSTICE AND ALL THOSE THINGS. AND SO, AS WE, UH, DELIVER OUR BUDGET, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE VALUES ARE REFLECTED HERE. SO, UH, THIS, UH, BASED ON IMPORTANT FEEDBACK, UH, WE'VE, UH, NOW, UM, ADDED MEASURES INTO THE, THIS BUDGET TO ENHANCE RESOURCES AND PROTECTIONS FOR LOCAL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THIS IS OUR DEFENDING OUR LONG BEACH VALUES PLAN. THIS PLAN REPRESENTS MORE THAN 500 MIL, EXCUSE ME, $5 MILLION BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY TO PREVENT ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE. THIS INCLUDES TWO AND A HALF MILLION DEDICATED TO DIRECT FINANCIAL AND LEGAL SUPPORT THROUGH THE JUSTICE FUND AND RAPID RESPONSE EFFORTS AND EMERGENCY CASH SUPPORT. SO THIS INCLUDES, UH, 1.85 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND TO ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION, UPHOLD DUE PROCESS, AND, AND PRESERVE FAMILY UNITY. $500,000 IN EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR LONG BEACH IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BABIES, BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. 150,000 TO CONTINUE TO DO KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING, UH, IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. AND A SAFE PLACE, UH, PROGRAM, UH, WITH OUR BUSINESSES. AND WE'RE INCLUDING, UM, THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION TO A LARGER EVICTION PROTECTION FUND, UH, WHICH IS, UH, SUPPORTED BY MEASURE A. SO, UH, THAT IS FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, INCLUDING OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. SO THIS ALSO INCLUDED A LIST OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT THE COUNCIL CAN TAKE UP ON THEIR OWN. SO, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THE COUNCIL'S GONNA BRING SOME OF THESE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD, 'CAUSE THOSE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED SOONER THAN, UH, THE OPTION OF THE BUDGET. UH, WE WANNA THANK ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED, UH, WHO HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THIS. SO NOW LET'S GO TO OUR, OUR FINAL CATEGORY. LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR INCREDIBLE LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND SO, UH, WE KNOW AND RECOGNIZE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR CITY. THEY POWER A LOCAL ECONOMY. UH, THEY'RE THE RECEPTIVE RECEPTORS FOR THE VERY REVENUE THAT HELPS DRIVE OUR CITY SERVICES. AND SO, UH, WHEN TOURISTS COME INTO TOWN AND WHEN, UH, CONVENTIONS AND CONCERTS COME INTO TOWN, WE DON'T MAKE MONEY UNLESS FOLKS SHOP AT OUR RESTAURANTS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT'S HOW, THAT'S THE RECEPTORS. AND WE ALL BENEFIT. ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BENEFIT WHEN THAT TAKES PLACE. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UH, UH, THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND, AND WE MAKE SURE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS HEALTHY. SO SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, WE'VE BEEN HOSTING SMALL BUSINESS ROUND TABLES TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM OUR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS. WE ASKED THE QUESTION OF, WHAT MORE CAN THE CITY DO TO SUPPORT YOUR SUCCESS? BASED ON THIS FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE FFY FY 26 BUDGET NOW HAS A PLAN CALLED BACK TO BUSINESS, LONG BEACH SMALL BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVATION PLAN. THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN INCLUDES TWO KEY COMPONENTS, THE SMALL BUSINESS REBOUND INITIATIVE, WHICH EXPANDS RA UH, WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO GIVE, GIVE, UH, OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH TO OUR CITY, UH, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO THRIVE. AND SECONDLY, UH, A FOCUS ON NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVATION ACROSS OUR CITY, INCLUDING IN OUR DOWNTOWN TO BUILD MORE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS. SO, UNDER THE REBOUND INITIATIVE, THERE'S THREE FOCUSES UNDER RECRUITMENT, UH, THAT IS, UH, FOCUSED ON INCREASING OUR CAPACITY, UM, TO RECRUIT BUSINESSES THROUGH FIRST YEAR FREE INITIATIVES, OUR GROW LONG BEACH REVOLVING LOAN FUND, UH, OUR VACANCY TO VIBRANCY INITIATIVE. SO DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BRING MORE BUSINESSES INTO OUR CITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR A LONG TIME. UNDER RETENTION, WE WANNA SUPPORT OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES WHO ARE HERE, UH, TO WEATHER DIFFICULT TIMES. SO THAT MEANS, UH, UH, CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR OUR RAPID RESPONSE INITIATIVES. THAT MEANS PROVEN PROGRAMS LIKE OUR, OUR EXTREME SMALL BUSINESS, UH, BOOTCAMP, LEVEL UP LB INCLUSIVE BUSINESS NAVIGATORS PROGRAM. UH, WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE AS A CITY ARE MORE SUSCEPTIVE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CHANGES IN TRADE POLICY. AND SO THREATS OF TARIFFS, UH, OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE, ARE, ARE MORE IMPACTED THAN THE OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. BECAUSE WE ARE A PORT TOWN AND ONE IN FIVE JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS CONNECTED TO THE PORT. AND SO WE'RE ESTABLISHING A NEW TARIFF EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES WHOSE OPERATIONS ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY, BY THE, UH, RECENT FEDERAL, UH, TRADE DIS TARIFF DISCUSSION. AND UNDER REINFORCEMENT, WE'RE LAUNCHING A SAFE AND SECURE PROGRAM. THIS IS THE, LET'S MAKE, MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER, UH, FOR FOLKS TO VANDALIZE THE BREAK INTO OUR BUSINESSES. SO WE HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE GRANT PROGRAM TO FUND PROACTIVE MEASURES LIKE CASHLESS, POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS, AND CONTINUING OUR IMPORTANT, UH, VISUAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS PROGRAM. NOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS OUR FOCUS ON ECONOMIC VICE BRI MACHINE ACROSS OUR CITY, DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, AND ACROSS OUR CITY. SO IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, AND WE'RE INVESTING IN CREATING ADVERTISEMENT DISTRICT AS A PART OF THE DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT TO BRING MORE ACT ACTIVITY AND MORE REVENUE INTO THE, INTO OUR COMMUNITY. UH, WE'RE MAKING, UH, STRATEGIC, UH, INVESTMENTS INTO ACTIVATIONS IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND, AND ADDITIONAL THINGS. UH, WE'RE CITYWIDE. [01:10:01] WE'RE LOOKING AT SUPPORT FOR OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS ALL ACROSS OUR CITY, ESTABLISHING OUR MERCADO EL MERCADO DE LONG BEACH, UH, FUNDING FOR WAY FINDING CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLIC REALM AND VISUAL IMPROVEMENTS. UH, IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE WEST SIDE, WEST LONG BEACH ECONOMIC STUDY AND MARKET STUDY. SO A NUMBER OF, UH, THINGS TAKING PLACE ACROSS OUR WHOLE CITY. AND SO THIS IS A, ALL OF THESE PLANS AND ALL OF THESE, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FEEDBACK. WE WANNA THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY FOR ENGAGING WITH US, UH, DURING THE FIRST PART OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS, ENGAGING WITH ME DIRECTLY. WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE, THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT, UH, THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, UH, TODAY. UH, MANY FROM, UH, GROUPS LIKE THE RESTAURANTS AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, OUR ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP. SO WE WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR LETTERS OF SUPPORT. SO, UH, I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO TOM. UH, AS WE, UM, UH, GO INTO THIS PROCESS AND WANNA ISSUE A WORD OF CAUTION. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MANY OF THE IMMEDIATE BUDGET CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. UH, BUT, UH, THESE, UH, WILL NOT SOLVE THE LOOMING DEFICIT IN THE FUTURE. UH, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE, UM, TO, TO, TO, LIKE FIND INTERESTING WAYS, UH, TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE IN OUR CITY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE WILL BEGIN TO SEE REAL CHALLENGES DUE TO LOSS OF OIL REVENUE AND, AND SUSTAINABLE AND CUTS TO THE HAP FUNDING, WHICH IS OUR FLEXIBLE HOMELESSNESS DOLLARS FROM THE STATE. UH, THE RECENT STATE BUDGET, CUT THOSE DOLLARS IN HALF. SO WE KNOW THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR, UM, CHALLENGES AND TIGHTS AND CHALLENGES WITH OIL. IT'S A DIRECT, MUCH OF THIS DIRECT ACTIONS, MUCH OF THESE DIRECT ACTIONS ARE RESULTS OF THE STATE. AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS THAT ARE GONNA BE MORE PRONOUNCED. THEY'RE NOT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT THEY'RE GONNA BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED. AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERY, EVERYTHING WE CAN, NOT ONLY AT THE CITY LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT THE STATE LEVEL, TO MAKE SURE WE GET AHEAD OF THESE CHALLENGES, UH, AND THAT OUR PARTNERS IN THE STATE ARE WORKING WITH US ON THIS. SO WE HAVE TO STAND FIRM TOGETHER. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE DECIS THESE DECISIONS DO NOT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, WE ALSO KNOW THAT, UH, THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL FLEXIBLE ONE-TIME DOLLARS. SO MY WORD OF, UH, CAUTION TO THE COUNCIL AS YOU BEGIN YOUR DELIBERATION, EVERY CHANGE HAS TO HAVE OFFSETTING CUT AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WE WILL KEEP E EQUITY IN MIND IF IT CREATES REAL DRAMATIC IMPACTS TO ONE GROUP OR NOT ANOTHER GROUP, OR WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT, LOOK AT THIS FROM A, UH, AN EQUITY LENS. UH, BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU, DO YOUR THING. GO THROUGH THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE PROCESS. UH, BUT WE WILL, WE WILL, WE WILL NOT PASS A BUDGET THAT IS NOT BALANCED. UM, AND WE WILL ENSURE THAT THAT IS MAINTAINED THROUGH THIS PROCESS. SO THAT SAID, I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER MO MOCA, UH, TO FILL IN THE BLANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. SO, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS IS A BIG DAY. UM, THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO. WE KICK OFF OUR BUDGET PROCESS. I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN THAT BECAUSE THAT REALLY FUNDS THE WORK FOR THE NEXT YEAR. AND IT REALLY IS A, A STATEMENT OF, OF WHAT IT IS AS A POLICY BODY YOU WANT US TO FOCUS ON. AND SO, UH, UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY AFTER A LOT OF THOUGHT AND A LOT OF COMMENTS AND A LOT OF INPUT THAT WE TAKE OVER THE YEAR. AND YOU CAN KIND OF THINK OF THE BUDGET PROCESS LIKE A BIG FUNNEL. SO, UH, THE MANAGER LISTENS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE HEAR THINGS FROM THE COUNCIL, WE HEAR THINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE DO, UH, EARLY PUBLIC, UM, OUTREACH MEETINGS. WE HEAR FROM DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN WE START BUILDING THESE, UM, THESE PROPOSALS. AND, AND SO THEN AS, AS THE MANAGER PUTS TOGETHER THE, UM, THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THAT'S WHERE THE MAYOR HAS RECOMMENDATIONS. HE TAKES MORE INPUT, HE HEARS FROM GROUPS, BUT THEN IT REALLY COMES NOW DOWN TO THE COUNCIL. AND SO NOW THE COUNCIL IS GONNA START THAT DELIBERATION PROCESS THROUGH THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. AND THEN ALSO, AS ALL OF YOU, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR LOTS OF PRESENTATIONS OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AS YOU TRY TO NARROW DOWN AND GET TO THAT FINAL DEAL WHERE, UH, WE PASS A BUDGET, UH, BY MID-SEPTEMBER. SO I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE, UH, ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I WON'T TRY TO BE DUPLICATIVE OF, OF WHAT THE MAYOR COVERED 'CAUSE HE COVERED A LOT, UH, AS WELL. BUT WE HAVE, UH, IN OUR FOUR KEY AREAS OF FOCUS, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING, AND HOMELESSNESS INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. A LOT TO BE PROUD OF. UH, BUDGETS, DELIVER RESULTS, UH, AND, UH, WE CERTAINLY HAVE HAD RESULTS THIS YEAR. UH, CLEARLY, UH, THERE WAS, WAS AMAZING REGIONAL LEADERSHIP DURING THE PALISADES AND EATON FIRES, WHILST ALSO MAINTAINING OUR LOCAL SERVICE LEVELS. WE HAVE DECLINING OVERALL CRIME. CRIME IS DOWN OVERALL ABOUT 15%, AND WE ARE IN OUR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF REDUCED SHOOTINGS. MURDERS ARE DOWN 28%, UH, UH, PROPERTY CRIME DOWN OVER 20%, UM, AND SHOOTINGS DOWN 29%. WE MAINTAIN A VERY FAST, UH, EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIME. IN FACT, WHEN THE BUDGET WAS PUBLISHED, IT WAS 5.8 MINUTES. IF WE LOOK AT THE, TODAY, IT'S ACTUALLY LOWER. IT'S ACTUALLY 5.6 MINUTES, UH, AS WE LOOKED AT IT JUST, UH, IN THE LAST, UH, WEEK. AND SO, UH, THAT, THAT IS AN AMAZING RESPONSE TIME FOR WHEN YOU NEED, UH, POLICE THE MOST. THEY WILL BE THERE. UH, 69,000 INCIDENTS, UH, RESPONDED TO BY OUR, UH, AMAZING FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND THAT NEW COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM HAS HELPED ABOUT 850 PEOPLE, UH, IN HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS. WE SERVE ALMOST 200 PEOPLE [01:15:01] EVERY SINGLE DAY AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER. UH, WE'VE, UH, CLEARED ABOUT 720 ENCAMPMENTS WITH COMPASSIONATE ENGAGEMENT, UH, AND SHELTER. UM, PROVIDE OR PROVIDING SHELTER. UH, WE'VE, UH, ACTUALLY HOUSED ABOUT 1600 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MORE PEOPLE FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS EVERY YEAR. WE'VE CONSTRUCTED 1800 NEW HOUSING UNITS. 258 WERE AFFORDABLE, 200 UNITS WERE BUILT. AND WE ARE THE LEADER IN CALIFORNIA IN A DU, UM, UH, PER CAPITA, A DU CONSTRUCTION. AND WE ADDED 864 UNITS. AND ONE OF OUR BIG GOALS WAS TO BECOME THE MOST AFFORDABLE CITY, UH, IN THE REGION. AND ACTUALLY, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT. WE WERE HOPING TO BE THE MOST AFFORDABLE BOAT, BEACH CITY. WE'RE ACTUALLY THE MOST AFFORDABLE CITY. WHILE OTHERS ARE SEEING RENTS, UM, CLIMBING OUR RENTS HAVE STABILIZED. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RENT THAT THEY CAN AFFORD. UH, CLEARLY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A HUGE CALIFORNIA ISSUE, BUT OF THE CITIES IN THE REGION, LONG BEACH IS DOING WELL BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING, UH, UNITS, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT INCLUSIONARY, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT AFFORDABLE UNITS, UH, BUT CLEARLY MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE, SORRY. AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS, UH, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT $2 BILLION IN TOURISM IMPACT, WHICH IS OUTPACING THE REGION AND IS HIGHER THAN OUR BEST YEAR IN 2019. UH, WE'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL AT BRINGING ON FEDERAL DESCENT EVENT SPENDING. WE'VE GOT 4,000 JOBS COMING IN SPACE AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. UH, AND ON THE LOCAL BUSINESS LEVEL, WE REALLY STARTED ENGAGING LOCAL BUSINESS, AND WE SAW A 500% INCREASE IN OUR BUSINESS NEWSLETTER ENGAGEMENT. AND WE'VE LAUNCHED PROGRAMS LIKE YOUTH, UH, SERVICE CORPS TO, UH, EXPAND OUR TEEN AND AND YOUNG ADULT PATHWAYS IN THE AREA OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'VE HAD A 400%, ALMOST 395% INCREASE IN CIP INVESTMENT. UH, IN THE PAST 10 YEARS. WE REPAIRED OVER 48,000 POTHOLES, UH, RETRIED, 70 MILES OF STREETS, INVESTED 48 MILLION IN STREETS AND ALLEYS REPAIRS, AND REMOVED 400 TONS OF DEBRIS. SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL POSITION. UH, SO, UH, LAST YEAR WHEN WE CAME TO YOU IN JANUARY, WE ESTIMATED THIS YEAR WOULD BE ABOUT A $30 MILLION DEFICIT. UH, WE GO THROUGH PROJECTIONS AND ACTUALLY THAT IMPROVED. UH, AND SO OVER THE YEARS, BECAUSE OF MEASURE LB AND, AND BECAUSE OF PRUDENT SPENDING, WE BROUGHT THAT DOWN TO ABOUT $20 MILLION. AND SO THAT'S A $10 MILLION, UH, IMPROVEMENT IN OUR FINANCIAL POSITION. UH, ONE OF OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS, UH, IS FUND. THE SERVICES WE NEED TO FUND ARE TOTAL BUDGETS, ABOUT 3.7 BILLION, WHICH IS UP, UH, FROM 3.6 BILLION LAST YEAR. WE, UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE GENERAL FUND, ARE EXPERIENCING SOME CHALLENGES. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO TIGHTEN THE BELT WITHOUT CUTTING THOSE MOST CRITICAL, UH, SERVICES OR PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ONE-TIME NEEDS IN WAYS THAT DO NOT ADD TO THE STRUCTURAL SHORTFALL, BUT THAT'S BEEN MORE DIFFICULT AS WE DON'T HAVE THOSE ONE-TIME DOLLARS WE NORMALLY RELIED ON. AND, OF COURSE, SHAPING A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PROMOTES A LONG BEACH WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE. AND SO WHAT HAS, UH, OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH BEEN? IT'S BEEN, UH, REVENUE TRENDS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT. THEY HAVE ACTUALLY, UH, BEEN, UH, DROPPING, UH, PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE MARCH AS WE, UH, ARE IN A PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY AS A NATION. UH, UH, WE'RE NOT ALONE. LOTS OF OTHER CITIES ARE IN THIS, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. UH, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAKING THE DECISIONS NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO PRESERVE THOSE EXISTING CORE SERVICES AND PRESENT CHALLENGES FOR, FROM WORSENING, WORSENING. SO AS WE CREATED THIS, WE LOOKED TO PRESERVE THOSE SERVICES. WE ASKED DEPARTMENTS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO, UH, ASK FOR SOMETHING HERE, YOU NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO IT, WHETHER THAT BE REVENUE OR EXPENDITURES. WE HAD TO EVALUATE PROGRAMS THAT DIDN'T HAVE FUNDING SOURCES ANYMORE, AND TRY TO SAVE THE ONES THAT WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT, BUT RECOGNIZE THAT SOME DO NEED TO SUNSET. AND THEN, UM, IN SOME CASES, WE HAD TO TAKE THOSE SOLUTIONS AND HELP, UH, DRIVE DOWN, UH, THE, THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AT THE SAME TIME. AND SO THE BUDGET WE PRESENT TO YOU TODAY IS ACTUALLY IMPROVING THE STRUCTURAL, UM, PROBLEM. UH, WE DON'T ELIMINATE IT, BUT WE WENT FROM $30 MILLION BACK IN JANUARY TO ABOUT $16.9 MILLION. SO WE IMPROVED IT EVEN FURTHER, ANOTHER $5 MILLION, UH, WITH THE, WITH THE SOLUTIONS THAT WERE, THAT WERE MADE OUT HERE. SO LET'S LOOK AT WHAT OUR LONG-TERM PROJECTION LOOKS LIKE. UH, WE DO HAVE A, A SUR A SHORTFALL OVER FIVE YEARS. UH, BUT IT HAS IMPROVED. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IT WAS ALMOST $90 MILLION ABOUT A YEAR AGO. IT IS NOW TODAY ABOUT $60 MILLION. SO NEXT YEAR IS GONNA BE A VERY DIFFICULT, TOUGH YEAR FOR US. UH, THIS YEAR. WE CAN KIND OF AVOID HAVING TO MAKE THOSE, THOSE REALLY TOUGH, UH, CUTS. TO SERVICE. BUT UNLESS THINGS IMPROVE, UNLESS OUR REVENUES IMPROVE, WE HAVE OTHER SOLUTIONS. WE'RE LOOKING, UH, AT ABOUT A $39.3 MILLION, UH, UM, PROBLEM NEXT YEAR. UH, AS WE PUT TOGETHER THE BUDGET, WE ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO THE COUNCIL STRATEGIC VISION THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER WITH THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY VOICES. AND SO WE LOOK TO SEE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN THE BUDGET, DO THEY ALIGN, UM, WITH THAT STRATEGIC VISION? SO YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE BUDGET. SO, TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR VERY CLEARLY FROM THE COUNCIL IS HOUSING ENFORCEMENT FOR, UM, FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, FOR PEOPLE LIVING, ESPECIALLY IN MULTI, UM, APARTMENT BUILDINGS, [01:20:01] UH, TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THOSE AND, AND ADDRESS THOSE. AND SO PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING, ADDING CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER POSITION AND CIVIL ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE. AND THE WAY WE'RE OFFSETTING THAT IS WE HAVEN'T, UH, ADDRESSED THOSE FEES IN A LONG TIME. SO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT DUE COST RECOVERY, AND ALSO IN OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAMS TO, UH, GET FULL COST RECOVERY ON THAT, WHICH ALLOWS US, UH, TO HAVE THOSE INSPECTORS AVAILABLE, UH, MEASURE A HOMELESSNESS FUNDING. UH, WE RECENTLY GOT A, UH, DOLLARS, UH, FROM MEASURE A AND YOU HEARD THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT THAT. AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET FROM THE MANAGER TALKS ABOUT THE, THE LOCAL SOLUTIONS FUND FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS. AND THEN THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION TALKS ABOUT THE REMAINING DOLLARS. UH, WE HEARD VERY CLEARLY FROM THE COUNCIL THAT FIRE OPERATIONS WERE CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT TO YOU, UM, UH, PARTICULARLY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO A CONTINUING RESCUE TWO PEAK LOAD AMBULANCE, AND THAT IS NOW STRUCTURALLY FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET. SO, UH, WE FOUND SOME ADDITIONAL AMBULANCE REVENUE. SOME OF IT WENT TO SELL, SUPPORT, OTHER OPERATIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND, SOMES, UH, UH, PAID, UH, TO INCREASE THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT FOR THIS. SO THAT'S NOW A NEW UNIT THAT IS ADDED ON A 12 HOUR BASIS, UH, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. UH, YOU'LL HEAR NEXT WEEK FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS THEY LOOK TO RESTRUCTURE OUR SOCIETAL CRIME SECTION, CREATING A NEW, UH, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HEAR FROM EVERYTHING FROM SEXUAL, UM, SEX TRAFFICKING TO, UH, A, B, C ISSUES, TO BARS, TO DRUGS, UH, AND, UH, PUTTING THAT TOGETHER IN A DIFFERENT, UH, APPROACH. UM, THEN, UH, COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE PRESERVATION, UH, THAT WOULD HAVE GONE AWAY, UH, HAD WE NOT FOUND A SOLUTION. SO WE HAVE A, A NEW TEAM, UH, GOES OUT THERE WITH THOSE UNARMED CIVILIANS, BUT IT WAS FUNDED WITH ONE TIMES, AND WITH THOSE ONE TIMES NOT AVAILABLE, IT WOULD'VE ENDED THIS YEAR. SO WE FOUND ABOUT A 70%, UH, SOLUTION, UH, THROUGH MEASURE A AND, UH, COUNTY MEASURE A AND WHAT A, A, UH, A, UM, A HUGE SUPPORT THAT'S BEEN, UH, SO YOU HEARD THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT IT TOO, BUT THOSE ARE THE NEW RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE, AND THAT WILL SAVE ABOUT 70% OF THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM. AND THE REST IS DONE, UH, WITH ONE-TIME DOLLARS, UM, CITY MEASURE A FUNDS. SO USUALLY, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE A, A, A NUMBER OF ONE-TIME FUNDS THAT CAN FUND THOSE CRITICAL PRIORITIES, INCLUDING POLICE AND FIRE. BUT THOSE DON'T EXIST THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE USING THEM TO PREVENT SERVICE REDUCTIONS. AND SO MEASURE A, UH, CAN BE USED FOR BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, PRESERVATION OR ENHANCEMENT, UM, OR, UM, OR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO THIS YEAR, UH, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE, UH, USE THE MEASURE A DOLLARS FOR THAT FOR OUR HIGH CRIME FOCUS TEAM, WHICH HAS HELPED DRIVE DOWN CRIME BY OVER 15%, UH, TO CREATE A REAL TIME CRIME CENTER TO WORK ON, UH, YOUTH AND, AND, UH, YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES, AND IN P IN PD TO DO GENDER AND DIVERSITY FOCUS, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS AND FIRE. AND YOU CAN SEE THE LIST, UH, HERE. WE'RE ALSO INVESTING IN OUR HELICOPTER. UH, THIS ACTUALLY COMES FROM A SPECIAL FUND THAT DOES, UM, UH, ASSET FORFEITURE. AND SO, UH, BEING ABLE TO GET THAT, UH, THAT UNIT SO THAT IT HAS THE, THE BEST TECHNOLOGY. UH, IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT A TRANSFORMATION. WE WANNA RENAME THE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND PROPOSE TO RENAME IT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY DEPARTMENT TO RECOGNIZE IT'S ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO ABOUT YOUTH OPPORTUNITY AND A PLACE WHERE LONG BEACH IS FULL OF OPPORTUNITY. UH, THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED THE SMALL BUSINESS, UH, REBOUND INITIATIVE, THE $1 MILLION INVESTMENT IN PROGRAMS, UH, LIKE, UH, EXTREME MAKEOVER AND, AND SAFE AND SECURE AND VISUAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. UH, ONE THING, UH, WE HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY IS THE IMPORTANCE OF CROSSING GUARDS. AND THAT'S A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM FOR US TO STAFF. THESE ARE PART-TIME POSITIONS WHERE WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO COME IN THE MORNING, THEN GO HOME, THEN COME AGAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. AND WHAT WE FOUND IS NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN MEET THAT SCHEDULE AND, AND ALSO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO, TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A NEW PILOT PROGRAM WHERE WE CONVERT SIX FULL-TIME PARKING CONTROL CHECKERS, UH, INTO THOSE CROSSING GUARDS. SO THEY'LL DO CROSSING GUARD ACTIVITIES IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON, AND DURING THE OTHER TIME, THEY CAN GO OUT AND, AND DEAL WITH SOME OF THE TRAFFIC ISSUES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT AROUND OUR SCHOOLS, UH, AND HELP TO, UM, TO MANAGE SOME OF THOSE TRAFFIC, UH, CONTROL ISSUES. UH, WE'VE GOT, UM, UH, CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE YOUTH FESTIVAL AND THE, UH, COMMUNITY-BASED GRANTS. UM, EVEN THOUGH MEASURE US IS, IS DECLINING, WE FOUND WAYS TO PRESERVE THAT. UH, WE COMMITTED TO CREATING A CULTURAL AFFAIRS DIVISION IN OUR, UH, LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS TO OUR LIBRARY, IS THAT IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE THEM DO ARTS AND CULTURE THAT WE DON'T TAKE FROM A LIBRARIAN'S DUTIES, BUT RATHER ADD TO IT. AND THAT COMMITMENT'S BEING FULFILLED HERE. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT LIBRARY, UM, UH, UH, LIBRARY, UH, GOALS WAS, UH, THE COUNCIL ADDED SIX DAY A WEEK SERVICE, UH, TWO YEARS AGO, BUT FUNDED PART OF IT STRUCTURALLY AND PART OF IT ON ONE TIMES. AND SO WE WERE GONNA LOSE THAT. WE WERE GONNA LOSE SIX DAY SERVICE, UH, AT BAYSHORE BURNETT AND BRETT HART HAD WE NOT FOUND A SOLUTION. AND SO, UH, WE FOUND SOME, UH, REDUCTIONS WITHIN THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT AND USE THOSE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE THOSE [01:25:01] SIX DAY A WEEK SERVICE. IN THE AREA OF CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WE FOUND, UM, SOME OTHER, UH, DOLLARS TO HELP, UH, MOVE FORWARD OUR KEY CLIMATE GOALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES. UH, WE'RE GONNA BE FUNDING A NEW ENERGY RESILIENCY FEASIBILITY STUDY. WE'RE GONNA BE EXPANDING OUR URBAN FOREST BY PLANTING A THOUSAND TREES, UH, AND ALSO INVESTING IN EV UM, UH, SWEEPERS TO MAINTAIN OUR, UM, ENHANCE OUR MAINTENANCE CAPABILITIES. UH, BUT ONE MAJOR AREA, UH, THAT I'D LIKE TO COVER IS, UM, OUR REFUSE DEPARTMENT. SO REFUSE IS ACTUALLY WITHIN, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. IT'S, UH, WE OFTEN CALL IT THE REFUSE DEPARTMENT. IT'S ACTUALLY A BUREAU WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS. AND PUBLIC WORKS HAS GROWN BY, YOU KNOW, TWO TO 300 PEOPLE OVER THE, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS OF WE'VE GROWN THEIR SCOPE. THERE ARE OVER 700 PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT NOW, AND IT BECAME VERY CLEAR THAT REFUSE, UM, UH, COULD USE SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. AND SO WE'VE WORKED, UM, WITH OUR UNIONS. WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, WORKED WITH, UH, BOTH, UM, ENERGY RESOURCES AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING MOVING, UH, REFUSE, UM, OPERATION OVER INTO A NEW DEPARTMENT CALLED ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. SO WE'LL COVER THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT PRESENTATION. I THINK IT'S A GREAT INNOVATION TO HELP SUPPORT, UM, THE EMPLOYEES DOING THAT WORK, AND ALSO ALLOW PUBLIC WORKS TO FOCUS, UH, ON THEIR CORE DUTIES. CORE DUTIES. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WAS GONNA GO AWAY, UH, WITHOUT A SOLUTION WAS THE CLEAN TEAM. UH, NOT THE WHOLE TEAM, BUT WE MADE A BIG ENHANCEMENT DURING COVID THAT WILL ALLOW US TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT. UH, BUT THAT WAS EIGHT MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE. AND SO THAT WAS GOING AWAY, UH, 'CAUSE IT WAS FUNDED WITH ONE-TIME DOLLARS THAT IS NOW PRESERVED IN THE BUDGET STRUCTURALLY, EIGHT MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE AND 300,000 IN CONTRACTED SERVICES. AND THE WAY THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO OFFSET THAT IS THROUGH A $5 INCREASE IN, UM, PARKING CITATIONS. NOBODY LIKES PAYING PARKING CITATIONS, I UNDERSTAND THAT. UM, BUT WE ARE LOW COMPARED TO OUR, SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS. AND THIS ALSO WILL PROVIDE A DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE FOR THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY, UH, SAYS IS IMPORTANT, WHICH IS OUR, UM, OUR CLEAN TEAM. UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS, INVESTING IN WAFI SIGNAGE AND CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENTS, AND STOREFRONT WRAPPING. WE'RE CREATING A NEW TRANSPORTATION SERVICES BUREAU, UH, BY IN PUBLIC WORKS, UH, AS WE MOVE, REFUSE OUT BY STREAMLINING, UH, STREET SWEEPING PARKING CONTROL, MOBILITY AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS UNDER ONE UNIFIED LEADERSHIP. AND ANOTHER BIG SUCCESS, UH, IS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO IN THE BUDGET, WE BROUGHT IN OUR PARK AMBASSADOR TEAM. SO WE HEARD FROM COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY HOW THE STATE OF OUR BATHROOMS IN OUR PARKS, THEY WERE, UM, NOT LOCKED AT NIGHT. THEY WERE DEALING WITH VANDALISM. IT'S BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS TO HAVE A TEAM. NOW. WE GO OUT FOUR TIMES A DAY, CLEAN THE BATHROOMS, AND ALSO LOCK THEM AT NIGHT. AND VANDALISM AND CALLS HAVE DROPPED BY OVER 50%. UH, BUT, UH, THE COST OF THE CONTRACTOR WAS GOING UP THIS YEAR. AND SO THE COST INCREASING COST OF THE CONTRACTOR WAS ABOUT THE COST OF DOING IT WITH CITY STAFF. SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO BRING THAT IN, HAVE MORE AMBASSADORS. THEY'LL NOW ALL BE CITY EMPLOYEES, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT WORK AND HAVE EVEN MORE EYES IN THE PARK, UH, IN THE AREA OF, UM, PARK IMPACT FEES. UH, THIS IS, UH, A, A HIGHLIGHT IN THE BUDGET. WE HAVE ABOUT $7 MILLION IN PARK IMPACT FEES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO GO TOWARDS PROJECTS THAT ARE, UH, JUST ABOUT SHOVEL READY, UM, OR YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE GAP FUNDING TO GET THEM THERE. SO, 10TH STREET, GREENBELT, HARTWELL PARK, ARTIFICIAL TURF, HOUGHTON PARK, HOUGHTON PARK SPORTS PARK, UM, MACARTHUR PARK, AND MARTIN LUTHER KING IN THE AREA OF TIDELANDS. UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN, IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET, BUT WE'RE SETTING ASIDE MONEY TO, UH, UH, BASICALLY COVER THE BALANCE THIS YEAR. UH, THAILANDS THIS YEAR IS EXPECTED TO GO NEGATIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN REMEMBER. SO THAT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT. THAT'S THE LOSS OF OIL. WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO REPLACE THAT REVENUE. UH, BUT WE STILL WANNA BE ABLE TO COVER THAT. SO WE'RE NOT MAKING CUTS. WE'RE INVESTING IN THE NAPLES SEA WALLS FOR ABOUT $2 MILLION. WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO INVEST IN REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES. UH, THE SIR WINSTON'S WAS A BIG REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE QUEEN MARY WHEN IT WAS UP AND OPERATING, AND IT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO BEING ABLE TO GET THE CAPITAL TO GET ALL NEW EQUIPMENT, TO GET A DA ACCESS REOPEN THROUGH WINSTON'S AND START MAKING MONEY AGAIN, UH, ON THE QUEEN MARY, WHICH AS OF RIGHT NOW, IS MAKING ABOUT $1.9 MILLION WORTH OF PROFIT. AND THEN, UH, WE'LL BRING YOU LATER A SOLUTION TO FINANCE THE, THE BELMONT POOL. A COUPLE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS, UH, WE'RE INVESTING IN, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR STAFFING. WE HEAR THAT VERY MUCH FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL, THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER WITH BRINGING EMPLOYEES INTO THOSE VACANT POSITIONS. AND THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THE GOAL OF 90 BUSINESS DAYS. UH, WE'RE ALSO INVESTING ONE-TIME DOLLARS IN OUR MOBILE FOOD FACILITY IMPROVEMENT. THE, OUR PROGRAM, THIS IS OUR, THIS IS OUR ENFORCEMENT OF THE, OF THE STREET VENDOR ORDINANCE. UH, WE'VE GOT AN ELECTION TO PAY FOR NEXT YEAR. AND SO THAT IS ALL GONNA BE SUPPORTED. UH, WE ARE EXPANDING OUR ABILITY TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGE THEM IN THE OLYMPICS PREPARATION, AND WE'RE ALSO PREPARING FOR THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TRANSITION THAT'S CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION. BUT IF THAT, UM, WERE TO, UH, BE RESOLVED AND WE, UH, GET MORE CONTROL OF THAT FACILITY, WE'RE GONNA, UH, BE ABLE TO IMPROVE ANIMAL CARE THERE. AND SO, UM, [01:30:01] THE LAST THING I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS WE DO AS A, UM, WE DO HAVE ONE KIND OF SHINING STAR IN THE BUDGET. UM, WE'VE GOT THE MEASURE A DOLLARS THAT THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT COMING IN, BUT ALSO, UH, WE'VE BEEN ACCUMULATING DOLLARS, UM, FROM THE SALE OF PROPERTIES, ABOUT $8.7 MILLION FROM PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE SOLD THAT WERE FORMER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PROPERTIES, PROPERTIES, OR SUCCESSOR AGENCY PROPERTIES. AND BACK ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, THE COUNCIL GAVE US POLICY DIRECTION THAT 75% OF THAT MONEY SHOULD STAY IN THE AREA THAT IT WAS GENERATED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND THE OTHER 25% WILL GO CITYWIDE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND SO WE HAVE LAID OUT FOR YOU A FINANCIAL PLAN. UM, IT'S IN THE BUDGET. UM, WE CAN REALLY GET INTO THE DETAIL ON THIS WHEN WE GO THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. BUT THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE GONNA BE PROGRAMMED OVER THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST ONE YEAR, PROBABLY MORE LIKE TWO TO THREE YEARS, TO DO THINGS LIKE GROW OUR LOANS, TO ACTIVATE DOWNTOWN, UH, TO DO WAYFINDING IN PUBLIC REALM, UH, TO HELP US WITH VIP SAFE AND SECURE GRANTS TO DO OUR BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAM, CITYWIDE SUPPORT OUR BIDS, SUPPORT, UM, UH, PLANNING FOR ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FUTURE, STOREFRONT WRAPPING ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING INITIATIVES THAT THE COUNCILS REALLY TALKED ABOUT UP NORTH. UM, AND SETTING ASIDE DEDICATED FUNDS FOR THAT. UM, CONTINUING OUR NORTH LONG BEACH EDUCATION CENTER, UH, UM, UH, LOOKING AT FUNDING A ADVERTISING DISTRICT IN THE DOWNTOWN AND SPONSORSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE, UM, UH, SUPPORT THE WEST SIDE MARKET STUDY IMPLEMENTATION, UH, SUPPORT THE MIDBLOCK IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS WHERE OLD CITY HALL USED TO BE. UH, DO THINGS LIKE A WALK OF FAME, UH, TO BRING, UH, MORE, MORE PEOPLE INTO LONG BEACH, UH, UH, CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CENTRAL AREA, AND, UH, SUPPORTING THE, UH, MERCADO DE LONG BEACH. UH, SO WRAPPING UP A LITTLE BIT, UM, THE MAYOR TALKED A LOT ABOUT MEASURE A, SO I WON'T GO TOO MUCH INTO THAT, BUT THAT IS A GAME CHANGER. UH, THOSE ARE BRAND NEW RESOURCES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IN TO NOT ONLY HELP DO HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE, BUT ALSO PREVENTION THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD IN MANY, MANY YEARS, OR NOT TO THE LEVEL WE NEED IT. SO, UH, IT REALLY WILL HELP. UM, WE'LL GET INTO THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET, BUT THERE'S, UH, UM, SOME VERY GOOD NEWS HERE. AND THEN AS I WRAP UP MY PRESENTATION, UM, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S NOT FUNDED. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT AREN'T FUNDED. AND SOME OF THESE, AGAIN, REMEMBER THE FUNNEL, UH, WHEN I PROPOSE THE BUDGET, UM, THAT'S MY ROLE. AND THEN WE HAVE THE MAYOR, AND HE HAS ADDED SOME, SO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT AREN'T FUNDED, WERE ADDRESSED IN THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL. UH, BUT, UH, WHEN THE BUDGET WAS PREPARED, WE DID NOT HAVE ADDITIONAL JUSTICE FUND OR TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL. THOSE WERE ADDRESSED IN THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS. SAME THING WITH YOUTH. UH, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS FROM COID IN EL DORADO, WEST SHERA PARK, AND COLLEGE OF STATES THAT WE DON'T HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR. WE'VE GOT A MUNICIPAL BAND, WHICH WHILE THE FUNDING LEVEL IS STAYING THE SAME FOR THE BAND, THE COSTS HAVE RISEN. AND SO LAST YEAR WE FUNDED THAT ONE TIME. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ONE TIME THIS YEAR. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL NEED TO TALK ABOUT. HOOPS AFTER DARK, IT WAS ADDRESSED IN THE MAYOR'S, UH, BUDGET. WE DON'T HAVE A BEACH STREETS. WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL PARAMEDIC UNITS AND FIREFIGHTER AND, AND POLICE SUPPORT. SO YOU CAN SEE THE LIST HERE. BUT, UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE, UH, AS WE GO IN THE PRESENTATION. AND THEN, UH, WE'RE GONNA HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ELEVATE 28 PLAN. UH, WE HAVE A FIVE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, UH, THAT IS NOW OVER A BILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S THE MOST WE'VE EVER DONE. UH, AND IT'S, UH, CLEAR. WE'VE SPENT MORE MONEY NOW ON INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, ABOUT A HUNDRED OR 1400% INCREASE FROM ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS FROM WHERE WE WERE IN THE NINETIES, ABOUT A 400% INCREASE IN OVERALL CIP INVESTMENT IN THE PAST 10 YEARS. UH, BUT CLEARLY, UH, MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND SO, AS I WRAP UP, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW WE COMPARE TO SOME OTHER CITIES AND WHAT'S AHEAD FOR US. I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NEVER HAPPY TO HEAR WE'RE IN SOME FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, BUT I WILL SAY IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTING JUST ABOUT EVERY CITY, ESPECIALLY THE LARGE CITIES. BUT WHEN YOU COMPARE US TO LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO AND OAKLAND, WE'RE HEARING ABOUT LAYOFFS. WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF POSITIONS BEING CUT. UM, OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS A PROPORTION OF OUR, OF OUR DEFICIT IS ABOUT 2.6%. IN LOS ANGELES, IT'S 12.5%, SO SIX TIMES HIGHER THAN WHERE IT IS TODAY. AND SO, I, I CREDIT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR GOING THROUGH A PROCESS LIKE THIS AND ASKING QUESTIONS EVERY TIME WE WANT TO ADD SOMETHING. WHERE DO THE FUNDS COME FROM? THAT IS WHAT HELPS US WITH OUR FISCAL MANAGEMENT. AND THEN AS WE GO AHEAD, WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GENERAL LABOR, WAGES CONTINUE TO RISE. WE'VE GOT CALPERS COSTS. SALES AND USE TAX HAS BEEN SLOWING AS PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE, THE, THE ECONOMY, UH, ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, OUR OIL PROCEEDS AND TAXES ARE GOING DOWN. UH, OUR COSTS FOR DOING BUSINESS, JUST LIKE, UM, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ARE GOING UP. UH, AND WE FACE A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY FROM EVOLVING FEDERAL POLICIES AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND MAYBE LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL GRANTS. AND SO, UH, BUT IN GENERAL, UH, THE FY 26 IS BALANCED. UM, AND SO IT, BUT IT DOES RELY ON SOME OF THOSE ONE TIME FUNDS. BUT WE'RE MAKING A STRONG AND FOCUSED EFFORT ON ACTION STEPS TO IDENTIFY NEW REVENUES. [01:35:01] UH, UH, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT $60 MILLION SHORTFALL OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO. AND, UH, I DO RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL REALLY LOOK WHEREVER WE CAN TO START SETTING ASIDE SOME ONE-TIME DOLLARS FOR OUR CITY'S EMERGENCY RESERVE TO GET THAT UP TO FULL BALANCE, UH, OUR OPERATING RESERVE AS WE PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA HEAR THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS ABOUT SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT ARE IN A LITTLE BIT IN, IN SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY. OUR HEALTH FUND IS IN SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU, UH, SOME PLANS ON WHAT TO DO. THE STATE REVENUES THAT FUND THE HEALTH FUND HAVE NOT BEEN KEEPING COSTS WITH INFLATION. AND SO THE GENERAL FUND HAS HAD TO STEP IN. OUR TIDELANDS GROUP IS, IS ALSO IN, IN SOME DIFFICULTY. AND THIS YEAR YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A PRESENTATION ON TID, OUR TECHNOLOGY PRO, UM, UH, PROGRAM, WHICH IS ALSO, UH, EXPERIENCING SOME DIFFICULTY. AND SO, LOOKING AHEAD, WE'RE A RESILIENT CITY, FOCUSED ON PROGRESS. WE'RE A CITY THAT CAN ACCOMPLISH SO MANY THINGS. WE PROVIDE AWESOME FULL SERVICE, UH, SERVICES WITH OUR GREAT EMPLOYEES, AND WE'VE MAINTAINED AND PROTECTED THOSE SERVICES. WE'RE COMMITTED TO OUR EMPLOYEES WHO DO THAT WORK. UH, WE HAVE A GREAT HISTORY OF STRONG FIN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND AMAZING LEADERSHIP FROM OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AND WE COULDN'T DO ALL THIS WITHOUT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. AND SO, UM, THAT IS, UH, KIND OF THE CONCLUSION HERE. WE'RE NOW TURNING THIS OVER TO OUR, UM, UH, GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE GOT ABOUT SIX BUDGET HEARINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE GOING TO IN THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE GONNA HAVE BUDGET HEARINGS EVERY WEEK WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. WE'VE GOT A TON OF BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO DIVE INTO THE DETAILS. AND SO, UH, AND WE'RE, UM, ASKING PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS TO SUBMIT DIGITAL COMMENT CARDS, TO COME TALK TO US, UM, AT THESE FOCUS GROUPS AND ROUND TABLES AND IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION AND THE MATERIALS, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE GOT A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS PEOPLE CAN GO TO. AND, UH, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT, UH, OVER TO THE MAYOR. AND, UH, WE CAN EITHER GO RIGHT INTO THE CIP PRESENTATION OR WE CAN TALK ABOUT OPERATING, AND THEN GO TO CIP. IT IS UP TO YOU. YEAH. FINISH THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION. YES, SIR. THEN WE WILL GO THROUGH OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR CIP, AND I WILL CALL UP ERIC LOPEZ. THANK YOU, TOM MAYOR, UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, THIS IS ACTUALLY, UH, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PRESENTATIONS THAT I GET TO DO, UH, PROVIDE YOU EVERY SINGLE YEAR, UH, PRESENTATION ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROGRAM, UH, BUDGET. UM, THE, JUST FOR CONTEXT TO HELP SET, UH, SET IT UP IN FISCAL YEAR 16, OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET TOTALED $50.6 MILLION, JUST, JUST UNDER 51 MILLION WHEN WE HAD, UH, THAT'S FY 16, FISCAL YEAR 20. OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET TOTALED 119 MILLION TODAY. UH, IT, TODAY'S BUDGET, UH, THAT WE'RE GONNA PRESENT TO YOU TOTALS $189 MILLION. AND IT'S NOT AS BIG AS LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE BONDED, UH, WE HAD BOND, UH, PROCEEDS, UH, FOR MEASURE EIGHT, LAST YEAR'S WAS 228 MILLION. SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD, UH, THIS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY. LIKE MANY OTHER CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. AND, UH, WE ARE, UH, APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY, UH, HELP, UH, IMPROVE SIDEWALKS, HELP IMPROVE OUR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, OUR CURB RAMPS, UH, HELP IMPROVE ALL OF OUR STREETS, UM, AND ALSO DO SOME REALLY COOL CREATIVE THINGS LIKE, LIKE, UH, BUILD A PUBLIC SKATING RING IN OUR COASTAL AREAS, UH, THAT NOT A LOT OF CITIES, UH, GET THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO, TO DO, UM, WHILE WE'RE, UH, REBUILDING, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH A WHOLE LOT OF PROJECTS. UH, WE'RE ALSO, UM, DELIVERING A LOT OF OTHER CORE PUBLIC WORKS, UH, SERVICES, UM, LIKE IN-HOUSE SLURRY, SEALING, 6.6 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OUR LOCAL STREETS, OR FILLING, UM, FILLING, WHERE'S MY POTHOLES? 50, NO, UH, 47,000 POTHOLES, , EXCUSE ME. UH, YOU KNOW, REPAINTING, UH, RED CURVES, 50,000, UH, LINEAR FEET, INSTALLING 450, UH, NEW, UH, A DAA RAMPS, AND ONE OF MY FAVORITES, REMOVING 1.57 MILLION OF SQUARE FEET OF GRAFFITI, UH, FROM OUR RIGHT OF WAY AND, AND, AND PUBLIC FACILITIES. SO AS WE, AS WE DO THIS, AND AS WE TALK ABOUT, UH, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, I ALSO LIKE TO, UH, REFLECT ON THIS, UH, CURRENT YEAR AND SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE COMPLETED SOME MAJOR PROJECTS WITH OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY, UH, FROM, UH, IMPROVEMENTS AT, UH, MLK JUNIOR PARK, UH, TO IMPROVEMENTS AT DAVENPORT PARK, 14TH STREET PARK, EL DORADO PARK, BIXBY, UH, TO, UM, INVESTING IN SOME OF OUR, UH, OF OUR, UH, PARKING FACILITIES AND IN, AND THEN WE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF, UH, OTHER FACILITY RELATED IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING TO OUR, UH, [01:40:01] REBUILT, UH, POLICE, UH, DEPARTMENT ACADEMY THAT'S GONNA BE FINISHED THIS FISCAL YEAR. OUR YOUTH SHELTER NAVIGATION CENTER. UM, OUR FIRE STATION 14, UH, WORKFORCE PRIVACY PROJECT THAT WAS COMPLETED. WE COMPLETED THE, THE ROOF AT SILVERADO PARK GYM. UH, WE REDID THE RESTROOMS AT DRAKE PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. WE REDID THE HVAC AND ROOF, UH, THERE AS WELL. AND WE HAD A LOT OF OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO, UH, TO OUR LIBRARIES, INCLUDING BURNETT LIBRARY AND BAY SHORE AND MARK TWAIN. UH, SO, UM, A LOT OF, UH, ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO BE PROUD OF. YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE ALSO LIKE TO REFLECT ON SOME OF THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 26. OUR PROPOSED ACTIVITIES AND THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES, UH, ARE LISTED HERE. UH, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, UM, AND THAT, UH, THAT ARE GONNA, ARE GETTING RECOMMENDED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL AVAILABLE FUNDING. UH, JUST KNOW THAT I, I DO LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR FUNDING ARE PART OF YOUR ELEVATE 28 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PLAN, THE PLAN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED, AND THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD, UH, TO IMPLEMENT. UH, OTHER IMPORTANT POINT I WANNA, I WANNA POINT OUT HERE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR WATER RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE, GAS SEWER AIRPORT, UH, THOSE ARE MANAGED BY, UH, OTHER, OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UH, NOT BY PUBLIC WORKS, BUT THAT, THAT'S ALMOST 50% OF THIS YEAR'S CIP BUDGET. SO, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE AMAZING WORK THAT OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT IS DOING THAT OUR AIRPORT DEPARTMENT IS DOING AS THEY CONTINUE TO REBUILD THEIR CRITICAL ASSETS AS WELL. UM, HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN OF OUR DIFFERENT INVESTMENT CATEGORIES, AND, UM, AND I JUST MENTIONED UTILITIES. AND, UH, AND I'M GONNA GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE AS WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S, UH, CIP BUDGET PROPOSAL. UM, SO FOR THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE, UH, TWO MAJOR PROJECTS IN FISCAL YEAR 26 THAT, THAT OUR PARTNERS AT THE AIRPORT ARE, ARE, UH, PURSUING THE, UH, TERMINAL AREA IMPROVEMENTS FOR $2 MILLION, AND THE AIRFIELD PAYMENT REHAB, UH, FOR ANOTHER 2 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF $4 MILLION INVESTMENTS WITHIN THAT, UH, PROGRAM. IN OUR BEACHES AND MARINAS, UH, PROGRAM, WE HAVE, UH, SOME TIDELANDS MARINA FUNDS AND SOME MEASURE W FUNDS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED. UH, A LARGE, UH, MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING GOING TO MARINA RELATED IMPROVEMENTS, BUT ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, INVESTMENTS WITHIN THE, UH, LAGOON AND, UH, WETLAND, UH, IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE $2 MILLION THERE. UM, WITHIN OUR MOBILITY AND SAFETY, UH, PROGRAM, UH, WE HAVE A SERIES OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDS, MAINLY FROM PROPOSITION A, PROPOSITION C MEASURE R MEASURE ARM, AND THESE ARE THE LOCAL SHARE OF THESE REGIONAL INITIATIVES THAT WE GET TO REINVEST WITHIN OUR MOBILITY AND SAFETY, UH, PROGRAMS. BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE GAS TAX, OUR OWN MEASURE A AND SOME, UH, GENERAL CAPITAL, UH, UH, FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TOTALING 68, 68 0.33 MILLION THAT, UH, WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO, UH, ALLOCATE, UM, UH, THIS YEAR. SO, UH, A, A GOOD MAJORITY GOES TO OUR, UH, OUR ARTERIAL CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENTS AND STREET REHAB, UH, PROGRAMS. UH, WE'RE ALSO MAKING, UH, A LARGE INVESTMENT CONTINUING TO MAKE A LARGE INVESTMENTS WITHIN OUR RESIDENTIAL STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM. THEN OUR A DA, UH, UH, IMPROVEMENTS, UM, CONTINUE. UH, THEN WE HAVE, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR BIKE WAVE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, UH, PROGRAM AT 5.15 MILLION. AND THEN, UH, SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE LISTED HERE FOR THAT, UH, TOTAL, UM, RECOMMENDED ALLOCATED AMOUNT OF 68.33 MILLION. UH, WE, WE KNOW THAT, UH, PICTURES, UH, ARE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS AND, UH, FOR SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AS WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE INVESTMENTS, I JUST WANTED TO WALK YOU THROUGH A COUPLE OF THESE PICTURES. THE BEFORE AND AFTERS ARE PRETTY POWERFUL, AND AS WE CONTINUE TO DO MORE ALLEY IMPROVEMENTS, MORE STREET IMPROVEMENTS, MORE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, UH, WE JUST, UH, LIKE TO SHOW THE, THE TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT, UH, THAT, THAT THIS HAS WITHIN OUR D UH, COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO JUST, UH, GO, GO CLICKING THROUGH SOME OF THESE PRETTY FAST. BUT THE, UH, IMPACT, UH, FOR, UM, AS WE GO IN AND DO THESE PROJECTS, I THINK IS PRETTY CLEAR. AND, UH, AND THE BENEFITS ARE, ARE VERY CLEAR. UH, SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, OUR IN-HOUSE KRAKEN SLURRY SEAL PROGRAM, VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE ACTUALLY UPDATE OUR MAP EVERY QUARTER OF WHAT WE COMMITTED TO AND WHAT WE'VE DONE, UM, FOR THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE WITH OUR OWN IN-HOUSE KRAKEN SLURRY SEAL PROGRAM. WE'RE AT JUST UNDER 70% COMPLETE WITH ALL THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE IN THE ELEVATE 28 PLAN. SO WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, AND I'M REALLY PROUD THAT THAT IS ALL BEING DONE WITH CITY STAFF. UH, AND IT'S PRETTY AMAZING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSFORMATIONAL EFFECT OF WHAT THEIR WORK IS HAVING EVERY [01:45:01] SINGLE DAY. BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES OUT THERE, UH, IMPROVING OUR STREETS. WE ALSO HAVE AN AMAZING IN-HOUSE POTHOLE CREW THAT, UH, CONTINUES TO, UH, FILL POTHOLES. AND WHEN WE NEEDED THEM TO STEP UP AND RESPOND TO THE HISTORIC RAINFALLS THAT WE HAD THAT ENDED UP CREATING TH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MORE POTHOLES THAN WE ANTICIPATED, THIS TEAM STEPPED UP AND TRULY HAS, UH, HAS, UH, REALLY HELPED US, UH, IMPROVE OUR, THE QUALITY OF OUR STREETS. WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME MAJOR CORRIDORS, UH, THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE. SO SHARING SOME OF THOSE, UH, PICTURES, UH, HERE AS WELL. UM, AND, UH, THIS IS A MAP I WANTED TO SHARE. THESE WERE ALL THE STREETS THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO AND COMPLETED, UH, BETWEEN 2 20 13 AND 2022. AND, UH, THE, THE INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR OUR STREET IMPROVEMENT NETWORK, UM, YOU KNOW, STARTED MODESTLY AND IT JUST KEPT INCREASING EVERY YEAR AS WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER MORE AND MORE AND MORE. AND SO BEING ABLE TO, UH, TO, TO ATTRACT THE PROGRESS, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING IN FROM 2013 TO 22 IS PRETTY MAJOR. THIS WHAT YOU SEE IN GREEN HERE OF WHAT WE DID, UH, EQUATES TO 800 LANE MILES OF COMPLETED STREET IMPROVEMENTS. SO NOW I WANNA SHOW YOU A MAP BETWEEN WHAT WE COMMITTED TO IN OUR ELEVATE 28 PLAN FROM FISCAL YEAR 23 TO 27. THIS, UH, EQUATES, UH, TO, UH, ABOUT A THOUSAND, UM, LANE MILES THAT WE COMMITTED TO. WE ARE 52% COMPLETE WITH THESE COMMITMENTS. SO OUR TEAMS IN RESIDENTIAL AND SECONDARIES AND MAJOR CORRIDORS, THEY ARE OUT THERE WORKING HARD. I'M SORRY ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE. I KNOW IT CHANGES, UH, COMMUTES AND, AND, YOU KNOW, KNOW NAVIGATION DIRECTIONS. BUT IT IS E ESSENTIAL THAT WE AS A CITY REBUILD OUR ROADWAY NETWORK AND REBUILD IT SAFER AND, UH, AND, AND, AND OF HIGHER QUALITY. SO THEN WE PUT THEM TOGETHER FOR EVERYBODY SO THAT WE CAN SEE, OKAY, HOW MANY STREET IMPROVEMENTS HAVE WE DONE BETWEEN 2013 AND 2 27? AND WE HAVE THOSE IN THIS MAP. UH, THESE, THEY'RE NOT ALL DONE, RIGHT? I JUST WANTED THE, THE, THE TAKE THE STEP BACK AND VISION WHEN I'M DONE WITH ALL OF THE COMMITMENTS AND ELEVATE 28, THESE ARE ALL THE STREETS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPROVED BETWEEN 2013 AND 2027. SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW DID WE GO FROM A P PA PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX OF 56 TO 61 AND EXCEED THE GOALS, THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENS, RIGHT? THE FUNDING IS SET ASIDE FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS. YOUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAMS, PARTNERS WITH ALL OF OUR, UH, ALL, ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, AND WE DELIVER ON THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE. AND THAT LEADS TO THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OF YOUR STREET NETWORK. NOT MANY DIRECTORS OF PUBLIC WORKS IN THIS COUNTRY CAN SAY THAT THEY OVERSEEING AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR STREET NETWORK. UM, BUT I CAN SAY THAT, SO HERE WE ARE. ALL RIGHT. UH, HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO LEGACY INVESTMENTS? I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, UH, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, AND, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF, WHAT ABOUT MY STREET, MY STREET STEEL LOOKS HORRIBLE? WHEN IS IT GONNA GET FIXED? YOU REALLY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT OUR HISTORIC INVESTMENTS WERE IN, UH, IN, IN THE, IN MOBIL IN THE MOBILITY PROGRAM IN PAST YEARS. SO, UH, WE REALLY, WE, WE REALLY HAVE, UH, MAKE MADE IT A BIGGER POINT TO SHARE HOW MUCH MONEY WAS ALLOCATED WHEN YOU ADJUST FOR INFLATION, UH, YOU KNOW, IN PAST YEARS, UH, VERSUS TODAY. SO WHEN YOU COMPARE FISCAL YEAR 23 TO 25 ALLOCATIONS, UH, WHAT IN OUR RESIDENTIAL STREETS PROGRAM TO ALLOCATIONS IN 1993 TO 1995, YOU SEE THAT 1400% INCREASE, HUGE. THAT'S HOW WE IMPROVE OUR STREET NETWORK. UM, SO WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH THE, THE LATEST DATA THAT JUST CAME OUT. WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR, UH, THE, THESE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND TALKING ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING? UM, AND, UH, AND HOW ARE WE GONNA CONTINUE MAKING THESE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS? SO LET ME SWITCH OVER FROM STREETS, UH, TO TWO PARKS REALLY QUICKLY. WE HAVE SOME RECOMMENDED, UM, ALLOCATIONS WITHIN THE PARK PROGRAM. AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL IMPROVEMENTS OUTLINED IN ELEVATE 28. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE CAN COME BACK TO THEM AND ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. UH, BUT, UH, WE HAVE OUR RECOMMENDED ALLOCATIONS AND THE, UH, FUNDING SOURCES WHERE, UH, WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO COVER, UH, THESE, UH, THESE, UH, THESE ALLOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. HERE'S OUR PROPOSED AB 32 FUNDED PROJECTS, TOTALING 3.8 MILLION, UH, FOR UTILITIES. HERE'S WHERE THE, UH, RECOMMENDED ALLOCATIONS ARE GOING TO THE, THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, UH, FOR OUR PARTNERS AT THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT. UM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DID INCLUDE [01:50:01] SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT FEES AND MEASURE W UH, WE CAN COME BACK AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT LOW IMPACT, UH, DEVELOPMENT FEES IF, IF DESIRED, BUT THERE'S A TOTAL OF 4.6 MILLION THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ALLOCATION. UH, THERE, UH, FOR MEASURE W OUR LOCAL SHARE OF MEASURE W WE HAVE ABOUT 5 MILLION, UH, THAT IS, UH, RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROPRIATED. AND THE LIST OF PROJECTS ARE, ARE LISTED ON THIS, UH, SLIDE HERE, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, AND THEN FOR MEASURE A, UH, WE HAVE OUR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 26, UH, ALLOCATIONS, AGAIN ALIGNED WITH THE ELEVATE 28 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PLAN. UH, AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND LEVERAGING MEASURE A, UH, MORE THAN WE EVER HAVE. SO WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM THAT'S LOOKING OUT FOR LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE, FEDERAL GRANTS THAT CONTINUES TO LEVERAGE OUR OWN, UH, MEASURE $8. AND, UH, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MAPS AS YOUR PUBLIC DIRECTOR. I LOVE MAPS, BUT THIS SHOWS EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE DOING PROJECTS, WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED, WHAT CATEGORY THEY FALL IN, AND IT, IT'S ACCOMPANIED BY OUR WEBSITE, LB ELEVATE 20 EIGHT.COM, LB ELEVATE 20 EIGHT.COM, THAT HAS ALL THE DETAILS OF, UH, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROJECTS. AND, UM, AND SO I HOPE PEOPLE ARE VISITING THAT WEBSITE AND USING OUR, UH, DASHBOARD, UH, THAT, THAT HAS A LOT OF GREAT, UH, REALTIME INFORMATION. UH, SO, UH, I THINK OUR CITY MANAGER MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE NOW AT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS WITH OUR PLANNED INVESTMENTS. UH, THAT IS A, A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT, AND WE CONTINUE TO, UH, MANAGE ALL THE PROJECTS THAT MAKE UP THAT, THAT TOTAL AMOUNT. SO, UH, WE HAVE SOME DETAILS HERE ON HOW WE GOT TO A BILLION DOLLARS, AND YOU KNOW, HOW WE'VE ADDED SOME MORE. A LOT OF IT IS GRANTS. WE'VE GOTTEN BIG GRANTS AND WE'VE ALLOCATED, THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THOSE GRANTS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA THEN RIGHTSIZE THE PLAN, UM, AS WE GET THIS, THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, AND WE, UM, AND WE INCORPORATE THEM INTO OUR, OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN. SO, YOU KNOW, HERE IS A, A LIST OF THE PROJECTS TO BE ADDED, UM, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, THE, THE TOTAL AMOUNTS, UM, THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THE PROPOSED, UH, CIP BUDGET. UM, SO I AM GOING, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH THESE SPREADSHEETS, BUT EVERY YEAR WE INCLUDE EXACTLY WHAT PROJECT, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE GETTING FROM MEASURE A, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE GETTING FROM OTHER, UM, SOURCES. AND THIS IS ALL AVAILABLE PUBLICLY FOR FOLKS TO REVIEW. UH, THESE ARE THE SAME CHARTS THAT WE SHOW. WE JUST ADJUST THEM, UM, AS WE GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR, UH, WE BUDGET SOME ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS, UM, AS, AS NEEDED. SO, UH, HERE'S OUR OVERALL TOTAL, UH, ONE POINT, UH, $1 BILLION, UH, FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. UM, AND IT JUST PROVIDES A NICE BREAKDOWN OF THE, THOSE CATEGORIES AND HOW OUR DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED, UH, WITHIN THE ELEVATE 28 PLAN. I MENTIONED OUR WEBSITE EARLIER, AND I MENTIONED OUR DASHBOARD EARLIER. SO THIS CONCLUDES OUR CIP PRESENTATION. ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE 43 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. UH, WE'RE GONNA DO 60 SECONDS ON THE CLOCK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M GONNA READ THE FIRST 10 AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE FROM THERE. FIRST IS JAMIE SHUFORD, THEN, UH, LEANNA NOBLE, THEN HOLLIS STEWART, ERIC GARCIA, KIERAN, CELESTE WILSON, SKY FIELD MARIA, R AND AUSTIN MATO AND BLAIR COHEN ARE THE FIRST 10. JAMIE, YOU ARE UP. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL AND, AND MAYOR REX RICHARDSON. I'M JAMIE SHUFORD, RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, AND ALSO I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH HOMELESS COALITION. EVERYONE DESERVE A SAFE PLACE TO, TO CALL HOME. I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT MAYOR RICKS RICHARDSON UPSTREAM LONG BEACH PLAN, WHICH AIMS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING ASSISTANCE BEFORE INDIVIDUALS LOSE THEIR HOUSING. I AM PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY MAYOR RICHARDSON'S EFFORT TO BALANCE THE CITY FIRST MAJOR INVESTMENT AND COMPREHENSIVENESS HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION WITH, WITH CONTINUOUS EXPANSION OF SERVICES. FOR THOSE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE ADDRESS BOTH ASPECTS SIMULTANEOUSLY AS A RESULT OF MAYOR RICHARDSON'S PLAN, RESIDENT RESIDE. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JAMIE. APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS LEANNA AND THEN HOLLIS. I'LL BE THE TWOFER. MY NAME'S LEANNA NOBLE. I'M HERE WITH MY PARTNER HOLLIS STEWART. WE ARE PROUD RESIDENTS OF THE NORTH PINE NEIGHBORHOOD DOWNTOWN, AND WE ARE HERE TONIGHT AS NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVIST TO ASK THE COUNCIL [01:55:01] TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A 2.2 MILLION ADDITION TO THE JUSTICE FUND. IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE FOR US AS DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS TO SEE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TERRORIZED BY REPEATED CARAVANS OF DARK WINDOW BUILDING, UH, NOT BUILDINGS, CARS THAT ARE ICE THAT HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IF WE WANT TO STABILIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IF WE WANNA STAND FOR EQUITY, THEN WE NEED FOR YOU TO MEET THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE WORK WE ARE DOING, THANKS TO OVERLAY AND OTHER GROUPS, AND INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THE JUSTICE FUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT HOLLIS SPOKE FOR HOL. OKAY, GREAT. ALRIGHT. AFTER HOLLIS IS ERIC. AFTER ERIC IS KAREN, AND THEN CELESTE, WHAT'S UP YA? MY NAME'S ERIC GARCIA WITH, OR, AND I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNSEL TO APPROVE A BUDGET ALLOCATION OF $2.2 MILLION STRUCTURALLY TOWARD THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND, WHICH OFFERS LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LONG BEACH RESIDENTS FIGHTING DEPORTATION, AS WELL AS WITH FILING HUMANITARIAN VISA PETITIONS. UH, AS SOMEBODY WHO IS IN DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS BECAUSE OF ATTORNEY FRAUD, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO INVEST IN A PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS LONG BEACH RESIDENTS WITH TRUSTED ATTORNEYS AND CONNECTORS WHO AREN'T GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEED, OVERCHARGE THEM OR SIMPLY MISREPRESENT THEM. UH, WITH TRUMP MAKING GOOD ON HIS PROMISE, UH, OF MASS DEPORTATIONS, I THINK IT'S, IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, UH, FOR US, UM, TO END A REC RECORD BREAKING 45 MILLION BUDGET ALLOCATION TOWARD ICE. IT'S CRUCIAL FOR US, ESPECIALLY CITIES, UH, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO REALLY TAKE A STAND. UM, IT'S THE MINIMUM THE CITY CAN DO. UH, YEAH. THANKS ERIC. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS KAREN. AFTER KAREN IS CELESTE, AND THEN SKYE. GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? UH, I'M KIRAN. I OWN THE 9 0 8 RESTAURANT OVER IN LBX. UH, I ALSO HEAD UP THE LONG BEACH RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT, UH, THE MAYOR'S BACK TO BUSINESS INITIATIVE AND THE BUDGET. ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET. SO IF YOU COULD DO THAT, THAT'D BE AWESOME. THANKS. THANKS KAREN. ALRIGHT, CELESTE, UM, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CELESTE. I AM THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR THE LONG BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. UM, WE ARE HERE TO VOICE OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE MAYOR'S BACK TO BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVATION PLAN, AND URGE YOU TO PRESERVE THIS INVESTMENT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET. UH, WE APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENTS DOWNTOWN FROM MIDBLOCK IMPROVEMENTS TO NEW ACTIVATIONS AND EVENTS, BUT WE ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED BY THE CITYWIDE SCOPE OF THIS PLAN. FROM SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THE BIDS TO THE LEASE ASSISTANCE FOR THE NORTH LONG BEACH HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER, UM, AT A TIME WHEN LONG BEACH IS PREPARING TO WELCOME INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST HIGH PROFILE SPORTING EVENTS, NOW IS THE TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM. THIS PLAN DOESN'T JUST REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS, IT REINFORCES CULTURE, INNOVATION, AND IDENTITY ACROSS LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THANKS. A LIST. ALRIGHT, SKY THEN MARIA, THEN AUSTIN. UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SKY AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM. PRIMARILY WHY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THIS PROGRAM HAS ALL THE FUNDING IT NEEDS TO ENSURE WE KEEP OUR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS SAFE FROM UNFAIR EVICTIONS. ONCE A PERSON IS EVICTED, IT BECOMES SO MUCH HARDER FOR THEM TO FIND HOUSING. AND HAVING ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION PROVIDES OUR RENTERS WITH, UH, A FAIR CHANCE TO REMAIN HOUSED. AND HOMELESSNESS IS ALREADY SUCH A BIG CRISIS HERE IN LONG BEACH. AND ADDING TO THIS PROBLEM, UM, BY NOT HAVING ENOUGH DEFENSE, LEGAL DEFENSE FOR THOSE FACING EVICTION IS ONLY GONNA MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. SO PROTECT YOUR VOTERS, YOUR COMMUNITY, AND YOUR PEOPLE BY ENSURING EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO FREE LEGAL COUNSEL WHEN FACING EVICTIONS. THANK YOU. THANKS GUY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MARIA, THEN AUSTIN AND BLAIR. HELLO, MY NAME'S MARIA AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX. I'M HERE TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE $2.2 MILLION TO THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND LIVING IN TURAL TIMES. OUR NEIGHBORS ARE BEING SNATCHED AND KIDNAPPED FROM THE STREETS BY MASS MEN WHO CLAIM TO ACT IN THE NAME OF THE LAW. BUT THERE'S NOTHING MORE ABOUT THAT. I'VE HAD TO EXPLAIN TO MY LITTLE BROTHER WHY A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION LIKE ICE EXIST. I'VE HAD TO TELL HIM WHY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE DISAPPEARING. YOU MAY NEVER, YOU MAY NEVER FULLY UNDERSTAND THE FEAR WE LIVE WITH THAT ANXIETY, BUT THAT'S A REAL REALITY. THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND IS CRUCIAL IN STOPPING THE DEPORTATION OF LOVED ONES AND KEEPS FAMILY [02:00:01] TOGETHER. IT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES THAT HELP RESIDENTS AVOID REMOTE PROCEEDINGS ENTIRELY THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE UNT VISAS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE THAT CAN LEAD TO PERMANENT STATUS IN THE US. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT JUST THE PROGRAMS OF BLACKLINE FOR MANY FAMILIES, WHICH IS WHY I'M DEMANDING TO ALLOCATE THE FULL 2.2 MILLION TO THE RIGHT THING. PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES, KEEP OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER. KEEP MY FAMILY TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, AUSTIN AND THEN BLAIR AND THEN WE'LL READ THE NEXT 10. ALRIGHT. UH, GOOD EVENING Y HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS AUSTIN TOYER, UH, WITH THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE, BUT ALSO REPRESENTING THE COUNCIL OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, ALSO KNOWN AS COBA. WE REPRESENT ALL THE BIDS WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. WE ARE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL FOR BACK TO BUSINESS, UH, FOR THE LONG BEACH, SMALL FOR THE LONG BEACH SMALL BUSINESSES NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN. UH, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST YEAR TO HEAR THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY'RE FACING AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH RECOVERY. AND WE BELIEVE THAT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET, UH, SEEKS TO SUPPORT AND ACTIVATE MANY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS CORRIDORS. SO WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT IN THOSE ITEMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, BEFORE YOU GO BLAIR, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT 10 ARE LBRA, BARBARA P*****K, KAREN REZA, MANUEL MANELA, MARTINEZ, UH, DIANA RA, YVONNE NANETTE, MACHADO NAZI. I'M NOT GONNA TRY IT. NA EAR, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. UH, FERNANDO, MIRIAM, MIRIAM YUSEF, HEATHER KERN AND HEATHER KERN. OKAY, BLAIR, YOU'RE UP. GOOD EVENING. BLAIR COEN FROM THE BIXBY KNOWLES BUSINESS AND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION HERE TO SEEK YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE BACK TO BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVATION PLAN. WE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR OVER THE LAST YEAR. HE PUT IN HIS BLENDER, UH, AND HE CAME UP WITH A GREAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT HELPS NOT ONLY JUST OUR BUSINESS CORRIDORS, BUT HIS LONG-TERM THINKING AND INVESTMENT. NOW AT BIXBY KNOWLES, WE WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO FROM VIP GRANTS AND WAYS TO REMAIN SAFE AND SECURE. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES FROM COBA UNDERSTAND THE INVESTMENT FOR DOWNTOWN, THAT IT'LL BE ON THE WORLD STAGE, UH, BETWEEN NOW AND 28. AND ALSO WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED FOR THE, UH, THE WEST SIDE WRIGLEY, UH, TO BECOME BUSINESS APPROVING DISTRICTS OR ASSOCIATIONS AND HERE TO MENTOR ANY, ANY OF THOSE DISTRICTS THAT NEED THE HELP. SO ALL OF THIS IS LIKE THE RISING TIDE, THE SUPPORT ACROSS THE CITY. WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT THIS. THANKS BLAIR. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT LBRA. OKAY, AFTER THAT IS BARBARA AND THEN KAREN. HI, BARBARA P*****K. UH, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION AND I'M HERE APPEARING, APPEARING ON BEHALF OF THE FULL COMMISSION. THE PROPOSED FY 26 BUDGET CUTS OVER TWO THIRDS OF A PROFESSIONAL IN THE ETHICS OFFICE. THAT'S A 35% CUT IN STAFF. THE ETHICS COMMISSION HAD REQUESTED AN ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL BEFORE WE SAW THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROPOSED CUT. I'M HERE NOW WITH GREATER URGENCY TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR AN ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL FOR THE ETHICS OFFICE IN 2025. WE BENCHMARKED ETHICS OFFICES OFFICE STAFFING IN COMPARABLE CITIES AND ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSIBILITIES, THE RANGE INCOMPARABLE CITIES IS BETWEEN THREE AND A THIRD TO FIVE AND A HALF FULL-TIME STAFF ASSIGNED TO THE ETHICS PROGRAM. THE CITIES WORKED VERY HARD TO BUILD A WORKFORCE THAT SERVES THE CITY WITH INTEGRITY AND TO GAIN THE TRUST OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR LONG BEACH ETHICS PROGRAM TO STUMBLE. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. I HAVE A LETTER THAT I'LL LEAVE THAT. THANK YOU. PLEASE LEAVE IT WITH THE CLERK AND WE'LL SHARE IT WITH THE COUNCIL. ALRIGHT. KAREN, KAREN RE SIDE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS AND MY TERM'S BEEN EXTENDED FOR ONE YEAR AND DR. DREW JONES AND DR. CLAUDIA LOPEZ, I'M GONNA BE TRAINING THEM OVER THE NEXT YEAR. THEY WILL FOLLOW ME AND ERIC, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT AMAZING JOB YOU HAVE DONE. THE SLURRY SEALERS BY THE CITY ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANY CONTRACTORS AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE USE. AND, UM, I WANNA SAY THAT WE SUPPORT THE UPSTREAM PLAN. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS GONNA SYSTEMATICALLY CHANGE THE WAY WE DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS AND IT'S GOING TO ENABLE SO MANY SENIORS TO BE HOUSED. AND, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, THE ONE, THE MONEY SPENT ON MILITARY WEAPONS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHANGED AND DELIVERED TO OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHO PROVIDE MOST OF THE COMMUNITY CAREGIVERS FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS. AND UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL, DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON THIS BUDGET. I KNOW IT WAS REALLY HARD AND [02:05:01] I'M SO PROUD OF OUR CITY AND, UM, MAYOR, YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR IN LA CASA, THE COUNTY IS LOOKING TO US FOR LEADER. THANKS KAREN. ALRIGHT, NEXT MANELA AFTER MANELA IS DIANA. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. HELLO. UM, MY NAME IS MANELA MARTINEZ. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF LIBRE. FIRST WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR PROPOSING 1.5 MILLION FOR THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM. THIS IS A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN HOUSING JUSTICE. HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS AMOUNT, WHICH INCLUDES ROLLOVER FUNDS FROM LAST YEAR, MAY NOT ACTUALLY RESULT IN EXPANDED SERVICES. SINCE THOSE FUNDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FULLY SPENT. CONTRACT DELAYS CONTINUE TO MAKE IT HARD TO TRACK ACTUAL FUNDING AS CONFIRMED BY LEGAL AID FOUNDATION AND LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION. THAT'S WHY WE URGE YOU TO ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION FOR MEASURE A. WHEN VOTERS SUPPORTED MEASURE A, THEY DID SO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING IT WOULD EXPAND RIGHT TO COUNCIL AND FUND HOUSING SOLUTIONS LIKE THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. UNLIKE NEW PROGRAMS THAT NEED TIME TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, STATE HOUSE DELAY IS READY NOW WITH FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN A BUILT-IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE COMPONENT THAT HELPS BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. IT'S A TRUE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION TOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO A MORE JUST LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS DIANA VI YVONNE. HELLO, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DIANA AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. I LIKE TO THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR INVESTING 200,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH CLT. WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S SHARED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AND SOCIAL HOUSING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THE SCALE OF THE NEED OF FOR INVESTMENT IN THE CREATION OF NEW HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, LONG BEACH RENTS HAVE RISEN. 20% CITYWIDE FAMILIES AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTS ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE CITY. AND HOME OWNERSHIP IS OUT OF REACH FOR MOST RESIDENTS. CLTS, HOWEVER, SUPPORT LOW INCOME FAMILIES OF COLOR BY CREATING LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS TO TOWARD HOME OWNERSHIP. AND SO WE URGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INVEST AN ADDITIONAL 200,000 FROM THE 5.2 MILLION IN PPO FUNDS FOR THE LONG BEACH CLT. THIS INVESTMENT WILL CREATE ACCESS TO HOME OWNERSHIP FOR FAMILIES WHO HISTORICALLY FOUND OWNING PROPERTY DIFFICULT. I'M ALSO HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHTS TO CANCEL PROGRAM. AND LASTLY, I WANT TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR THE 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS YVONNE AND NAZI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS IVONNE MACHADO AND I AM, UM, ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM 45 FOR A MIXED, UM, FAMILY STATUS TO BE REPRESENTED AND ASSISTING ESPECIALLY DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S CHILDREN AND WHEN THERE'S MIXED UH, SITUATIONS GOING ON. ESPECIALLY FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WANNA WORK AND FOR THEM TO HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION BECAUSE SANTA, IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND LEGAL TERMINOLOGY WHEN FILLING OUT YOUR VISA PETITION OR A FAMILY STATUS ADJUSTMENT. AND FOR THIS FAMILIES TO MAINTAIN THE AMERICAN DREAM OF BEING IN THIS GREAT NATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE CONSIDER, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS NAZI AND AFTER NAZAR IS FERNAN. WHAT IS IT? FERNAN. FERNANDO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NAZI ABES AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. AND I FIRST WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY'S SUPPORT WITH FUNDING TO HELP LONG LAUNCH LONG BEACH'S FIRST COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. WE'RE ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE ALLOCATION OF 200,000 IN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CLTS IN NEXT YEAR'S CITY BUDGET. A CRITICAL STEP IN CEMENTING LONG BEACH AS A COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AND SOCIAL HOUSING LEADER. AND I KNOW THERE ARE MANY CLT CHAMPIONS AMONGST OUR COUNCIL AS WELL. TODAY I AM HERE TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY INCREASE ITS SUPPORT FOR CLTS AND COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP INITIATIVES BY ALLOCATING A TOTAL OF 400,000 IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. UM, AS WE ENTER THIS NEXT YEAR AND AS MEASURE A FUNDS ARE RELEASED, UM, WE'RE STEPPING INTO A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, CREATING MUCH NEEDED PATHWAYS TO HOME OWNERSHIP, UH, DEEPLY AND PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOCIAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. THESE ARE CORE GOALS OF THE CITY AND OF LA CASA, BUT ONES THAT REMAIN OUT OF REACH FOR OUR COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED UNDER MANY CURRENT PROGRAMS. AGAIN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL 200,000 FROM LA CASA'S PRODUCTION PRESERVATION AND OWNERSHIP FUNDS OF WHICH THE CITY'S EXPECTED TO RECEIVE FIVE FOOT MILLION TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, FERNANDO, AFTER FERNANDO IS MIRIAM, GOOD EVENING MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS FERNANDO VELO, COMMUNITY LAWYER WITH ORLE. UM, I'M BEFORE ALL OF YOU TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR 2.2 MILLION IN NEW CITY DOLLARS FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. UH, AND THAT THE CITY COMMIT TO MAKING THIS STRUCTURAL FUNDING INSTEAD OF ONETIME ALLOCATIONS. UM, WE CAN'T RELY ON UM, ROLLED OVER FUNDS. UM, AND WE CAN'T COME YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR ADVOCACY FOR THOSE ONETIME ALLOCATIONS. OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES A FUND THAT THEY CAN DEPEND UPON YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND IN ADDITION, AS WE WORK WITH [02:10:01] LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO HAVE STRUCTURAL FUNDING THAT THEY CAN DEPEND ON. UM, BECAUSE IF THEY ARE GONNA TAKE ON THE TASK OF SERVING OUR LONG BEACH COMMUNITY, THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH FUNDING IS GONNA BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM YEAR AFTER YEAR AND NOT HAVE THOSE QUESTION MARKS. UM, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY DESERVES A STRONG COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY, A CITY THAT NEEDS TO STAND UP TO A HOSTILE FEDERAL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UM, AND AS THE GO AS THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. UM, UH, AND AS ALL OF YOU CONSIDERED THE PROPOSAL FOR TIME HAS CONCLUDED THANK YOU. BUDGET. ALSO JUST WANNA, UH, SHARE MY SUPPORT FOR 2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TECH PROGRAM AND THOUSAND. THANKS FERNANDO. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MI MIRIAM AND THEN HEATHER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARIAM YUSEF. I'M REPRESENTING HUNDREDS OF FAITH LEADERS CONNECTED WITH CLUE TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF 2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT COUNCIL PROGRAM, 400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. I AM A LONGTIME MEMBER OF ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. WE HAVE 25 YEARS OF THE SHOWER PROGRAM AND MANNA MEALS WHERE WE EVERY WEEK PROVIDE SHOWERS, MEALS, UH, HAIRCUTS, AND MORE SERVICES TO 125 UNHOUSED PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH. WE HAVE, UH, AN EXTREMELY LARGE IMMIGRANT POPULATION AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THE WORK OF PROVIDING TRAININGS, PROVIDING PROTECTION AND SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND WE WANNA SEE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DO THE SAME TO LIVE OUT THOSE VALUES. SO I REALLY URGE YOU TO DOUBLE THOSE INVESTMENTS. AGAIN, THAT'S 2 MILLION FOR THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM, 400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, HEATHER, BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT 10. SO THE NEXT 10 ARE CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON, MARYBELL ELLIS, UH, ANNA MENDEZ, KATHLEEN ADAMS, SANDRA JACQUELINE PEREZ, MARIA DOLORES ACNO, GABRIELA H CHANA, HAM, ROSE BROCK, AND NANCY F. ALRIGHT, HEATHER, YOU'RE UP. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. HOW'S EVERYONE DOING? GOOD. ALRIGHT. HEATHER KERN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE BELMONT SHORE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. I WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR THE TIME YOU'VE TAKEN TO MEET WITH US AND UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES OUR BUSINESSES AND CORRIDORS ARE FACING. AND THE BSPA IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE BIDS IN THE SMALL BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVATION PLAN. THAT'S A MOUTHFUL AND WE ASK THAT YOU APPROVE. THANK YOU. YOU GOT IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT, CHRISTOPHER. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON AND PRONOUNS HER NAME. HE, I AM A, A MEMBER OF THE ONE LONG BEACH CO. UM, THE ONE LONG BEACH COLLABORATIVE AND, UH, THE CO-CHAIR OF THE ADVANCING PEACE, UH, STEERING COMMITTEE. I WANT TO BEGIN TO SHARE MY DEEP APPRECIATIONS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, EVERYONE ON THE, ON THE COUNCIL FOR PASSING THE $1.1 MILLION INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION LAST YEAR. AND I ALSO WANNA GIVE A THANK YOU TO OUR MAYOR FOR ADVOCATING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TOWARDS VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. UH, I SENT YOU ALL A LETTER, UH, OUTLINING THE, THE REQUEST, UH, AND THEN AN UPDATE IN REGARDS TO WHAT WAS ASKED, UH, WHAT WAS PROPOSED, AND THEN WHAT IS REMAINING. AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU ALL TO DISCUSS THOSE FOR THE DETAIL. UH, OUTSIDE OF THAT, UM, THE EQUITY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REQUESTED 22 UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR OUR, UH, LISTENING SESSIONS THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR THIS YEAR AND OTHER PROGRAMMING. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO YOU ALL ABOUT THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANKS CHRISTOPHER. ALRIGHT, MAYOR I AND LONG BEACH. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARI LES AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT, UH, NINE FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS. I'M AN IMMIGRANT AND I'M HERE, [02:15:01] UH, TO ADVOCATE FOR THE JUSTICE FUND OF LONG BEACH SO THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO APPROVE $2.2 MILLION IN FUNDING, WHICH IS, UH, AN IMPORTANT ESTIMATE AND NEEDED FUNDING FOR THE FAMILIES LIKE ME THAT ARE IMMIGRANTS AND THAT ARE ATTACKED BY ICE. AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO HELP US, UH, SO THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO LIVE IN FEAR AND FEEL LIKE A COMMUNITY THAT IS SAFE AND SECURE. I ALSO AM ADVOCATING FOR, UH, THE 400 MILLION, I'M SORRY, 400, UH, IN, UH, FUNDING FOR, UH, THE JUSTICE FUND AND ALSO FOR, UH, THE RIGHT OF, UH, COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND ALSO IF YOU CAN HAVE, UH, BETTER EQUIPMENT FOR US, THAT WOULD BE BEST. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, ANNA AND THEN KATHLEEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS ANNA MENEZ. I AM THE OPERATION SPECIALIST FOR ORLE. I WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON A DAILY BASIS AND I'M THE ONE WHO RECEIVES THE CALLS WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER IS DETAINED. YOU SEE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT IT'S EASY TO TURN A BLIND EYE WHEN IT'S NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTING YOU. THESE CALLS BREAK ME EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT'S A SHAMEFUL REALITY THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE BEING KIDNAPPED FROM THE, THE STREETS. FAMILIES ARE LEFT TO FIGURE IT OUT ALL ALONE, AND A LOT OF THEM CAN CANNOT AFFORD TO DROP $8,000 TO SUPPORT THEIR DETAINED FAMILY MEMBER THANKS TO THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT PROCESS ALONE. WE SUPPORT THEM IN EVERY SINGLE WAY THAT WE CAN. THERE IS NO DENYING THAT THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND IS NECESSARY FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH. NOW, MORE THAN EVER, I URGE THE CITY TO APPROVE 2.2 MILLION IN NEW AND STRUCTURED FUNDING FOR THE JUSTICE FUND. I APPRECIATE THE SOLIDARITY STATEMENTS, BUT WE NEED . YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THIS FUNDING IS A DIRECT THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, KATHLEEN AND THEN SANDRA. HELLO, I'M KATHLEEN ADAMS FROM DISTRICT FOUR AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WALKING DOOR TO DOOR IN LONG BEACH TO TALK ABOUT MEASURE A PHONE CALLS FOR LB ON THE OTHER MEASURES FOR LONG BEACH. AND I'M THRILLED TO SEE THE OUTCOME AND ALL THE HARD WORK PRESENTED TODAY. ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID TO THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH WAS, COME TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE THERE'S GOOD NEWS. STOP WATCHING THE BAD NEWS ON TV AND COME HERE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WORKED, BUT I HOPE IT DID. ANYWAY, I DO WANT TO, UM, THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO WERE THE HOMELESS SITUATION AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN BE PREVENTED FROM BEING UNHOUSED. 2.2 MILLION FOR RIGHT TO CANCEL LAWYERS AND 2.2 MILLION FOR LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL AS THE 400, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, 400,000. SO I PLEASE URGE YOU TO DO THAT. ALSO, 24 HOUR CRISIS RESPONSE ACROSS THE CITY AND 24 HOUR QUALITY OF LIFE TEAM. SO, AND CITYWIDE DEESCALATION TRAINING. WE ALL NEED DEESCALATION TRAINING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. SANDRA. AND THEN JACQUELINE. IS SANDRA HERE? IS IS JACQUELINE HERE? YEAH. OKAY. JACQUELINE, YOU'RE NEXT. AND THEN MARIA. WHERE'S MARIA? OKAY, YOU'RE NEXT. AND MARIA, AFTER YOU IS GABRIELA. ALRIGHT, THAT'S THE NEXT THREE. THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME'S JACQUELINE PEREZ VALENCIA AND I SERVE AS THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE MANAGER AT, UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS HERE. AND, UH, AS I SPEAK TO YOU ALL, I'M REPRESENTING A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, THAT ARE REALLY AFRAID. UH, THEY REALLY NEED YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, THEY NEED YOU TO STAND UP AND INVEST, UM, AND REALLY PUT MONEY INTO THIS, UM, INTO THIS THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND BECAUSE THEY REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR SOLIDARITY. AND WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW IT BY PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO THEM. AND WE REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. RE [02:20:21] ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA ANO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE AND I'M A MEMBER OF . I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS US ALL, ESPECIALLY THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. THE RECENT RATES THAT TOOK PLACE IN JUNE HAVE HARVESTED PANIC IN OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING US VULNERABLE TO MANY SITUATIONS. THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES AND SORROW FACED BY THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS. NO CHILDREN SHOULD BE FACED THROUGH THIS SITUATION. MY PETITION IS THAT YOU CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE JUSTICE FUND OF LONG BEACH, WHICH IS CR A CRUCIAL PROGRAM THAT HAS A TUR INTERPRETATION OF LOVED ONES AND HAVE KEPT FAMILIES UNITED. WE DEMAND $2.2 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE JUSTICE FUND THAT WILL ASSIST IMMIGRANTS TO OBTAIN VISAS, UNT AND THE CIRCUIT NINE APPEALS FOR THE VICTIMS OF CRIME AND HUMANE TRAFFICKING. THANK YOU, GABRIELA. GABRIELA, ANA, HAM, ACH, AND THEN NANCY F. OKAY. HI, MY NAME IS GABRIELA. I AM HERE REPRESENTING SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, LIBRE UNITED, HERE, LOCAL 11 AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY FOR MANY DECADES. I COME HERE REQUESTING YOU TO INVEST THE $2.2 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. UM, COUNTLESS PEOPLE ARE FRIGHTENED TO GO FOR A WALK, GO TO SCHOOL, GO TO WORK FOR FEAR OF BEING DETAINED AND BEING TORN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES WITH NO WAY OF PAYING FOR LEGAL SUPPORT AND REPRESENTATION. THESE PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN, ARE ALONE, TERRIFIED, CONFUSING DETENTION CENTERS AND OR ARE FACING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF MANEUVERING THROUGH THIS LEGAL SYSTEM. THEY ARE COMPLETELY ISOLATED. WORSE THAN THE TERRORIST HOLDING A CAPTIVE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES. WHILE ALL CANNOT BE SAVED, THESE PEOPLE CAN'T BE HELPED. YOU CAN'T BE A PART OF HELPING, HELPING FAMILIES STAY TOGETHER. SO PLEASE ONCE AGAIN APPROVE THE 2.2 $0.2 MILLION OF, UM, FOR NEW FUNDING FOR LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. I TRUST TIME HAS HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. IS SHANA HAM ACH HERE? OKAY. HELLO? HI, I'M HANA. OKAY, KANA. OKAY. I'M JUST READING IT AS LOOKS LIKE SHANA HAM. ROSE, DID YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING FIRST BEFORE? YES. IF YOU ARE THE LAST ONE ON THE LIST LIST, I'M GONNA LEAVE READ THE NEXT 10 SO THEY CAN LINE UP BEFORE YOU BEGIN. ALRIGHT. OKAY. SO THAT'S, UH, SOPHIA BARINAS, UH, CHRISTINA BARINA, CARL WATTON, EDITH BARRERA, UH, ANDRE DONATO, VERONICA VAL DINOS, AND BRENDA COVINGTON. ALRIGHT, YOU ARE UP. SO, AS I SAID, I'M HANAHAN ROSE BROCK AND UH, GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU. UM, I'M THE VP OF ADVOCACY FOR NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN IN LONG BEACH. AND ALSO, UM, A LAY LEADER FOR TEMPLE ISRAEL, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT THREE. I ALSO, UM, LEAD UP TEMPLE MEMBERS IN, UH, PREPARING MEALS AT COA IN LONG BEACH. AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE ALLOCATION OF $2 MILLION FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM, THE $400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND THE 2.2 MILLION THAT LONG BEACH JUSTICE OF THE, FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. I KNOW IT HAS TO BE DIFFICULT TO DECIDE HOW THIS MONEY IS SPENT, BUT I THINK MORE HAS TO GO TO THE LEAST OF US. AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT. UM, UH, THE JEWISH VALUES ARE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, BEFRIEND THE IMMIGRANT, THAT WE WERE STRANGERS OURSELVES AND THAT WE FEED THE HUNGRY AND THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE IN NEED. AND I THINK THESE ARE, ARE IMPORTANT. I URGE YOU TO DOUBLE YOUR INVESTMENT IN TENANT AND IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS AT THIS TIME. CRISIS ALLOCATING 2 MILLION TIME HAS, HAS INCLUDED THANK YOU. COUNTY PROGRAM. 400,000, AS I SAID LONG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, IS ONE MORE TIME? IS NANCY HERE? OKAY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS SOPHIA, THEN CHRISTINA. SOPHIA BAR [02:25:41] I RIGHT TO COUNSEL. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SOPHIA ENA FROM DISTRICT SIX. THE LACK OF ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE LED ME TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF MY CITY AND ALSO BECAME A VICTIM OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT I WANTED TO USE, UH, MY CASE AND SEE IF THEY CAN RESOLVE MY CASE, PUTTING IT IN DIRE STRAITS. MY CASE INVOLVED AN IN VISA U AND AT THE MOMENT THAT I NEEDED HELP AND APPLIED, I WAS NOT YET INCLUDED IN THE JUSTICE FUND IN ORDER TO, UH, HELP WITH MY LEGAL COSTS. THEREFORE, I HAD TO WORK TWO JOBS, WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 8:00 AM TO 9:00 PM THESE ARE MOMENTS OF FEAR, STRESS, AND A LOT OF DISCOMFORT. BUT WITH A LOT OF HOPE THAT SOON MY LEGAL STATUS WOULD BE, UH, AFLOAT. I SUPPORT THE JUSTICE FUND. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STRESS THAT I WENT THROUGH. I'M PROUD TO KNOW THAT'S THE CITY OF LONG BEACH OFFERS THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT SINCE MANY YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. UH, CHRISTINA. CHRISTINA? YES. AFTER CHRISTINA IS CARL AND EDITH . CHRISTINA. HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRISTINA SENA FROM DISTRICT SIX. HAVING LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITH THE ASSISTANT OF JUSTICE FUND IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, THE FAMILIES TO REMAIN UNITED, NOT SEPARATED, UH, NOT THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO OBTAIN LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS AS WELL AS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY. FOR INSTANCE, IN MY FAMILY, WE HAD A PERSONAL, UH, DIRE CASE OF AN ARMED ASSAULT THAT ATTEMPTED AGAINST THE LIFE OF MY SISTER. SHE HAD A VISA U AND IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF HER FAMILY. THIS WAS DIFFICULT MOMENT IN HER LIFE, UH, STRESS WISE, BUT IT WAS ALSO BE ABLE TO WORK. YEAH, TIME HAS INCLUDED. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. UH, I DON'T SEE CARL, UH, CARL. EDITH. EDITH. ALRIGHT. AFTER EDITH, WE HAVE ANDRE AND THEN VERONICA, AND THEN BRENDA. [02:30:41] GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS EDITH, RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH, UH, FOR JUSTICE ECONOMY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JUSTICE FUND AND THE URGENT NEEDS TO PROTECT OUR FAMILY. TODAY IS NOT JUST LIKE ANOTHER UH, DAY TODAY. MANY OF OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE LIVING IN FEAR AND ARE, UH, SEEING THEIR RIGHTS BEING IGNORED. THE FEAR TO BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR LOVED ONES IS REAL. UH, I ASK THAT YOU APPROVE TWO POINT A 2 MILLION FOR THE JUSTICE FUND AND THAT THESE FUNDS ARE STRUCTURED IN, UH, UH, IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO WHOMEVER, UH, CONFRONTS INTERPRETATION PROCESS. WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR A DIGNIFIED LIFE. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. ALRIGHT. ARE YOU VERONICA? YEAH. GREAT. BUENOS. GOOD EVENING COUNCILWOMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS VERONICA VALINO AND I'M A COMMUNITY LEADER WITH THE ORGANIZATION ORALLY AND I BELONG TO STATE HERE TO ASK YOU, UH, ESTEEM COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE, AN APPROPRIATE 2.2 MILLION TOWARDS THE JUSTICE FUND. IN ORDER FOR OUR CITY TO BECOME A SANCTUARY CITY, IT IS NECESSARY TO INVEST IN OUR RESIDENTS. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A PRECEDENT WITH NOT SO GOOD IDEAS FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT CAUSES FEAR AND ANXIETY AND PROVIDES A FEELING OF INSECURITY. THE SENTIMENT IN THE AIR NOT ONLY AFFECTS ADULTS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, BUT ALSO CHILDREN WHO ARE OUR FUTURE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, OUR FINAL SPEAKER, BRENDA. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRENDA COVINGTON AND I AM A RESIDENT OF THE NINTH DISTRICT AND I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF RAMONA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND MEMBER OF THE LIBRE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. I AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE ALLEGATION OF 2 MILLION FOR THE, UH, TENNIS RIGHTS COUNCIL PROGRAM AND 400,000 FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, BOTH WHICH PLAYS A ROLE IN PROVIDING DISPLACEMENT AND CREATING LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALSO, I WORK, UH, WANT TO VOICE SUPPORT OF $2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. NOW IS THE TIME FOR, UM, MEASURE A TO FULFILL ITS PROMISE TO, TO VOTERS AND TO DIRECT NEW FUNDS TO THE RESOLUTION LIKE EVICTION DEFENSE AND, UH, IN INDICATION HOME HOUSING. YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED MODELS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS, MS. BRENDA. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL DELIBERATION. WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK ZOEY. UH, ADMITTEDLY I DON'T, UH, SURPRISE IT MAY SURPRISE YOU, UH, DEAR MAYOR, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY CURRENTLY. I KNOW, I KNOW. I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY LATER. DON'T YOU WORRY. I WOULDN'T WANNA SET YOU WITH FALSE EXPECTATIONS. UM, BUT, UH, AGAIN, UM, I KNOW STA I JUST WANNA THANK STAFF. I KNOW YOU ALL WORK INCREDIBLY HARD. UM, AND I CAN SAY PERSONALLY, AS A DISTRICT NINE COUNCIL MEMBER, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET, UM, MANY OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT WITH, UH, YOU ALL [02:35:01] OVER THE LAST YEAR, RIGHT? SO I CAN TELL TOM AS OUR CITY MANAGER, CLEARLY THE AREAS WHERE YOU WERE LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS, UM, THE THINGS THAT WE PRIORITIZE, THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US. AND SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL. UM, OUR DIRECTOR ERIC LOPEZ, WHEN I LOOK AT THE, THE CIP AND THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING IN NORTH LONG BEACH, UH, AND THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN MY STAFF TO REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT MY RESIDENTS ARE SAYING, COMING OUT TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS RIGHT? AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, A LOT OF IT DEFERRED RIGHT ACROSS THE CITY, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY IN, IN, UM, IN, IN NORTH LONG BEACH SPECIFICALLY. UM, AND SO I JUST SAY, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I REALLY SEE THAT REFLECTED, UM, IN THE WORK HERE. UM, AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A REALLY ROBUST, UH, CONVERSATION AND DIALOGUE WITH MY COLLEAGUES. UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I, I SEE THAT AND I SEE YOUR WORK AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS, THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO OUR CHAIR FOR BUDGET CYCLE. THIS IS ALWAYS AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE WHOLE COUNCIL. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET CYCLE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AS WELL. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER FOR THE PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT. AND, UM, ERIC, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE, I DIDN'T EXPECT THE BIGGEST BUDGET CHALLENGE WOULD BE HOW THE STATE TREATS OUR LOCAL OIL REVENUE, THUS AFFECTING OUR TIDE LENS FUND. EVERY MONTH I GET A TIDE TIDELANDS BRIEFING. THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS IN TIDELANDS. WE RELY ON TIDELANDS. THEN AFTER SEEING THE PROBLEM, AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF STUDYING THIS, THIS IS ONE OF OUR MOST URGENT ISSUES. OUR OIL, LOCAL OIL REVENUE. AND THIS BUDGET MAKES IT CLEAR. I WANNA GIVE A BIT OF IMPORTANT HISTORY. FOR NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS, LONG BEACH HAS PRODUCED OIL FROM OUR TIDELANDS, OUR BEACHES, MARINAS, AND WATERWAYS. THAT REVENUE WAS INTENDED TO CARE FOR THE COAST. THE CITY MANAGES ON THE STATE'S BEHALF. IT FUNDS CLEAN WATER, LIFEGUARDS, BEACH, AND MARINA MAINTENANCE, AND MAJOR PROJECTS LIKE PEER REPAIRS, SEA WALL REPLACEMENTS, WETLANDS RESTORATION, AND STORM DRAIN UPGRADES. TODAY, THE STATE IS TRYING TO SHUT DOWN OIL PRODUCTION WITHOUT A FUNDED PLAN TO PLUG WELLS, REMOVE EQUIPMENT, TRANSITION WORKERS INTO CLEAN ENERGY JOBS, OR SUPPORT OUR TIDELANDS OBLIGATIONS DURING THE TRANSITION, WHILE THE STATE CONTINUES TO TAKE THE LARGEST SHARE OF THE REVENUE. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? IN 1964, DURING PEAK PRODUCTION, THE STATE DEEMED IT ECONOMICALLY IMPRACTICAL TO SPEND ALL OF LONG BEACH OIL REVENUE ON THE COAST AND LABELED THE REST SURPLUS SURPLUS TO BE SENT TO SACRAMENTO. TODAY, THAT DECISION STILL CONTROLS THE SPLIT. LONG BEACH RECEIVES 8.5% FOR TIDELANDS, WHILE THE STATE TAKES 42.5% AS A SURPLUS. LET ME REPEAT THAT. LONG BEACH RECEIVES 8.5% OF OIL REVENUE GENERATED HERE FOR THE TIDELANDS. WHILE THE STATE TAKES 42.5% OF OIL REVENUE AS A SURPLUS, ACCORDING TO SP 1425. SINCE 2004, THE STATE HAS COLLECTED NEARLY $6 BILLION FROM LONG BEACH TIDELANDS. THAT THAT SPLIT IS NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE IN OUR CITY. WITH OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THE STATE LANDS TRUST OIL REVENUES ARE FALLING. WHILE COSTS ARE RISING CITY AUDITOR DOWS REPORT SHOWS THAT WE COULD LOSE $300 MILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE WHILE THE TIDELANDS FACE OVER $1 BILLION IN UNFUNDED CAPITAL NEEDS. THIS IS THE FIRST PROPOSED BUDGET WITH THE TIDELANDS FUND DEFICIT NEXT YEAR. THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH SUPPORTS POLICE FIRE, THAT INCLUDES ALL OF OUR LIFEGUARD BUDGET PARKS AND LIBRARIES, IS EXPECTED TO ABSORB SEVERAL MILLION IN TIDELANDS SHORTFALLS. THAT BURDEN WILL GROW AS OIL DECLINES. WHILE THE STATE CONTINUES COLLECTING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR. WE NEED MORE OF OUR TIDELANDS OIL REVENUE TO STAY IN LONG BEACH TO PROTECT OUR COAST, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE SERVICES RESIDENTS RELY ON AS WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET. I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT HOW IT TIES BACK TO THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES AND THE INPUT WE HAVE [02:40:01] HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC ON PUBLIC SAFETY. FOR THREE STRAIGHT BUDGET RESIDENTS HAVE PRIORITIZED RESPONSE TIMES AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT. PEOPLE ASK WHY OUR AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FOR PRIORITY ONE CALLS IS NOW A MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS SLOWER THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THIS BUDGET IS DOING TO REVERSE THAT TREND AND HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING NUISANCE BEHAVIOR AND QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES THAT COMPOUND IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORHOODS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM OUR CHIEF ON TRAFFIC SAFETY. THE COUNCIL NAMED IT A CITYWIDE PRIORITY UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE. IN REVIEWING THIS PROPOSAL, I DO NOT SEE NEW INVESTMENTS THAT REFLECT THAT DIRECTION. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND HOW THIS BUDGET ALIGNS WITH THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITY AND HOW LONG BEACH INTENDS TO MEET ITS VISION. ZERO GOALS ADOPTED IN 2016, WHICH WAS SET TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY 2026 NEXT YEAR. REGARDING OUR BASIC NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR VISIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO STREETS, CURBS, AND SIDEWALKS. I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS BUDGET IS INVESTING IN PAVEMENT, REHAB, PAVEMENT, REHAB, CURB AND GUTTER REPAIRS, SIDEWALK FIXES, AND QUICK BUILD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE TANGIBLE UPGRADES THIS YEAR. FINALLY, WE'RE INVESTING MILLIONS IN PARK ACTIVATIONS THROUGH THE STRONG BEACH INITIATIVE, YET CUTTING THE MUNICIPAL BAND BUDGET A CHERISHED SUMMER TRADITION WITH THOUSANDS ATTENDING EACH CONCERT IN OUR PARKS. I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DECISION WAS MADE AND WHY THIS CUT WAS SEEN AS LESS IMPACTFUL THAN OTHER PARK ACTIVATION PROGRAMS BEING FUNDED OR EXPANDED THIS YEAR. THANK YOU TO OUR BOC CHAIR, OUR BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING AND HAVE DONE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING INTO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND HEARING FROM EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, TOM. WHAT, UH, THE COUNCILWOMAN DID IN TERMS OF THAT HISTORY OF TITLES? WHEN DOES TITLES COME IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL? UM, SO, UH, IT DOESN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC BUDGET, LIKE IT DOESN'T BELONG IN A DEPARTMENT. UM, WE TALK ABOUT IT DURING CIP, WE TALK ABOUT IT IN THIS PRESENTATION. UH, IF YOU WANNA TRY TO ADD THAT IN AND ONE OF OUR OTHER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WE CAN MANAGEMENT, UM, LET'S FIND SOME TIME IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. I THINK THAT HISTORY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHERE, HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND WHAT ARE, WHAT HAS CHANGED THAT CHANGES THE OUTLOOK FOR TIGHT ENDS AND WHAT COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THAT. I THINK WE, WE HAVE TO IN THIS BUDGET, SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE SHOWING A DEFICIT IN TIGHTS, PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY AND WHAT'S TO COME. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A BOC PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE DOING LATER THIS, UM, MONTH. I BELIEVE WE CAN, UH, BRING THAT TO COUNCIL AS WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT AS WELL. I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. OKAY. ALRIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN. YEAH, I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT TOO. 'CAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING A LOT OF THAT'S ALREADY BEEN LITIGATED, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO, UH, TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE, UM, HARD WORK OF OUR CITY STAFF AND BRINGING FORWARD, UM, A BUDGET THAT PRESERVES CORE, UH, CORE SERVICE SERVICES, UM, WHILE MAKING STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY HOUSING AND, UM, ECONOMIC ECONOMIC RECOVERY. AND EVEN DESPITE THAT, NEARLY $17 MILLION STRUCTURAL, UH, SHORTFALL, UM, THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. UM, AVOID SERVICE CUTS BY USING ONE-TIME FUNDING RESPONSIBLE AND MAKING TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN AREAS THAT I BELIEVE MATTER THE MOST TO OUR RESIDENTS. UM, I WANNA, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR FUNDING, UH, IN YOUR, IN YOUR MAYOR'S BUDGET. UM, THE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESCUE TWO, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR PUBLIC SERVICE FOLKS STOOD IN LINE AND JUST REALLY TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE NEED FOR THAT. UM, AND SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT THAT MADE IT, UM, YOU KNOW, INTO, INTO YOUR BUDGET. UM, I ALSO SEE, UH, THAT THE, UH, BUDGET ADDS A NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT. 'CAUSE SIX 60% OF DISTRICT TWO RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS. AND SO WE CAN JUST, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT MAINTENANCE ISSUES, UM, AND UNRESPONSIVE LANDLORDS ARE BEING ADDRESSED. UM, AND ALSO, UM, ERIC LOPEZ, I JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR PRESENTATION AND, UM, AND YOU, YOU JUST, YOU'RE JUST A, I ALWAYS SAY THIS, YOU'RE A ROCKSTAR. YOU DELIVER. I HAVE SOME, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU'VE DONE WITH REPAIRS AND CURB IMPROVEMENTS, UM, MAJOR PARK UPGRADES. AND I CAN TELL YOU, UM, THAT SKATING RING ON THE BEACH IS REALLY POPULAR. THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT COME FROM ALL OVER, UH, TO DO THAT. SO WE'RE REALLY, UH, PROUD OF THAT. AND ALSO YOUR RE RECENT, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO, UM, TO THE, TO THE, UH, TO THE, THE BAND SHELL. SO I'M JUST, I'M REALLY PROUD OF ALL THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE [02:45:01] AND, UM, WHILE ALSO INVESTING IN EQUITY SAFETY AND JUST QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. IS IT WORKING? IT DOESN'T. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU TO THE TEAM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, AND TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR COMMENTS. UM, WE KNOW THAT DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO REALLY IDENTIFY WAYS, AS WE'VE SAID, TO EITHER TIGHTEN THE BELT, KNOWING THAT THE FORECAST IN THE FUTURE, UM, LOOKS A LITTLE MORE CLOUDY. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO MAINTAIN CORE SERVICES. I THINK THE PRIORITIES OF THIS COUNCIL, UM, HAVE BEEN CLEAR AND WE, I SEE THEM REFLECTED IN THIS WORK. UM, IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. RESCUE TWO, UM, IS CRITICAL. WE KNOW, UM, THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE BRINGING STATION NINE ONLINE HOPEFULLY EARLY NEXT YEAR, UM, AND ALL OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT'S TAKEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. UH, DIRECTOR LOPEZ, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DETAILS. I, I LOVE WHEN THERE'S MAPS AND CHARTS AND THINGS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA CARRY THIS TO OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS SO FOLKS CAN FLIP THROUGH IT THEMSELVES AND SEE IT, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE BUDGET DOCUMENTS ARE IMPRESSIVE DOCUMENTS. AND I THINK WHEN WE SEE POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE A HUNDRED SLIDES LONG, UM, WHICH I THINK THIS ONE WAS AT LEAST A HUNDRED SLIDES LONG, SEVEN, 107 SLIDES LONG. UM, TAKING, TAKING THIS TO A COMMUNITY MEETING IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IN TERMS OF REFLECTING THE WORK THAT THE TEAM IS DOING AND THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT GOES INTO IT. UM, AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WONDER WHY THIS AND NOT THAT. UM, I SEE THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION IS DEEPLY REFLECTIVE OF THE VALUES CITY, UM, THE VALUES OF MY RESIDENTS. SO, AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT. I DO HAVE SOME, SOME MINOR QUESTIONS, UH, WITH SOME OF THE PROGRAMS, UH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING INTO THOSE. UH, BUT THANK YOU TO THE TEAM. UM, I WANNA SHOUT OUT THE BIDS WHO ARE HERE IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. UM, WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE UNCERTAIN TIMES FOR ALL OF US FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, MANY OF WHICH WERE MENTIONED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS LARGE BUSINESSES, LIKE ONES WE GET TO CELEBRATE TODAY OVER AT FORD, UM, ARE REALLY THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE HELPING TO MAINTAIN OUR COMMUNITIES WITH LOCAL JOBS, UM, AND MEETING LOCAL NEEDS. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK AND THE SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, INNOVATORS, AND, UM, THOSE LOCAL LONG BEACH FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE. SO THANKS TO THE TEAM AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A BIGGER CONVERSATION. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER TH THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, A $3.7 BILLION BUDGET IS REALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT ROLES AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR CITY RUN EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. UM, AND I WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO JUST SHARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I SEE, UH, GO AS MY FIRST BUDGET PROCESS. SO, UH, FIRST, UH, I DEFINITELY WANNA THANK, UM, THE, UH, THE CITY STAFF, THE OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR FOR SHOUTING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT HOUSING IS TOP OF MIND, UM, IN THIS BUDGET. UM, SO REALLY LOOKING AT HOW DO WE USE NOT ONLY OUR CURRENT RESOURCES, BUT THAT OF MEASURE A, UM, AND BEING ABLE TO DIVIDE THOSE UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE PATHWAYS OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. UM, SO I'LL BE LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT THAT. UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET, UM, EVERYONE HAS SAID IT HERE, CERTAINLY IT'S A REFLECTION OF OUR VALUES AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I KNOW OF ANY OTHER CITY, UM, THAT HAS CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY OUR VALUES BY ENSURING THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES, UH, BEHIND THOSE VALUES. SO BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, UM, WHO'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ACTIVITY RIGHT NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE NOT ONLY, BUT ALSO IMMEDIATE NEEDS THAT REALLY SUPPORT ENSURING THAT OUR FAMILIES HAVE PLACES TO LIVE AND SOMETHING TO EAT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN OUR, UM, CITY. AND THEN, UH, I CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. UM, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT SO MANY OF MEMBERS OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY WE'RE HERE TODAY, INCLUDING OUR BIDS WHO SERVE AS LEADERS. UM, I AM, UH, LOOKING, UH, INTENTLY BOW ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING TO ACTIVATE NOT ONLY OUR DOWNTOWN CORRIDORS, BUT ALL OF OUR CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR OUR CORRIDORS ACCORDINGLY. AND SO, UH, I COMMEND OUR BUDGET OVERSIGHT CHAIR, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, RICK SOTE, UH, THE VICE CHAIR, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE, UM, FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND EFFORT. 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS A YEAR ROUND, UM, SET OF ACTIVITIES. AND I WANNA THANK, UH, BOTH, UH, THE CHAIR AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGER, UM, SINCE IT'S MY FIRST GO AROUND FOR TAKING A LITTLE MORE TIME WITH ME ONE-ON-ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE ALL OF THOSE DETAILS. AND THEN FINALLY, I'LL [02:50:01] SAY, UH, SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY POINTED OUT, UM, SOME KEY AREAS THAT I THINK ARE CRITICAL. CERTAINLY RESCUE TWO IS PART OF THAT. UM, BUT I WILL BE LOOKING ALSO VERY CLOSELY AND WANNA UNDERSTAND, UM, SHIFTING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITIES, UM, ADDING THAT CIVILIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES ASSISTANCE. 'CAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL, UM, FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN THE NORTH PART OF OUR CITY. UM, AND AS WE, UH, IN THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TODAY, WE HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR, UM, FROM THE CITY TEAM, I KNOW KEVIN WAS HERE, UH, WHERE WE HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT ARE THE REVENUE SOURCES AND MAJOR EXPENSE CATEGORIES. UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THINK ABOUT AS A CITY IS NOT ONLY HOW DO WE IDENTIFY, UM, MORE STRUCTURAL REVENUE, BUT WHERE CAN WE INVEST IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CREATES, UM, ADDITIONAL REVENUE, UH, FOR OUR CITY ACCORDINGLY. SO THOSE ARE MY INITIAL OBSERVATIONS. UM, AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, UH, FOR BEING HERE FROM THE PUBLIC TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS AND IDEAS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF OUR BUDGET IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, WELL THAT CONCLUDES COUNCIL DELIBERATION. I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DISCUSSIONS. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS. WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS DONE BY, UH, SEPTEMBER 15TH. SO, UH, IT IS IN YOUR HANDS. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RICKS RICKS OTI. UH, IT'S A GREAT START. I KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE LISTENING TO DO AND MORE ENGAGEMENT TO DO. UH, UH, AND AGAIN, UM, ANY ADJUSTMENTS HAVE TO BE A CO HAVE A CORE CORRELATING CUT. SO WE HAVE TO REALLY KEEP EQUITY IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT I THINK YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD START. THIS, THIS IS A WAY THAT WE'VE, UM, FOR THE FIRST TIME DUE TO MEASURE A DOLLARS, WE'RE ABLE TO FOCUS IN A WAY NO ONE ELSE HAS YET ON PREVENTION IN THIS WAY. UM, ALL OF THIS STILL HAS TO BE ON THE MEASURE A SIDE. MUCH OF THIS STILL HAS THE GUIDELINES FOR THESE DOLLARS HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE LA CASA BOARD, BUT THEY'RE ON THE SAME TRACK AS OUR BUDGET PROCESS. SO BY THE TIME THE BUDGET PROCESS IS OVER, WE SHOULD HAVE OUR GUIDELINES. WE BELIEVE THESE USES OF FUNDS ALIGN, ALIGN WITH THAT. UH, IN TERMS OF, UM, UH, THE OTHER PLANS, THE, UH, THE, THE VALUES PLAN, THE, UM, UH, UH, SMALL BUSINESS PLAN, UH, ALL OF THOSE, AGAIN, A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE, BUT YOU, UH, FOLKS CAN COME TO YOUR COMMITTEE AND, AND DO MORE ADVOCACY. UH, BUT I THINK THIS IS, UM, A GREAT PLACE TO START. SO THAT SAID, WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE SINCE THIS IS CONTI. DO WE NEED TO VOTE TO CONTINUE THE HEARING? MADAM ATTORNEY? WE DON'T NEED TO. DO WE, DO WE? OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE TO CONTINUE THE HEARING. YOU DIDN'T LISTEN. YOU WAIT FOR THE ANSWER. WELL, THE CLERK SAID YES. I JUST NEEDED ONE PERSON TO SAY YES. OH, YOU MADE THE MOTION. COUNCILWOMAN RICK SODI. COUNCILMAN SUPER. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. UH, THE REST OF THESE ITEMS, UM, DO NOT HAVE PRESENTATIONS, SO LET'S CONTINUE. ITEM 46, PLEASE REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 10 IN THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL [46. 25-55980 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending Title 10 in the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Chapter 32.110 relating to the Preferential Parking District “U”, 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. ] CODE RELATING TO THE PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT U READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING. CITYWIDE. GREAT. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. OKAY. MOTION IS CARRIED. 47 REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 16 OF THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PAYMENT OF LIVING WAGE TO WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT [47. 25-55838 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 and adopted as read. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Attorney         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER. RED AND ADOPTED AS RED CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, THIS IS THE FINAL READING OF THIS ORDINANCE. I SEE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE FINAL READING OF THIS ORDINANCE. SANDRA RODRIGUEZ AND ANDREA ROMERO. AND DAVE, ARE YOU HERE, SANDRA? YES. ALRIGHT, YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SANDRA RODRIGUEZ AND I'VE WORKED AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT FOR PARITIES AS A SALES ASSOCIATE FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS. NOW, FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, MY UNION AND I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR SOMETHING SIMPLE, A LIVING WAGE FOR ALL OF US WORKING TOURISM, WHETHER IT'S IN HOTELS OR IN THE CITY'S OWN FACILITIES. THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT IS DOING BETTER THAN EVER. THIS YEAR ALONE, OVER 2 MILLION PASSENGERS HAVE COME THROUGH. THAT'S A NEW RECORD, AND THAT NUMBER IS ONLY GOING TO GET BIGGER WITH THE BIG EVENTS COMING TO THE REGION. BUT BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS ARE WORKERS LIKE ME, THE PEOPLE WHO GREET THE TRAVELERS, SERVE FOOD, KEEP THINGS CLEAN, AND HELP THE AIRPORT RUN SMOOTHLY. EVEN WITH ALL THAT GROWTH, MANY OF US ARE STILL STRUGGLING. RENT, GROCERIES, GAS, EVERYTHING KEEPS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT OUR PAY HASN'T KEPT UP. SOME WEEKS I HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH BILLS I [02:55:01] CAN AFFORD TO SKIP. AND I KNOW I'M NOT THE, THE ONLY ONE. MANY OF MY COWORKERS, CASHIERS, COOKS, BARISTAS, ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME STRESS. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING EXTRA, JUST A CHANCE TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY. A WAGE THAT LETS US PAY RENT BY FOOD AND BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER EACH MONTH. THAT'S WHAT THIS LIVING WAGE INCREASE MEANS TO US. I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL FOR STANDING WITH THE WORKERS AND FOR MAKING SURE THAT ALL CONCESSION WORKERS, NO MATTER WHO SIGNS OUR PAYCHECK, ARE COVERED UNDER THE LIVING WAGE LAW, JUST LIKE IT WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE WITH THIS VOTE. LET'S GET THIS DONE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS GRAY CITY MOVE. THANK YOU. THANKS SANDRA. ALRIGHT. AND ANDREA. ALL RIGHT, THANKS. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ANDREA ROMERO AND I HAVE PROUDLY WORKED AS A COOK AT THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS. I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO FINALIZE THIS MUCH ANTICIPATED POLICY AND MOVE FORWARD WITH RAISING THE WAGES OF AIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER AND FUTURE AMPHITHEATER WORKERS RAISING THE WAGE TO $25 ONCE IMPLEMENTED, AND NEARLY 30, $30 BY THE TIME THE OLYMPICS COME TO TOWN WOULD NOT JUST BE A NUMBER ON A PAYCHECK, IT WOULD BE LIFE CHANGING. UH, SO MANY OF US HAVE SAID TIME AND AGAIN. IT WOULD MEAN FINALLY BEING ABLE TO BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER WHEN IT COMES TO PAYING MY RENT WITHOUT FALLING BEHIND, PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR MY FAMILY AND MAYBE EVEN SAVING A LITTLE BIT FOR EMERGENCIES. LIKE MANY OF MY COWORKERS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, I STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABLE EVENT BASED SCHEDULING. SOMETIMES HOURS AREN'T ENOUGH FOR MY COWORKERS TO COVER BASIC LIVING EXPENSES, WHICH FORCES MANY OF US TO TAKE ON ONE OR TWO MORE JOBS JUST TO SURVIVE. PERSONALLY, I'VE HAD TO SAY NO TO FAMILY TRIPS AND SPECIAL MOMENTS WITH MY SIBLINGS BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO TAKE A DAY OFF. I WATCHED THEM CREATE MEMORIES WHILE I STAYED BEHIND TO WORK, WONDERING IF I WAS LETTING MY LIFE PASS ME BY. W WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN EARNING A LIVING AND ACTUALLY LIVING. MY COWORKERS AND I OFTEN, UH, MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING FOR GAS TO GET, UH, TO GET TO WORK OR BUYING GROCERIES. THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, ESPECIALLY IN A CITY THAT THRIVES ON OUR LABOR AND OUR HOSPITALITY. I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. AND AGAIN, SPECIAL THANK YOU TO DR. SOLI ZARO FOR SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND ESPECIALLY FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS REVISIONS FORWARD. UM, BRING FORWARD THE REVISIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY, UH, CONCESSION WORKER IS COVERED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. ALL RIGHT, DAVE, YOU'RE UP. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYORS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR JUST STOP, JUST STOP TOUCHING IT AND TALK. HE'S NOT TOUCH. IT WAS DOING IT BEFORE. I DON'T THINK IT WAS ME. OKAY. UM, GOOD EVENING, MR. I HEAR MAYORS CITY. OH, IT'S THE GOOD EVENING. MR. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THAT WAS ME. UM, DON'T LEAN ON THE PODIUM. UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR A LIVING WAGE FOR ALL WORKERS AT OUR AIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER AND AMPHITHEATER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. I HAD, UH, SOME PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T ON THIS LIST, BUT THEY GAVE ME HERE. ERIC G, BRANDY DAVIDSON AND MIRIAM YUSEF. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. NONE OF THOSE FOLKS ARE HERE. OKAY. ERIC, I'M BRANDY. OKAY. ERIC, YOU'RE UP. I READ WHAT'S ON HERE. SOMETIMES IT'S INCORRECT. AND, AND THEY COME CORRECT ME. THANK, THANK YOU. UH, WHAT'S UP Y'ALL? UH, ERIC AGAIN WITH . AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO, UH, FLAG FOR Y'ALL THAT YOU SHORTED LIKE THE FIRST SIX PEOPLE ON ITEM 45, LIKE 12 TO 15 SECONDS MESSING WITH THE CLOCK. UH, IT'S GOTTA BE A BROWN ACT VIOLATION. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. UH, I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THE LIVING WAGE POLICY SO WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER CAN LIVE AND THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY WORK. THE AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER ARE THRIVING ECONOMICALLY AND BOTH ARE SET TO RECEIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD CUP AND THE OLYMPICS. THE WORKERS NEED THEIR SHARE. UM, LONG BEACH VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO PASS MEASURE RW, UH, SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT LONG BEACH SUPPORTS FAIR WAGES AND A DIGNITY FOR ALL WORKERS. THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN OVER TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING. FOLKS HAVE SHOWN UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN BECAUSE LONG BEACH SHOULD NOT THRIVE ON POVERTY WAGES. PEOPLE DESERVE TO LIVE IN THE CITIES THEY WORK. [03:00:01] WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT AND THE CONVENTION CENTER ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF LONG BEACH'S TOURISM INDUSTRY, YET MANY STRUGGLE TO AFFORD RENT, GROCERIES, AND BASIC NECESSITIES. WHEN WORKERS EARN MORE, THEY SPEND LOCALLY SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND HELP STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS. THANKS TO THE MAYOR, THE DAAS AND CITY STAFF FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UH, MOVES FORWARD. UM, JUST VOTE YES ON LONG BEACH'S PRO WORKER LEGACY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, RANDY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BRANDI DAVIDSON. I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH LIBRE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLM. I'M JUST HERE TONIGHT TO, UM, THANK, I KNOW SHE'S NOT PRESENT, BUT DR. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DR. SULI SERO FOR CHAMPIONING THE TOURISM WORKERS RISING CAMPAIGN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITE HERE, LOCAL 11 LANE, LBJE. AND CLUE, UH, THIS HAS BEEN TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU MAYOR RICH RICHARDSON AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR STANDING WITH WORKING FAMILIES AND HELPING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. UM, AS ERIC SAID, RAISING WAGES BENEFITS THE WHOLE CITY. WHEN WORKERS EARN MORE, THEY SPEND MORE LOCALLY SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND IT HELPS TO STABILIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS VERY MUCH SO NEEDED. JUST A GENTLE REMINDER TO PLEASE VOTE YES AND MOVE, UM, THIS FORWARD AND CONTINUE LONG BEACH'S PRO WORKER LEGACY. THANK YOU. FANTASTIC. GREAT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, MARYAM. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. UH, MY NAME IS MARYAM YUSEF. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO. I'M ALSO A LECTURER AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH. UM, AND I AM A CONGREGANT AT ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. I'M ALSO THE CHAIR OF OUR BOARD THERE. UM, AND I'M REPRESENTING HUNDREDS OF FAITH LEADERS CONNECTED WITH CLUE, UM, TO SUPPORT THIS LIVING WAGE FOR CONCESSION WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER. I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSE AND CARING COMMUNITIES WE HAVE BUILT TOGETHER. CONCESSION WORKERS ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR SIBLINGS. THIS POLICY WILL MAKE OUR CITY STRONGER AND MORE EQUITABLE BECAUSE IT ENSURES OUR HARDWORKING NEIGHBORS CAN HAVE LIVING WAGES TO LIVE AND THRIVE WHERE THEY WORK. MY CONGREGATION ST. LUKE'S IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF CONGREGATIONS, ORGS, AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ENDORSED THIS CAMPAIGN. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL LABOR IS SACRED AND HAS DIGNITY. THIS POLICY REFLECTS THIS IMPORTANT VALUE IN A CONCRETE WAY. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER DR. SULI SERO FOR CHAMPIONING THIS POLICY TO MAYOR REX RICHARDSON, THE CITY COUNCIL CITY STAFF FOR STANDING WITH WORKING FAMILIES AND HELPING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. UM, I THANK YOU FOR VOTING YES AND BUILDING A THRIVING LONG BEACH FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANKS MARY. ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, UH, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND TO ALL OF YOU, UH, THIS IS THE FINAL STEP AND THE FINAL VOTE. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVOCACY MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. ITEM 49, PLEASE. 48 OR 49, SORRY. 49 49. REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE V OF THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ESTABLISHING STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FOR SELF-SERVICE [49. 25-56037 Recommendation to declare ordinance of the City Council of the City of Long Beach amending Title 5 of the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 5.93, relating to establishing staffing requirements for self-service checkout stations at grocery and drug stores to advance public safety and prevent retail theft, 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. ] CHECKOUT STATIONS AT GROCERY AND DRUG STORES TO ADVANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREVENT RETAIL THEFT. READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING. CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS THE FIRST READING, UH, THE COUNCIL HAS DISCUSSED AND DEBATE DEBATED THIS. UH, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS THE FIRST CITY TO DEVELOP, UH, THIS TYPE OF INNOVATIVE POLICY PROPOSAL. UH, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA LEARN THINGS THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION. AND SO TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS, UH, I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL AS A PART OF THIS MOTION TO BRING BACK AFTER A THREE MONTH STUDY PERIOD, ONCE THIS IS ADOPTED, COME BRING BACK, HAVE STAFF REPORT BACK WITH A THREE MONTH MEMO ON ANY, UH, EARLY STAGE IMPLEMENTATION NOTES OR FEEDBACK, UH, KEY POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THIS ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT MAY SURFACE AS A PART OF IMPLEMENTATION. AND SO THIS IS AN ONGOING OPEN PROCESS. THIS WILL ALLOW LOCAL RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT WORKERS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO SUBMIT IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO REFINE, REFINE AND IMPROVE THIS, UH, POLICY TO IMPROVE ANY OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES OR UNINTENTIONAL UNINTENDED EFFECTS, WHICH ARE NATURAL ANYTIME WE DO SOMETHING BRAND NEW AND THE FIRST ONES TO DO IT. AND SO, UH, SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS, YOU MOVE THE FIRST READING FORWARD WITH THIS ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION, [03:05:01] UH, TO REPORT BACK AFTER THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF IMPLEMENTATION, UH, TO GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK ON THE ORDINANCE. UH, DO WE HAVE, UH, DO WE HAVE, LET'S SEE. THE MOTION IS COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN, DO YOU, UH, INCLUDE THAT IN YOUR MOTION? YES. OKAY, GREAT. UM, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL COME, WE'LL COME TO YOU. OH, YES. UM, AND THEN, UM, ARE YOU, DO YOU WANT TO SWITCH SO SHE CAN MAKE THE MOTION? YES. ALL RIGHT. GREAT. COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS? YES. OKAY, GREAT. SO IT'S NOTED, UH, AND SECOND IT BY COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH TOOK ALSO NOTED YES. THIS, THIS MEANS THAT WE WILL COME BACK FOR A SECOND READING. YEAH, WE'RE STILL, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA DELAY THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. SO IT COMES BACK FOR A SECOND. READING NEXT, NEXT MEETING. UH, AND THEN OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS WE'RE GONNA LEARN THINGS. WE'RE RIGHT THROUGH THAT STUDY PERIOD ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION. WE'RE GONNA BATCH THOSE TOGETHER AND COME BACK IN THREE MONTHS. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. FANTASTIC. ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, I SEE SIX PEOPLE, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEEN BROUGHT DOWN. OKAY. SO WHOEVER'S GOT PUBLIC COMMENT, IS IT ONE PERSON? LINDA. LINDA, PLEASE COME FORWARD. LINDA. GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND, UM, UH, LONG BEACH COUNCIL. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN PASSING THIS AUDIENCE. MY NAME IS LINDA MOLINA. I WORKED THERE FOR ROS FOR OVER 31 YEARS AND I LIVED IN LONG BEACH ALL MY LIFE AND I APPRECIATE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY. UM, BECAUSE OF MY LEADERSHIP, MY UNION BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE WERE ABLE TO BE BETTER TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITY WHILE KEEPING, KEEPING OURSELVES SAFE. SIX SELF CHECKOUTS AT THE SAME TIME. IT HAS BEEN TOO MUCH ON MY BODY AND MIND. I'M SO PROUD TO LIVE AND WORK IN LONG BEACH AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND TAKING AN URGENT CARE AND ACTION TODAY. WE CANNOT WAIT. WE CANNOT WAIT AND MAKE IT LONGER. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. I'M GONNA READ, UM, READ THE NAMES HERE, UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, UH, CELESTE WILSON. CELESTE STILL HERE ARE YOU? DO YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. UM, JANINE. OKAY. DEFERRING. OKAY. UH, DYLAN. IS DYLAN HERE? OKAY. DYLAN IS DEFERRING GREAT. UM, DAVE, DAVE IS DEFERRING. OKAY. TIM. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO CELESTE AND TIM, YOU'LL BE OUR FINAL TWO SPEAKERS. UM, GOOD EVENING AGAIN. UH, MY NAME IS CELESTE WILSON. I AM THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR THE LONG BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, REPRESENTING THE POLICY INTERESTS OF NEARLY 900 MEMBERS. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNCIL'S DESIRE IS TO MOVE THIS ORDINANCE FORWARD, WE ARE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING TWO KEY AMENDMENTS TO ENSURE THOUGHTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION. THE FIRST IS A 15 DAY RIGHT TO CURE PROVISION. THIS WOULD ALLOW BUSINESSES A SHORT WINDOW TO ADDRESS COMPLIANCE CONCERNS BEFORE FACING COSTLY LITIGATION. IT IS A STANDARD APPROACH USED IN STATE LEGISLATION. AND I GO INTO ALL OF THIS IN A LETTER THAT I WAS ABLE TO SUBMIT. UM, BUT IT'S SB 1809 OF 2004, AB 1506 OF 2015, AND SB 1286 OF 2024 AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND THEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN CITIES LIKE UKAS, SIGNAL HILL AND REDLANDS WITH ORDINANCES RANGING ON TOPICS FROM FRANCHISE VIOLATIONS TO MUNICIPAL CODE ENFORCEMENT. WITHOUT THIS, UH, 15 DAY RIGHT TO CURE, BUSINESSES CAN FACE LAWSUITS OVER VERY MINOR, MINOR OR UNINTENTIONAL VIOLATIONS. JUST AS, JUST AS WE'VE SEEN WITH THE A DA AND UNRE ACT CASES WHERE THE LACK OF A CURE PERIOD HAS LED TO OSSE OF OVER 9,700 PREDATORY LAWSUITS ANNUALLY ACROSS CALIFORNIA. SECOND, WE REQUEST 150 DAY DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION. UH, 150 SOUNDS VERY SPECIFIC. IT'S JANUARY 2ND, 2026. UM, THE CURRENT AUTOMATIC 30 DAY TIMELINE DOES NOT GIVE GROCERS TIME TO TRAIN STAFF, ADJUST SCHEDULES, OR IMPLEMENT THE TECHNICAL CHANGES THAT WILL BE NEEDED. THIS TIMELINE RUNS DIRECTLY INTO THE PEAK HOLIDAY SEASON, CREATING EASILY AVOIDABLE STRESS ON OPERATIONS AND WORKERS. UM, AGAIN, DELAYED ROLLOUTS ARE COMMON. SB 54 OF 2022, SB 7 29 OF 2024, AND SB TWO 70 OF 2014 ALL INCLUDED LONG IMPLEMENTATION PERIODS FOR ISSUES FROM PLASTIC BAG BANS TO PACKAGING MATERIALS. LOCALLY. CITIES LIKE SONOMA, SAN DIEGO, HAYWARD AND SAN CARLOS HAVE DONE THE SAME TO ALLOW BUSINESSES TO COMPLY WITH REASONABLY, UH, TO COMPLY REASONABLY WITH MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES, PLASTIC BAG BANS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PREPARATION. UM, THESE TWO AMENDMENTS ARE PRACTICAL, PROVEN, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY PRO WORKER. WE URGE YOU TO INCORPORATE THEM TONIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU TIM MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS TIM JAMES, CALIFORNIA GROCERS ASSOCIATION. UM, WE, UH, DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE THE COUNCIL'S [03:10:01] INTENT TO REGULATE SELF-CHECKOUT. AND HAVING NOW HAD SOME TIME WITH THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE, UH, WE TOO ARE COMING, UH, FORWARD, UH, WITH, UH, ENCOURAGEMENT TO ADOPT THE TWO SIMILAR, UH, ADJUSTMENTS THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE MAYOR, UH, FOR RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS IS EVER BEING DONE. UH, WE CAN'T FIGURE EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, EVERYTHING OUT FROM BEING UP HERE ON THE DAIS. AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF LEARNING IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS NEW. I THINK WE DO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO BORROW FROM OTHER EXPERIENCES. AND THAT'S WHERE THE 15 DAY RIGHT TO CURE, WHICH HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED IN MANY OTHER ORDINANCES AND A DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED IN A NUMBER OF OTHER ORDINANCES, UH, ARE VERY, VERY KEY. UM, IN REGARDS TO THE 15 DAY NOTICE TO CURE. WITHOUT THAT, THE ONLY WAY FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE TO WORK WOULD BE FOR A MEMBER, A CONSUMER OR AN EMPLOYEE TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY AND THEN GO FILE A LAWSUIT IN THE COURT PROCESS. WE THINK THAT'S FAR TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN AND ACTUALLY DOESN'T HELP US COMPLY, NOR DOES IT, UH, ENSURE ANY SPEEDY COMPLIANCE. SO HAVING THAT 15 DAY PROCESS WHERE THEY CAN LET US KNOW THEIR COMPLAINT, WE THEN HAVE THAT TIME PERIOD TO FIX IT AND RESPOND OR EITHER RESPOND THAT THERE ACTUALLY WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS, UH, ANY ERROR. THE THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT COMPLAINT STILL RETAINS THEIR ABILITY TO FILE A LAWSUIT AFTER THAT. SO THEY'RE NOT LOSING ANY STANDING. BUT WHAT IT DOES IS KIND OF CREATES THIS EARLY CONVERSATION UPFRONT AND IN A FORMAL WAY, SPEEDING UP THAT PROCESS. SPECIFIC TO THE DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION. UM, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A NEW PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE, UH, HAVE NOT ONLY SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED TO THE SELF-CHECKOUT, BUT THOSE THAT MAY NEED TO, UH, UH, RELIEVE OTHERS, UH, FOR BREAKS OR CALLING OUT SICK, UH, FOR MANAGERS AND WHATNOT, NOT ONLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS GROCERS IS DEVELOP ALL THOSE PROCESSES, MAKE WHATEVER TECHNICAL OR PHYSICAL CHANGES GO AND TRAIN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STAFF. A LOT OF OUR STORES WOULD NEED TO DO THAT BILINGUALLY AS WELL. UH, SINCE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF, UH, ESL AND SPANISH SPEAKERS. UM, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE REALLY EXPECT, UH, SOME SCHEDULE CHANGES. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE APPROACHED ABOUT SCHEDULE CHANGES. UH, CONSIDER THOSE, ACCEPT, ACCEPT THEM, UH, AND, AND WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS. A LOT OF TIMES WE SEE SIX MONTHS, UM, WE THINK WE CAN DO THIS IN FIVE, UM, AT A MINIMUM ANY LESS THAN THAT. AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY PUTTING BOTH THE EMPLOYEES AND CONSUMERS IN THE STORES IN A TOUGH SPOT AND MAKING MISTAKES AND, AND BEING SUBJECT TO UNNECESSARY ENFORCEMENT. SO, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR CONSIDERATION OF, OF BOTH OF THOSE. AND IT'S IN THE SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING, WE WANT TO GET THE BEST ORDINANCE POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. CERTAINLY. WELL, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, THERE'S DEFER, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, ONCE IT'S ADOPTED, THERE'S 30 DAYS BEFORE IT BEGINS, AND THEN IMPLEMENTATION HAS A, A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME TO GET SET UP AND IMPLEMENTED. I THINK DURING THAT WEIRD PERIOD THAT ALLOWS US 90 DAYS TO KIND OF GATHER. UH, SO IF THERE'S IDEAS THAT COME UP, WE CAN BATCH THEM TOGETHER. AND I WANT TO INVITE, UH, TOM, JUST 'CAUSE MOST OF THIS WE TALK THROUGH WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT TOM, I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE CLEAR ON WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS HERE OR YOU CAN GET ANY QUESTIONS ANSWERED FROM ME. NO, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT THAT EXPECTATION IS. UM, SURE. UH, FROM THE THREE MONTH REPORT, 'CAUSE AS THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, WE'RE NOT DOING INSPECTIONS, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE CITY TEAMS ON SITE. UM, THIS REALLY IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THROUGH THE COURTS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO REPORT VIOLATIONS AND STUFF. SO AS LONG AS THAT'S KIND OF THE UNDERSTANDING, IF WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE AN AGGREGATOR, IF PEOPLE WANNA SHARE INFORMATION WITH US, THAT'S IDEA. WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY IN A POSITION TO VERIFY THAT, BUT WE CAN SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE VARIOUS GROUPS AND WE CAN BRING THAT TOGETHER. AND IF WE'RE SEEING ANYTHING THAT WE THINK MIGHT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED OR ABSOLUTELY WHERE WE ARE WITH STATE LEGISLATION OR OTHER THINGS, WE CAN REPORT ON THAT IN THREE MONTHS. SO THE IDEA IS YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, BEING AGGREGATOR, WE'RE, WE'RE SORT OF CREATING THIS WINDOW. THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP MOST RECENTLY AND THERE MAY BE OTHER THINGS THAT MAY COME UP AS WE SORT OF GO INTO IT. UM, WE'RE NEVER, YOU NEVER GET ANY NEW THING EXACTLY RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING. SO YOU REALLY HAVE AN OPTION, YOU DELAY IT, DELAY IT, DELAY IT, OR, UH, BEGIN IMPLEMENTING IT AND BUILDING IT. BUT WITH THE AWARENESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO REFINE THIS AT SOME POINT. AND SO WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SETTING A THREE MONTH WINDOW, UH, TO GATHER SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK. AND THEN THE COUNCIL'S IN A POSITION, IF THEY WANNA REFINE, THEY CAN, UH, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE IDEAS MAY ACTUALLY BE GOOD IDEAS. UNDERSTOOD. SO THAT'S THE EXPECTATION. AND THEN IF WE CAN SAY APPROXIMATELY 90 DAYS. UH, 90 DAYS. YEAH, THAT'S FINE. TODAY, HOLIDAY TODAY IS ACTUALLY RIGHT. THE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. SO, UM, I, A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS. YEAH. WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET ENOUGH TIME TO GET THAT TOGETHER AND GET IT TO YOU SO YOU CAN TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. [03:15:04] MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE UH, ONE FINAL ITEM, ITEM 48. IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE FINAL ITEM? ITEM 48, COMMUNICATION. YES. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, CHAIR OF THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE. RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE NAMING OF THE JUNIOR LIFEGUARD FACILITY AT THE CLAREMONT SMALL BOAT LAUNCH RAMP. THE PAT FLYNN AND DICK MILLER JUNIOR LIFEGUARD FACILITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY OF LONG BEACH ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION [48. 25-56048 Recommendation to approve naming of the Junior Lifeguard Facility at the Claremont Small Boat Launch Ramp the “Pat Flynn and Dick Miller Junior Lifeguard Facility”, in accordance with City of Long Beach Administrative Regulation AR 8-7 facility naming process and the support of the Marine Advisory Commission.       Office or Department: Kristina Duggan, Councilmember, Third District, Chair, Government Operations and Efficiency Committee         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AR A DASH SEVEN FACILITY NAMING PROCESS AND THE SUPPORT OF THE MARINE ADVISORY COMMISSION. ALRIGHT, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN FOR COMMENTS ON THIS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE AT THIS POINT. UM, THE ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION EIGHT DASH SEVEN AR EIGHT DASH SEVEN OUTLINES THE PROCESS FOR NAMING CITY OWNED LAND BUILDING AND FACILITIES. WHILE THIS REGULATION STATES THAT CITY PROPERTIES WILL NOT NORMALLY BE NAMED AFTER LIVING PERSONS CITY COUNCIL CAN DO SO ON, WHEN A DO SO, WHEN A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION WARRANTS A DEVIATION FROM THE TYPICAL PROCESS, THE LEGACIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAT FLYNN AND DICK MILLER TO THE LONG BEACH, LIFEGUARDS CLEARLY WARRANTS A DEVIATION FROM AR EIGHT DASH SEVEN. PAT AND DICK ARE THE REASONS WHY THE LONG BEACH JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS HAVE GROWN TO BE THE PREMIER PROGRAM IN THE REGION. THIS YEAR WAS 760 PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL OVER. IT WAS THEIR DEDICATION, INVESTMENT INTO OUR YOUTH THAT CREATED SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL FOR LONG BEACH. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM PREVIOUSLY AND I HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT TONIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UH, THERE'S, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? NONE MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE'LL NOW GO TO, UH, FINAL PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE DAVE, DAVE, OUR ONLY [ 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. ] SPEAKER. YOU ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'LL TRY NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING. UM, I WASN'T PLANNING ON, ON SPEAKING AT ALL TODAY, BUT, UH, A, A AFTER, UH, UH, THE, THE BUDGET HEARING, HEARING, HEARING MY, MY, MY COUNCILWOMAN, UH, SPEAK WITH, WITH SUCH FIRE ABOUT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE TITLES, MONIES ARE ALLOCATED. I, I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY, UH, CONGRATULATE YOU MA'AM, FOR, FOR, FOR, UH, FOR ASKING THESE QUESTIONS. UM, I THINK THERE ARE PERVERSE INCENTIVES AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR, UH, THE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE MONIES. BUT I THINK ANY REAL ACCOUNTING IN THIS CITY, UH, MOST ALL, UH, ESPECIALLY OF THE TIDELANDS MONEY MUST, MUST ALSO, UH, INCLUDE, UH, HOW MUCH WE'VE WASTED OVER TIME. I MEAN, AND CONTINUE TO WASTE, FRANKLY. UM, IT'S A FUNNY THING, UH, TODAY HEARING, UH, ABOUT THE FORD ANNOUNCEMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT, THERE ARE MANY PLACES IN THE CITY THAT COULD BE ZONED FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, FOR CLEAN TECH AND CLEAN ENERGY, UH, IN THE CITY. UH, ALSO FOR THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA NEED BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WATER AND THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING IN THE WATER FOR A WHILE. UM, I THINK THE OVERALL COSTS, UH, YOU KNOW, IN, UH, THE CONTEXT OF NOT ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE BUT PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL DAMAGES AND LOSSES FROM EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAT ARE FUELED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. LIKE FOR INSTANCE, SOMETHING NOT SEVEN MONTHS AGO, THE LA FIRES, WHICH AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 7TH OF JANUARY, UH, IF YOU WALKED OUT HERE AT NINE O'CLOCK AT THAT NIGHT, YOU WOULD SEE THE ASH FALLING FROM THE LA FIRES, WHICH WE KNOW WERE CAUSED AS MUCH BY UTILITY NEGLIGENCE AS THEY WERE BY UM, EXTREME DROUGHT. AND, UH, SANTA ANA WINDS BLOWING AT THE WRONG TIME OF YEAR IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. UH, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY ATTRIBUTABLE AT THIS POINT, UH, TO NOT ONLY FOSSIL FUEL USE BUT LOCALIZE FOSSIL FUEL USE. UM, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, FOR INSTANCE, WAS HOW QUICKLY THE AIR CLEARED. ONCE WE STOPPED DOING AS MUCH IN THE WAY THAT WE DO IN A FOSSIL FUEL INTENSIVE WAY, IT ISN'T THAT WE HAVE THESE ECONOMIC FUNCTIONS THAT WE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT, IT'S JUST WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THEM THROUGH THIS CHEAP BOOST OF DIRTY ENERGY. AND THAT TIME HAS PASSED IN HUMAN HISTORY THAT HAS, THAT TIME HAS TO HAVE PASSED. LIKE AT SOME POINT, EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WILL HAVE TO COME TO THE POINT WHERE WE EITHER LIVE OR DIE BASED ON WE WE GET OFF FOSSIL FUELS OR NOT. [03:20:02] IT'S THAT SIMPLE. AND YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A CITY WHERE, I MEAN THIS WAS THE SINKING CITY AND NOW IT'S A CITY WITH SUCH TIDAL FORCES FROM THE FRESHWATER WATER RIGHTS THAT WE HAD IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THE GROUND THAT WE'RE STANDING ON. 'CAUSE WE'VE DRILLED SO MUCH OIL OFF THE SEA FLOOR AND OTHER EVERYWHERE ELSE, THE TIDAL FORCES OVER 50, 60 YEARS HAVE LED TO GROUNDWATER INTRUSION. THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WATERMEN. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP ASKING NOT ONLY THESE QUESTIONS AND IN BUDGETARY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CONTEXT, BUT IN A TOTAL COST KIND OF CONTEXT. YEAH. TIME HAS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU ABOUT THOSE MONIES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW GO TO, UM, CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE COUNCIL AND IT IS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, SO I HOPE THAT'S THE ANNOUNCEMENT WE'RE GONNA GET FROM EVERYONE. ALL RIGHT, I SEE NO ONE QUEUED UP. [ANNOUNCEMENTS] FANTA. OH, TOO LATE. COME ON, . I, I, I EXPECTED ONE OF YOU, BUT NOT ALL THREE OF YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. OH, I WAS GONNA TAKE IT BACK, BUT SINCE THERE'S MORE PEOPLE, THEN I'LL JUST KEEP, I'LL BE QUICK. UH, THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH, THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE WANT. GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH, FROM EIGHT 30 TO NINE 30, INVITE RESIDENTS TO JOIN THE BIXBY HIGHLANDS CLEAN TEAM, HELP PICK UP LITERAL ALONG CARSON AND ORANGE IN SOMERSET PARK. YOU CAN MEET AT BIXBY MILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON CARSON STREET AND HELP THEM BEAUTIFY THE AREA WITH ONE HOUR OF SERVICE. ALSO INVITE YOU TO OUR UPCOMING DISCOVER LBCC SUMMER CONCERT ON THE BEAUTIFUL LAWN OF LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 15TH, FROM FIVE TO 8:00 PM COME OUT TO JAM TO NIGHT RIDER, ENJOY A DJ AND AN EVENING WHERE WE'LL HAVE FOOD GAMES AND RESOURCES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. PARKING IS FREE AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE AND THEN HOPE TO SEE YOU AT OUR AUGUST 24TH, 21ST 6:00 PM UH, D FIVE COMMUNITY MEETING AT WARDLOW PARK, WHERE LONG BEACH UTILITIES WILL BE JOINING US TO, UH, GIVE A PRESENTATION TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANKS. I LOVE NIGHT RIDER. I'LL SEE YOU ON THE 15TH. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH. I'M GONNA DEFER TO COUNCILWOMAN RICK OTI AS I WILL CLOSE IN MEMORY OF A LONG BEACH RESIDENT. YEAH. ALRIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, YOU WERE, YOU WERE, WERE TRYING TO DEPRIVE ME OF THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT JAZZ FESTIVAL. I COULD NEVER DO THAT. OH, YOU, YOU, YOU, WE TRIED . UH, ANYWAY, I WAS WANNA SAY, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THE INCREDIBLE SUCCESS OF THE 14TH ANNUAL UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SO MANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT, UM, AND ATTENDANCE. THIS YEAR'S EVENT BROUGHT NEARLY 9,000 PEOPLE. I'M MAKING ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST VIBRANT FESTIVALS WE'VE EVER HAD. UM, NO, NO SHADE. UH, UH, MAYOR RICK RICHARDSON , OUR HEADLINER OR RESIDENT DEVELOPMENT, BROUGHT IN AN UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCE, SAID THAT THE CROWD DANCING AND SINGING ALONG. WE ALSO TREATED TO OUTSTANDING, UH, SETS FROM FAUSTO, CUEVA, MODERNA, RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ, AND DW THREE, THE MAYOR'S FAVORITE, EACH OF WHOM BROUGHT THEIR OWN ENERGY AND TALENT TO THE STAGE. I WANNA SINCERELY THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, VENDORS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT, AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, WELL, THE SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN ORGANIZING THIS FANTASTIC EVENT. AGAIN, THIS FESTIVAL IS A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC CULTURE AND THE THRIVING COMMUNITY THAT IS NORTH LONG BEACH. AND I'M SO PROUD OF HOW OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS CAME TOGETHER TO ENJOY DAY FIT WITH JOY, CONNECTION, AND INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE 14TH ANNUAL UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL. SUCH TREMENDOUS SUCCESS, AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL. UH, LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT THAT WILL BE AT THE RAMONA PARK AT VIA RAMONA PARK TONIGHT. SO WE, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER THRESH AND TOOK AND I ARE HEADED RIGHT OVER THERE. UM, LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT THIS SATURDAY TO THE POOLS OF HOPES BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT. UM, THAT WILL BE A POOLS OF HOPE AT 68 0 1 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. AND THEN LASTLY, UM, ON AUGUST 16TH, THE, THE FOREST PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WILL BE HAVING THEIR LUNCH WITH THE COP, UH, FROM 11 TO 2:00 PM AT THE CORNER OF SOUTH STREET AND JANE MILLS AT BURG PARK. UH, SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. CONTACT WITH MY OFFICE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN, I WILL MAKE IT TO RAMONA PARK ON MY WAY HOME. THAT WILL BE MY LAST STOP SINCE THAT'S MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SINCE I LIVE OVER THERE. OH, THAT'S WHY. OH, YOU STILL LIVE THERE. DO YOU GET OUTTA HERE? I KNOW YOU DO. GOOD LUCK. YOU LIVE WALKING DISTANCE. I DO. SO THAT'S WHERE I'M GONNA END. BUT I WILL SAY, UH, THIS WAS THE FIRST UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND. AND I HAD SUCH FOMO BECAUSE ALL OF MY RESIDENTS AND MY FRIENDS WERE SENDING ME PICTURES AND WHERE ARE YOU AND ALL OF THAT. AND I HEARD YOU HAD AN INCREDIBLE UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL AND I'M, I'M GLAD BECAUSE IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER GENERATION AFTER GENERATION FROM STEVE TO ME, TO YOU. UH, AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD A COUPLE ROUGH YEARS WHEN YOU DIDN'T BRING DW THREE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD YOU, I'M GLAD YOU GOT IT BACK ON TRACK WITH DW THREE, MY FAVORITE BAND. SO I WANNA, I WANT TO THANK YOU. AND ARREST DEVELOPMENT WAS AN INCREDIBLE HEADLINER. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE, I'M GONNA SAY PASS THIS TO STAFF. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE VIDEO THESE EVERY YEAR. 'CAUSE OUR, WE HAVE THE ARCHIVE ON LONG BEACH ON, UM, YOUTUBE FOR SHEILA E FOR THE VIRTUAL FOR STEPHANIE MILLS. EVEN I THINK LAST YEAR IS ON YOUTUBE, BUT I COULDN'T FIND THIS YEAR ON YOUTUBE. OKAY. IT'S GOTTA BE SOME FACEBOOK THERE. YEAH, BUT I CAN'T PUT IT TOGETHER ON FACEBOOK. STRING IT TOGETHER. I GOTTA SEE, [03:25:01] YOU KNOW, MY FOMO IS SERIOUS RIGHT NOW. . OKAY. BUT CONGRATULATIONS, OUR JOKES ASIDE ON AN INCREDIBLE, UH, AN INCREDIBLE EVENT. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TH THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND I TOO WILL START OUT BY SHOUTING OUT COUNCILWOMAN, UH, RICK OTE. IT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING TIME ON SATURDAY AT THE UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL THIS PAST WEEKEND. UM, FOMO SHOULD BE HAD BECAUSE IT WAS QUITE AN ENGAGEMENT OF LIVE MUSIC, FOOD. ALL TYPES OF FAMILY FRIENDS WERE THERE. I'VE BEEN MANY TIMES AS A RESIDENT, BUT IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO TAKE PART IN THE FESTIVITIES AS A COUNCILWOMAN. UH, I TOO WILL BE HEADED OUT TO NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING NEIGHBORS OUT THERE. SO, TURNING, UH, MY ATTENTION TO A MATTER MORE SERIOUS AS WE CLOSE TODAY'S MEETING, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DEDICATE THE CLOSING OF THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF RHONDA LOVE, A DEDICATED ARTIST, CIVIL SERVANT, AND A TREASURED MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY. RHONDA LOVE WAS A CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR AND INFLUENCER IN THE ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THROUGH HER NONPROFIT DREAM CREATOR STUDIO, RHONDA WAS ABLE TO CHAMPION MANY EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. SHE WAS A VOICE FOR EQUITY AND CULTURE KEEPING AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. SHE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO MANY THROUGH HER ART THAT CONNECTED AND EMPOWERED PEOPLE TO MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE. EVEN HER DAYS OF CITY SERVICE AS THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THEN MAYOR, NOW CONGRESSMAN ROBERT GARCIA, SHE BROKE BARRIERS AND MOLDED CRITICAL RELATIONSHIPS. IN ADDITION TO HER ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS, RHONDA FOUNDED THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TOASTMASTERS CLUB. SHE WAS AN ALUMS OF LEADERSHIP LONG BEACH, A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE, AND A CALIFORNIA CREATIVE CORE ARTIST. HER RELENTLESS ACTIVISM SHAPED COUNTLESS LIVES. AND RHONDA LOVE'S IMPACT WILL BE FELT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. SHE'LL BE REMEMBERED BY MEANT BY FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES ALIKE FOREVER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR, UH, THAT COMMENT. WE'RE ALL GONNA MISS, UH, RHONDA. AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, UH, IS A BIG THANKS TO DORIAN BONNER, UH, WHO HAS SERVED ON MY COMMUNICATIONS TEAM SINCE I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, AND DORIAN IS NOW, UH, GOING ON TO TAKE, HE'S MOVING, UH, FAR AWAY RIGHT ACROSS, RIGHT ACROSS THE PLAZA, UH, OVER TO THE PORT BUILDING, UH, WHERE HE IS GONNA CONTINUE TO DO COMMS FOR OUR CONGRESSMAN GARCIA. SO, UM, WE ARE MAD AT YOU, UH, FOR LEAVING. DON'T COME TO THIS SIDE OF THE PLAZA. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME ON THIS SIDE OF THE PLAZA WITHOUT, UH, CALLING IN ADVANCE FOR A RESERVATION. BUT, UH, UH, DORIAN'S DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB FOR THE CITY AND WE THANK HIM AND WE WISH HIM, UH, THE VERY, VERY BEST, UH, HE, HIM AND AMANDA, HIS FIANCE. THANKS A LOT. THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. * 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.