Oct 02, 2025 Planning Commission

[00:03:12]

LEMME CHECK.

OKAY.

GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME.

WELCOME, .

UH, WE'RE READY

[CALL TO ORDER]

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO ORDER FOR OCTOBER 2ND, 2025.

THANK YOU.

UM, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COMMISSIONER CLEMSON.

COMMISSIONER ES HERE.

COMMISSIONER SANTOS? HERE.

COMMISSIONER SUAREZ? HERE.

COMMISSIONER.

UM, I'M SO SORRY.

UH, VICE CHAIR.

VICE CHAIR.

WHERE? CHAIR CASTILLO AND COMMISSIONER TEMPLIN.

I'M PRESENT.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE FOR THE RECORD, UM, CHAIR CASTILLO AND VICE CHAIR, WHERE ARE EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING? SO, UM, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? OKAY.

SO MOVED.

UM, COMMISSIONER

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE PLEDGE THE FLAG TO THE FLAG.

UNITED OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[00:05:04]

PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UM, NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE SWEARING OF WITNESSES.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVING TESTIMONY, PLEASE.

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TESTIMONY? WE MIGHT, MIGHT, NO, NO.

OH, WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO SWEAR YOU IN.

NOT TODAY.

YEP.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S NO TESTIMONY.

WE'RE GOING TO SKIP THE SWEARING OF WITNESSES.

I DON'T GET TO SWEAR AT YOU.

I SWEAR.

.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.

UM, OUR F

[1. 25-56571 Recommendation to receive and file Director’s Report.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? HELLO? HELLO.

MAY THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER CLEMSON HAS JOINED THE MEETING.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER SANTOS AND WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEMUS.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN I WILL TURN IT OVER FOR THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ACTING CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH, UH, WHICH WE CELEBRATE EVERY OCTOBER.

JUST A FEW UPDATES FROM OUR DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

UM, I WANTED TO NOTE, WE HAD OUR FIRST, UM, WORKSHOP LAST WEEK, UH, REGARDING UPDATES TO OUR ENHANCED DENSITY BONUS.

SO I KNOW WE'VE SHARED WITH THIS COMMISSION IN THE PAST, UM, THAT WE'LL BE STUDYING OUR ENHANCED DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM AND HOW IT CAN BEST ALIGN WITH OUR, UM, UPDATED AND EXPANDED INCLUSIONARY HOUSING REQUIREMENTS.

SO WE HAD THAT, UH, PROJECT INITIATE LAST WEEK IN THE FIRST OF WHAT'LL BE A SERIES OF, UM, OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EVENTS.

UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT A FEW OF OUR PLANNERS WERE AT THE A PA OR AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.

UM, GETTING TO LEARN ABOUT, UH, BEST PRACTICES HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE IN THE FIELD OF PLANNING AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO, UM, LEARN FROM OTHERS AND, AND SHARE ALL THE GREAT WORK HAPPENING, UM, IN OUR CITY RELATED TO PLANNING.

AND THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO, UH, WELCOME OUR NEW PLANNING BUREAU SECRETARY JENNIFER FMO, WHO'S HERE AND SHADOWING, UH, TODAY.

UM, VERY EXCITED TO HAVE JENNIFER ON BOARD.

UM, YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT ALEX, UM, MEDINA, OUR PREVIOUS SECRETARY, WAS, UH, PROMOTED TO AN ANALYST POSITION EARLIER THIS YEAR.

UM, AND SO YEAH, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE JENNIFER HERE TO SERVE OUR COMMISSION AND OUR BUREAU.

UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY, UH, QUESTIONS ON THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT? OKAY, I WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO, UH, COME FORWARD WITH A QUESTION ON THIS REPORT? NO.

THANK YOU.

UH, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY VIRTUALLY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THIS TIME.

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UM, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE? MOTION IS CARRIED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH, READ THE NEXT ITEM? I KIND OF STEPPED ON YOUR TOES THERE.

I APOLOGIZE.

[2. 25-56569 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting of Thursday, September 18, 2025.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM PLEASE? THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER SANTOS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CLEMSON.

ME WRITE MINE DOWN.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

UH, HOPEFULLY YOU'VE READ.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? NO.

WELL, THANK YOU.

I'LL NOW TAKE, ARE THERE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY, THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYBODY VIRTUALLY THAT WANTS TO, UM, IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MINUTES, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THIS TIME.

[00:10:02]

THANK YOU, SIR.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE VOTE? MOTION IS CARRIED.

THANK YOU.

UH, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM? ITEM

[3. 25-56570 Recommendation to receive and file a study session on the observance of National Community Planning Month. (Citywide)       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

THANK YOU.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? I THANK YOU.

I HAVE A, UM, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER, UM, MIKE CLEMSON AND SECONDED BY GRISELDA SUAREZ, COMMISSIONER GRISELDA SUAREZ.

UM, I'LL NOW TURN OVER TO THE STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ACTING CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH.

HERE ARE A FEW PHOTOS OF OUR PLANNING TEAM, UM, AT WORK, UM, AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT IS NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH? THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PLANNERS ENDORSES NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT HOW PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL TO EVERY COMMUNITY AND HOW PLANNERS ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITIES.

MOST DIFFICULT HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND LAND USE QUESTIONS THAT WE GRAPPLE WITH HERE, UM, AND IN OUR WORK EVERY DAY.

SO, UM, WHAT IS NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH? WE CELEBRATE THE ROLE THAT PLANNING PLAYS IN CREATING GREAT COMMUNITIES, AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS IS THAT THE ONLY THING THAT'S CONSTANT IS CHANGE.

SO PLANNERS CAN HELP NAVIGATE THIS CHANGE WITH DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS, EXPERTISE, AND A LONG-TERM COMPREHENSIVE VISION FOR THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BETTER CHOICES FOR HOW WE WORK AND LIVE, UM, AND HOW WE USE OUR LAND.

THIS APPROACH LEADS TO SAFER, MORE RESILIENT, MORE EQUITABLE, AND MORE PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES.

SO HOW DO PLANNERS HELP MANAGE CHANGE? WELL, THE WAY WE DO THAT IS TO UPDATE AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND CODES TO BEST SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.

THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN COMMUNITY ENGAGED POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION, WE REVIEW PROJECT PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT AGAINST PLANS AND POLICY FRAMEWORKS AS WELL AS CITY PRIORITIES.

WE FACILITATE REVIEW BY VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

WE SPEND A LOT OF FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK TO ENSURE A PUBLIC AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND MAKE PROJECT PROPOSALS BETTER BY ANALYZING LEGAL FINDINGS AND IMPOSING CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.

SO I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE PLANNERS IN THE LONG BEACH PLANNING BUREAU, MANY OF WHICH ARE ACTUALLY HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

EVERY DAY.

WE PROCESS LAND USE AND ENTITLEMENT PERMITS, INCLUDING DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO BE CONSIDERED AT VARIOUS PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH ELECTED AND APPOINTED BODIES.

WE CONDUCT THE ZONING CODE REVIEW FOR ALL BUILDING PERMITS IN THE CITY.

WE ADMINISTER THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM, FACILITATE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROJECTS, AND WE DO LONG RANGE PLANNING TO DEVELOP AND UPDATE POLICIES, CODES, AND REGULATIONS TO ADAPT TO ONGOING AND EMERGING NEEDS AND TRENDS.

SO HOW DOES THE CITY REGULATE DEVELOPMENT IS THROUGH A SERIES OF MECHANISMS. WE GET OUR POLICY FRAMEWORK THROUGH OUR GENERAL PLAN THAT PROVIDES THAT GUIDANCE AND THROUGH WHICH OUR LEGAL FINDINGS ARE BASED.

WE USE OUR ZONING ORDINANCE AS A PRIMARY IMPLEMENTATION TOOL FOR THE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS OF WHAT CAN BE BUILT WHERE AND UNDER WHAT RULES.

WE USE THESE THINGS TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENT, REVIEW PROCESSES IN THE CITY, INCLUDING THROUGH, UM, ENTITLEMENTS, CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS AND BUILDING PERMITS.

AND ONCE ENTITLED, A PROJECT THEN NEEDS THOSE BUILDING PERMITS TO ENSURE THAT A PROJECT IS BUILT SAFELY AND TO CODE.

THERE ARE VARIOUS TYPES OF PERMITS AND APPROVALS HERE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

YOU'RE TYPICALLY LOOKING AT AN ENTITLEMENT, WHICH IS AN APPROVAL FROM A REGULATORY BODY TO USER DEVELOP LAND.

BUT WE ALSO PROCESS THOUSANDS OF MINISTERIAL APPROVALS THAT REQUIRE LITTLE TO NO DISCRETION OR JUDGMENT BEING EXERCISED, SUCH AS BY RIGHT DEVELOPMENT AND STAFF LEVEL REVIEWS.

WE ALSO HAVE QUASI-JUDICIAL BODIES LIKE OUR ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, AND, UH, WE ALSO FACILITATE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS THAT MAKE THEIR WAY ALL THE WAY UP TO CITY COUNCIL WHEN WE'RE AMENDING OR CREATING A NEW RULE OR POLICY.

SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC

[00:15:01]

UM, SO THAT'S NOT ONLY HERE AT PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT ALSO THROUGH OUR ZONING ADMINISTRATOR WITH OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION AND BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND THIS IS WHEN THOSE BODIES TYPICALLY MEET OUR STAFF STAYS QUITE BUSY.

LAST YEAR WE PROCESSED HUNDREDS OF ENTITLEMENTS.

WE PROCESSED OVER 700 HISTORIC PRESERVATION CASES, SERVED OVER 16,000 CUSTOMERS, AND HOSTED OVER, UH, 35 COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EVENTS WHERE WE'VE ALSO BEEN HARD AT WORK, MODERNIZING OUR PERMIT CENTER SERVICES AND IMPROVING OUR WEBSITE.

SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF OVERHAULING OUR ENTERPRISE LAND MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE THROUGH LONG BEACH BUILDS TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS.

AND TO MAKE, UM, OUR WORK MORE STREAMLINED.

WE'VE ADDED VIRTUAL PERMIT CENTER APPOINTMENTS AND AN ONLINE INQUIRY PROCESS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE.

WHILE OVERALL MAKING OUR WEBSITE MORE USABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, WE HAVE A LOT OF GOALS AROUND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, WHICH ARE TO INCREASE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PLANNING DOES TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS BY PROVIDING INFORMATION IN A TIMELY, CONSISTENT, AND ACCESSIBLE MANNER, AND ENSURING EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE METHODS AND TOOLS FOR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO DIVERSIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND EDUCATION, DEVELOPING OUTREACH EVENTS, MATERIALS AND RESOURCES THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS, CENTERING THOSE MOST IMPACTED AND HISTORICALLY LEFT OUT OF THE PLANNING PROCESS, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE, SENIORS AND MONOLINGUAL NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS, DESIGNING OUTREACH STRATEGIES THAT REACH AND RESONATE WITH THE COMMUNITY, USING MORE ONLINE ENGAGEMENT TOOLS, UM, AND PRESENTING DECISION MAKERS WITH KEY INFORMATION EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST YEAR RELATES TO IMPLEMENTATION OF BOTH OUR HOUSING ELEMENT AND OUR LAND USE ELEMENT.

WE'VE BEEN HARD AT WORK AT OUR ZONE IN CITYWIDE REZONING EFFORT.

AS THE COMMISSION WILL RECALL LAST FALL, WE, UH, UPDATED THE ZONING CODE FOR AREAS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH LONG BEACH, AND WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING IN THE BIXBY KNOLLS AREA, UM, FOR THE REZONING PROPOSAL THAT WILL COME FORWARD BEFORE THIS BODY IN A FEW MONTHS.

ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU CAN SEE PHOTOS FROM SOME OF OUR RECENT WALK AUDITS FOR THE REZONING PROGRAM.

IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL SORT OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND OPEN HOUSES, WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND WALK AROUND AND EXPERIENCE WHAT'S THERE TODAY AND HOW IT CAN LOOK DIFFERENT IN THE FUTURE.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE WORKING TO UPDATE OUR ENHANCED DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PART OF OUR HOUSING ELEMENT, UM, IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK.

AND WE HAD, UH, THE FIRST KICKOFF COMMUNITY MEETING FOR THAT LAST WEEK.

THERE'S A PHOTO HERE ON THE RIGHT AND WORK TO IMPLEMENT OUR RELIGIOUS FACILITIES OVERLAY AND HOUSING ELEMENT MID-CYCLE ANALYSIS TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING IN HIGH RESOURCE AREAS.

OUR WORK ALSO, UM, INCLUDES HELPING TO IMPLEMENT AND UPDATE THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

SO OF COURSE, THE BIGGEST WAY WE HELP TO IMPLEMENT THE CAP IS THROUGH OUR REZONING PROGRAM AND BY CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSING AND JOBS TO BE LOCATED NEAR EACH OTHER AND LOCATED IN JOB RICH AREAS LIKE LONG BEACH.

UH, IN ADDITION TO THE RE REZONING PROGRAM, CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN OUR WORK ON, UM, REVIEWING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND WE ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR A GRANT LAST FALL TO CREATE WHAT'S CALLED A CIP ACADEMY TO DO DEEPER LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT ON HOW A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS DEVELOPED AND HOW THOSE PLANS COME TOGETHER.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN HARD AT WORK ON, UM, ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS TO INFORM AND UPDATE TO OUR OPEN SPACE ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN.

AND THIS YEAR WE PUT TOGETHER WHAT'S CALLED A RESIDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHICH IS A MORE IN-DEPTH OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS TO, UM, PARTICIPATE IN SIX SESSIONS, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OPEN SPACE PLANNING AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

WE HAD OVER 50 PEOPLE APPLY FOR THE RLT AND WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, 10, 10 FOLKS WITH THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH A PAID STIPEND.

AND WE'VE ALSO DONE A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY REACHING OVER 800 PEOPLE IN THE SURVEYING PROCESS, INCLUDING 600 VIRTUALLY AND 200 THROUGH WHICH, UM, WE HELPED THEM FILL OUT THE VIRTUAL SURVEY, UM, AT IN-PERSON PLACES LIKE AT COMMUNITY CENTERS TO HELP ENSURE WE'RE REACHING PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT, UH, TRADITIONALLY SEE ONLINE SURVEYS AND TO HELP WITH THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

OUR OPEN SPACE WORK ALSO INCLUDES EARLY AND DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH TRIBAL LEADERS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, UM, THOSE COMPONENTS OF THE WORK THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE.

AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CAP, WE'VE IDENTIFIED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A POTENTIAL NEW WETLAND IN THE DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT THROUGH OUR EVERYONE'S SHORELINE WORK.

AND THAT IS BEING FURTHER EXPLORED WITH THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC.

SPEAKING OF OUR DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT VISIONING, THIS

[00:20:01]

THERE WE GO.

UM, AND SO OUR VISION IS FOR, UM, OUR DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT TO BE AN OCEANFRONT DESTINATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE WORLD.

AND THAT, UH, THAT VISION IS GROUNDED IN OUR EVERYONE'S SHORELINE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DOWNTOWN SHORELINE AND WATERFRONT SERVE EVERYONE IN LONG BEACH.

UH, SOME OF THE WAYS WE'VE DONE THAT WERE TO CREATE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDE NOT JUST STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT STAKEHOLDERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH WHO ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS EFFORT.

WE ALSO SECURED TWO URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN INTERNS WHO SPENT LAST YEAR FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN OUR, UM, IN OUR SHORELINE AND WATERFRONT PLANNING.

THEY REACHED THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS, UM, THROUGH OVER 14 LARGE CITYWIDE, UH, GATHERINGS SUCH AS BEACH STREETS, THE MARIACHI FESTIVAL, AND VARIOUS AQUARIUM EVENTS.

THEY ALSO FOCUSED ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE AQUARIUM, UH, WITH WITH YOUTH WHO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THE AQUARIUM'S TEEN SCIENCE CAFE.

AND THIS HAS HELPED US BUILD A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AQUAQUARIUM AS WE EXPLORE SOME BIG FUTURE PROJECTS LIKE THE OUTDOOR WETLAND.

WE ALSO USED ART AS AN ENGAGEMENT TOOL AND STRATEGY AT OUR EVERYONE'S SHORELINE OPEN HOUSE IN, UH, JUNE.

AND WE'VE ENGAGED OVER 400 PEOPLE, 450 PEOPLE IN PERSON THROUGH THE TWO OPEN HOUSES, UH, DEVELOPING MORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LONG BEACH TRANSIT, INCLUDING, UM, USING ONE OF THEIR LONG BEACH TRANSIT AQUA BUSS BOATS AS PART OF ONE OF OUR OUTREACH EVENTS, UH, TO EXPLORE HOW PUBLIC TRANSIT ON THE WATER AND OVER THE BRIDGE TO THE QUEEN MARY ISLAND SIDE CAN HELP WITH CONNECTIVITY.

AND WE'VE SECURED A GRANT FROM THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE TO GET SOME TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON HOW THE CITY CAN BEST POSITION OUR OWN CITY LAND ASSETS AND RESOURCES ON THE WATERFRONT TO HELP, UM, POSITION OUR LOCAL ECONOMY OF THE FUTURE, KNOWING THAT WE'RE MOVING AWAY FROM OIL DRILLING.

AND THAT HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THE CITY'S LOCAL ECONOMY.

OVER TIME.

WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE BEST POSITION, UH, CITY OWNED LAND AND RESOURCES.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM COMMUNITY THAT INSTEAD OF FOCUSING JUST ON THE SHORELINE, WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE ENTIRE DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT.

AND SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, IS EXPANDING THAT VISION TO NOT ONLY COVER THE SHORELINE AREA, BUT TO COVER BOTH SIDES OF THE QUEENSWAY BAY.

AND OUR NEXT STEPS ARE ACTUALLY VERY STRATEGIC AND COLLABORATIVE IN NATURE, AND NOT JUST REGULATORY AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW THESE ASSETS AND RESOURCES CAN BEST BE POSITIONED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, AND HOW WE CAN BALANCE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THE BIG IDEAS IN THE WATERFRONT VISION, UH, CREATING AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC SPACES, EVENTS AND PROGRAMS TO BE BALANCED WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND INCOME PRODUCING USES TO ENSURE THE LONG TERM FISCAL VIABILITY OF OUR WATERFRONT.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF TOOLS TO BE CONSIDERED, WHICH INCLUDE LAND USE REGULATIONS, OUR PUBLIC LAND, LEASEHOLDS, UH, COMMUNITY AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL STRATEGIES, JOB CREATION THROUGH LAND AND ASSET STEWARDSHIP, INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING AND ARTS AND PLACEMAKING.

SO AS WE THINK ABOUT ALL THESE, WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH YOU ALL AND THE COMMUNITY ON HOW WE BEST MOVE THIS VISION FORWARD.

SO AS I COME TO A CLOSE ON COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH AND, UM, ALL THAT WE'RE DOING HERE, WANTED TO SHARE A FEW WAYS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN STAY INVOLVED.

ALL OF OUR PRO PROJECT HEARING NOTICES AND POLICY AND PROGRAM UPDATES ARE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE.

UM, PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST THROUGH LINK LB, WHICH IS THE ELECTRONIC, UM, UH, NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT INCLUDE, UM, UH, UPDATES RELATED TO BOTH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.

AND THEN OF COURSE, FOLKS CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAG LONG BEACH BUILDS, WHICH IS AN ACTIVE SPACE FOR MORE UPDATES AS WELL.

WITH THAT, I WANNA SAY AGAIN, HAPPY COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF OUR PLANNERS IN THE ROOM HERE, UM, AS WE CELEBRATE ALL THE WORK THAT PLANNERS DO AND THAT PLANNING, THE VALUE THAT PLANNING CAN BRING TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU AS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.

WOW.

SO MUCH.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH BEING DONE, SO MANY PEOPLE DOING IT, IT'S REMARKABLE.

COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MM-HMM.

OKAY, WELL I'LL MOVE IT.

OH, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER.

I JUST WANTED TO ALSO THANK YOU.

THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING TOPIC FOR, FOR ME PERSONALLY, AND I KNOW IT'S A VERY VALUABLE ONE, UH, VERY IMPORTANT FOR, YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT WHAT DIRECTION THE CITY'S GOING.

SO I APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK YOU'RE DOING WITH EDUCATING US ON THIS SIDE, BUT ALSO EDU HELPING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU.

OKIE DOKIE.

UH, I'LL TAKE IT TO THE PUBLIC THERE.

ANY, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC LICK?

[00:25:02]

WOULD YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE? JUST PULL IT DOWN SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.

I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S HERE FOR DOING ALL OF THIS.

THIS IS REALLY, REALLY COOL.

IT IS, YES.

THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT AFTER THIS WE'LL BE CELEBRATING TOGETHER WITH PIZZA IN THE LOBBY.

SO HOPE EVERYONE HERE WILL GET TO PARTICIPATE.

OKEY DOKEY.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR VIRTUAL.

IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THIS TIME.

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

NO.

WELL, THANK YOU SIR.

UH, THEN WE WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

MOTION IS CARRIED.

THANK YOU MADAM CLERK, I APPRECIATE THAT.

TURN MY PAGE.

WE'LL MOVE ON.

SO AT THIS POINT

[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Planning Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]

SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY VIRTUALLY THAT WANTS TO DO A PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON AGENDIZED ITEMS, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THIS TIME.

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, COMMISSIONERS,

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

OKAY.

SO I KNOW THIS IS SORT OF A LIGHT MEETING, SO I DON'T WANT TO BRING UP ANYTHING.

UH, BUT I, I'VE NOTICED A LOT OF THE, UM, UH, ESPECIALLY BUSINESSES IN APARTMENT BUILDINGS PUTTING IN SOME EXTREMELY BRIGHT WHITE LIGHTS, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE DOING THAT FOR SECURITY.

UM, BUT IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, GETTING INTO PEOPLE'S WINDOWS.

UH, IT CAN BE VERY JARRING TO GO WALKING ON THE STREET, DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND HAVE THESE VERY BRIGHT LIGHTS.

UH, UH, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE LIGHT POLLUTION REGULATIONS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT INTERFACES WITH WHAT BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRED TO DO.

OBVIOUSLY NOT LOOKING FOR A, AN ANSWER HERE RIGHT NOW, UM, BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND MORE.

YEAH, SO WE'LL COME BACK.

I MEAN, I THINK IN A NUTSHELL, IF SOMEONE ENTITLES A BIG MIXED USE BUILDING, WE HAVE VERY TIGHT CONTROLS ABOUT THEM REMODELING IT AND MAKING CHANGES.

BUT FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STRUCTURES IN THE CITY THAT DON'T HAVE AN ENTITLEMENT, THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A RULE, UM, TODAY ABOUT CHANGING OUT THE LIGHTING.

UM, BUT LET US GET YOU A MORE PRECISE, UH, ANSWER IN A MONTH.

AND I THINK THE OTHER THING WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, UM, TO SEND MORE STAFF BOTH FROM PLANNING CODE ENFORCEMENT AND POLICE TO, UM, CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN TRAINING.

SO WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE OVERLY BRIGHT OR UM, BURDENSOME, BUT LIGHTING DOES HAVE AN, AN IMPACT ON, UM, CRIME PREVENTION AND LIGHTING DONE CORRECTLY IS IMPORTANT.

AND, UM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MORE ARTICULATELY TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT, UH, WHEN WE COME BACK.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD QUESTION, SIR.

UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? WELL, THEN I'M GOING TO ADJOURN.

WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK AND I'M GONNA INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE WONDERFUL PIZZA THAT'S BEING PROVIDED OUT IN THE .

YES.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING AND BEING INVOLVED, AND ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH THAT WILL STEP UP AND MAKE COMMENTS WHEN, UM, THAT'S, THAT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE SOMETIMES AND IT'S APPRECIATED.

AND I KNOW THE STAFF APPRECIATED HEARING IT.

YES.

SO

[ADJOURNMENT]

SOUNDS LIKE A.