* 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. [00:00:37] MADAM CHAIR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. UH, THANK YOU [CALL TO ORDER] AND, UH, WELCOME, UH, TO, UH, THIS SESSION OF KCO IN OCTOBER. UH, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE CITIZENS ADVISORY. IS THERE AN ECHO? I'M GETTING THE ECHO. OKAY, COOL. UH, CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY FOR OCTOBER 9TH. UM, THE TIME IS 1 0 1 SOMETHING. 1:01 PM 1:01 PM THANK YOU. UH, CAN WE START THE ROLL CALL? [ROLL CALL] COMMISSIONER JONES, WE'LL START WITH YOU. THANK. ASHLEY JONES. PRESENT, WHITE FEMALE WEARING AN OLIVE SHIRT. HAPPY TO BE HERE. COMMISSIONER ADAMS. HI, MY NAME IS STEVE ADAMS. COMMISSIONER ADAMS. I'M AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WITH SHORT HAIR WEARING BROWN POLKA DOT SHIRT. THANK YOU, RANDY HOPE. COMMISSIONER, UH, WHITE MALE BALD HEAD. UH, FACIAL HAIR WEARING A BLUE SHIRT. ARTHUR ROMA, COMMISSIONER, UH, MALE HISPANIC, UM, MUSTACHE WEARING, I GUESS A BLACK POLKA DOTTED SHIRT. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, GRETCHEN SWANSON. I SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE CAKE COD TODAY. I OH, WELL, ALL DAYS. I AM AN OLDER WHITE WOMAN WITH WHITE HAIR. MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HERS. UM, TODAY I HAVE, UM, SOME WOODEN JEWELRY ON A BLACK JACKET AND A LITTLE BIT OF AN EAR DEVICE TO HELP ME HEAR THE PROCEEDINGS. THANK YOU. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHAKA GARBA, VICE CHAIR PRONOUNS. SHE, HER BLACK FEMALE DARK HAIR BRAIDS, WEARING A BLACK JACKET AND A WHITE SHIRT. COMMISSIONER MARISSA GONZALEZ, A WHITE FEMALE BROWN HAIR PULLED INTO A BUN WITH AN ORANGE FLOWER, UH, AN ORANGE SWEATER, AND A BLACK DRESS WITH BRIGHT FLOWERS. HELLO, I'M KAY COD SECRETARY JULIE DEAN. I'M A CAUCASIAN WOMAN IN A MOBILITY SCOOTER WITH SHE HER HERS PRONOUNS. I HAVE SHORT AUBURN HAIR AND GLASSES, AND I'M WEARING A BLACK AND WHITE FLOWERY DRESS. LEMME HELP YOU. I AM COMMISSIONER KIM VU OF NIM. OKAY. CAN I STAY HERE? [00:05:17] I AM COMMISSIONER KIM VWA AND I AM ASIAN WOMAN. WE HAVE A QUORUM MADAM CHAIR. EXCELLENT. UM, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AGENDA TODAY, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. UM, SO UNLESS THERE'S OB OBJECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION, WE CAN MOVE ON. UM, TODAY [ 2025 Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disabilities Disability Advocates of the Year Awards] WE CELEBRATE AN ANNUAL EVENT, AN ANNUAL AWARDS EVENT HERE IN K COD. AND, UM, WE RECOGNIZE DISABILITY ADVOCATES HERE IN LONG BEACH. IT'S TERRIFIC. UM, WE HAVE TWO OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE RECOGNIZED TODAY. UM, SHOULD WE GO RIGHT ON? EXCELLENT. UM, WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. AND I, UH, AM COMMISSIONER MARISSA GONZALEZ. AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO PRESENT ONE OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DIS DISABILITIES ADVOCATE, DIS DISABILITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD, UH, TO KELLY POND AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN 1969, SPECIAL OLYMPICS WAS FOUNDED BY EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER TO GIVE PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS PROGRAMS. UH, SHE FOUNDED THIS ORGANIZATION IN HONOR OF HER SISTER ROSEMARIE KENNEDY. SHORTLY AFTER, UH, OLYMPIC DECATHLON GOLD MEDALIST RAFER JOHNSON BROUGHT SPECIAL OLYMPICS TO THE WESTERN STATES AND TO CALIFORNIA. IN 1995, CALIFORNIA SPLIT INTO SPECIAL OLYMPICS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ALSO KNOWN AS SOSC. AND 2007 SOSC RELOCATED THEIR HEADQUARTERS TO OUR WONDERFUL CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, THE MOTTO, YES, YAY, . THE THE MISSION OF SPECIAL OLYMPIC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS TO PROVIDE YEAR LONG ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND OLYMPIC STYLE COMPETITIONS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THEY OFFER 13 SPORTS ACROSS FOUR SEASONS AND SERVE NEARLY 25,000 ATHLETES ACROSS 11 COUNTIES HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHICH I THINK DESERVES SOME APPLAUSE AS WELL. , UH, SPECIAL OLYMPIC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS TOUCHED LONG BEACH IN A MULTITUDE OF WAYS, FROM HOSTING GALA EVENTS AT MANY FACILITIES ACROSS THE CITY, TO WORKING WITH THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN, AND HOSTING PRACTICES AND COMPETITIONS AT FACILITIES AND PARKS AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY. IN 1998, SOSC BEGAN A LONGTIME PARTNERSHIP WITH CAL STATE LONG BEACH TO HOST THEIR ANNUAL SUMMER GAMES ON THEIR CAMPUS. THIS THREE DAY EVENT IN COMPETITION HAS BECOME A STAPLE HERE IN LONG BEACH AND AN EVENT THAT PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO. UH, AS A KICKOFF TO SUMMER IN 2015, LOS ANGELES HAD THE HONOR OF HOSTING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES SHINING A LIGHT ON TALENTED ATHLETES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE. MY CONNECTION TO SPECIAL OLYMPIC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMES THROUGH ITS INCREDIBLE CEO KELLY POND. KELLY BRINGS OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE WORKING AT THE ORGANIZATION, AND FOR THE PAST THREE OR THE PAST FEW YEARS, SHE HAS SERVED IN THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER LEADING THE ORGANIZATION. UH, KELLY'S UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS SHOWS HER FIERCE DEDICATION TO BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. UH, LONG BEACH IS LUCKY TO CALL KELLY, BOTH A LONGTIME RESIDENT AND AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER IN OUR CITY. AW, THANK YOU, MARISSA. I'M CURRENTLY WEARING A [00:10:01] BRACELET, UH, FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS, SO IT HAS THEIR MOTTO ON IT, WHICH IS, LET ME WIN, BUT IF I CANNOT WIN, LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT. AND IN MY OPINION, LONG BEACH HAS WON BY HAVING KELLY POND AND SPECIAL OLYMPIC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY. IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO PRESENT KELLY POND, UH, VERY DEAR FRIEND AND SPECIAL OLYMPIC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH LONG BEACH'S DISABILITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2025. THANK YOU. AW, THANK YOU, MARISSA. CONGRATULATIONS MS. POND. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, UH, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, MARISSA, MY DEAR FRIEND. UM, FIRST OF ALL, WOW, THE, THE WAY THAT YOU CAN JUST SPEAK ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS IS JUST, UH, ONE EXAMPLE OF THE INCREDIBLY GENEROUS, CARING PERSON THAT YOU ARE. YOU DO SO MUCH FOR SO MANY AND JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW WHAT AN INSPIRATION YOU ARE, MARISSA, TO ALL OF US. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UM, AND THANK YOU CITY OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU TO THIS COUNCIL. UM, AS YOU HEARD FROM MARISSA, SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHANGES LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORT. UM, OUR ATHLETES ARE HEALTHIER, THEY GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE. THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND BE EMPLOYED. AND EVERYONE THAT GETS TO BE A PART OF OUR PROGRAM AND WITNESS AND CELEBRATE OUR ATHLETE'S ABILITIES, THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS ARE OPEN. AND THAT LEADS TO ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION. AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE SUCH A SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO MAKE THAT MAGIC POSSIBLE. SINCE THIS AWARD IS AROUND ADVOCATES, I DO WANNA SAY THAT ONE OF OUR LARGEST GROWING PROGRAMS IS OUR UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHERE STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES COMPETE TOGETHER, PARTICIPATE IN RALLIES TOGETHER. AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT IS NOT ONLY REDUCING BULLYING BY 97% IN EVERY SCHOOL THAT PARTICIPATES, BUT IT IS ALSO CREATING EVEN MORE ADVOCATES AMONG OUR YOUTH, WHICH WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND GRATEFUL FOR. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF OUR OVER 25,000 PARTICIPANTS. WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO BE PARTNERS ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN CONTINUING THIS IMPORTANT WORK. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, CAN I GET YOU OVER HERE FOR THE PICTURE, PLEASE? THIS IS RILEY. THIS IS RILEY. CAN I GET YOU FOR THE PHOTO TOO, WITH THE MAYOR? ARE WE GOING OVER THERE? OKAY. MAYOR RICHARDSON, CAN YOU GET YOU THE PHOTO PLEASE? LET'S MAKE SURE WE CAN SEE KIM AND JULIE. JULIE RIGHT THERE. SPREAD OUT A LITTLE BIT. CAN WE SEE THEM OR NOW? YES. OH, I CAN'T SEE KIM. THERE WE GO. NOW I, NOW I CAN. OKAY. ALRIGHT. OVER HERE. ONE, TWO. AND REALLY QUICKLY, UM, MS. RILEY WILL GET IN THE PHOTO AFTER. YEAH. MS. KELLY, YOU WANNA STEP OUT SO MUCH. RIGHT? [00:15:18] SO, WITH THE SPIRIT OF INCLUSION, WITH ALL THOSE WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPHS, I JUST WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT, UM, IN THE AGENDA THERE'S A ZOOM LINK SO YOU CAN LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE AWARD YOU'RE RECEIVING TODAY, BUT, UM, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO, IF YOU GO TO OUR CITY WEBSITE WHERE THEY LIST BOARDS AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU'LL SEE A LINK TO THE VIDEO BECAUSE THIS IS BEING VIDEOED AND WE WANNA SPREAD THE WORD. AND TO HELP US WITH THAT CHARGE IS OUR VERY FIRST NUMBER ONE ELECTED HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. MAYOR REX RICHARDSON. ALRIGHT, WELL, GRETCHEN, YOU LOOK MADAM CHAIR, YOU LOOK GOOD IN, IN MY SEAT UP THERE, . I'M USED TO. I'M NOT USED TO SPEAKING FROM HERE. I SPEAK, I NORMALLY SPEAK FROM THERE, BUT IT IS AN HONOR TO JOIN, UH, OUR INCREDIBLE COMMISSION TODAY FOR THIS OCCASION. AND BEFORE WE GET INTO THOSE COMMENTS, I JUST WANNA, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND THAT FUNCTION IS TO CONTINUE TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD DESPITE WHATEVER CHALLENGES, WHATEVER SURPRISES OR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THROWN OUR WAY, FEDERALLY, STATEWIDE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE ADVANCING DESPITE THOSE THINGS. IT'S LIKE, IF YOU EVER, UH, SEEN THOSE FOLKS SPINNING PLATES, YOU EVER SEEN THE PEOPLE SPINNING PLATES, THE KEY IS CONSTANT MOTION, RIGHT? THE MOMENT YOU GIVE TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO ONE PLATE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REST OF 'EM? AND THEY ALL COME CRASHING DOWN. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE COMMISSIONS IN OUR CITY. WE DON'T GET TOO FOCUSED ON ONE SPECIFIC THING. WE CONTINUE TO ADVANCE IN ALL OUR PRIORITY AREAS, AND YOU ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS THAT THEY BELONG IN OUR CITY. SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THAT WORK. WE COULD NOT BE THE CITY THAT WE ARE WITHOUT YOU, BUT WE ARE HERE TODAY, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF. JEN KUMA, THE OFFICE OF EQUITY, EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS THIS WORK. I REMEMBER WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OFFICE OF EQUITY. I REMEMBER WE WERE FIGHTING OVER THE WORD EQUITY. WE'VE COME A LONG WAY. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. WELL, TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE THESE, UH, CHAMPIONS, UH, THAT, UH, HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED TODAY. AND, UH, WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU. AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT LONG BEACH IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF GREAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR CITY AND THE FAMILY ENRICHMENT CENTER. WORKING TIRELESSLY TO EMPOWER OUR FAMILIES IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE IN OUR CITY. THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY IS ESSENTIAL. AND WE CANNOT FORGET THE JOY, THE EMPOWERMENT PROVIDED BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPECIAL OLYMPICS. AND WHAT, JUST WHAT AN INSPIRATIONAL, UH, UH, PROGRAM AND EVENT. AND I, MYSELF, UH, HAVE PARTICIPATED AT LONG BEACH STATE, UH, IN THE, THE, THE FLAG OPENING CEREMONIES. AND IT JUST WASN'T EXCITING, UM, UH, SPORT, UH, AN EVENT. IT IS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN LONG BEACH'S ROLE AS A BIG DIVERSE CITY, AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, AND A CITY WHOSE PROFILE IS GROWING, WE'RE ON THE RISE. AND WE'LL, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS WE OPEN UP OUR DOORS TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN 2028. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOW OUR LONG BEACH VALUES AND REALLY DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD THAT, UH, YOU CAN BE A CITY, UH, THAT IS DIVERSE AND THAT STANDS UP ON ITS VALUES AND, AND ENSURES THAT EVERYONE CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE. AND WE PLAN TO DO THAT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. UH, SO WE WANTED TO, UH, CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF THESE, BOTH OF THESE INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS AND SO MANY OTHERS. UH, YOUR COMMISSION, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVEN HOSTING AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS, BECAUSE NOT ALL COMMISSIONS ACTUALLY DO THAT. YOU'RE USING YOUR, LEVERAGING YOUR PLATFORM TO ENCOURAGE GOOD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROMOTE GOOD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS VERY SMART, USING YOUR PULPIT TO DO SO. UH, THESE EFFORTS ARE VITAL TO MAKING SURE THAT DISABILITY IS REPRESENTED ACROSS LONG BEACH'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS IN PARTICULAR. UH, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE WITH YOUR SURVEY, UH, MOST RECENTLY. YOUR, UM, DIVERSE YOUR, UH, DISABILITY DATA, DATA AND COMMUNITY SURVEY. COLLECTING DATA HELPS US MAKE SMARTER CHOICES AS A CITY WHERE A CITY BELIEVES IN DATA, WE'RE A PUBLIC HEALTH CITY, AND, UH, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BENCHMARK OUR WORK AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO DO BETTER. AND, AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT DATA AND SURVEYS. UM, AND SO WE SUPPORT YOUR DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING, AND WE ALSO, UH, WANNA CELEBRATE THESE FOLKS TODAY BECAUSE IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE TO ACTIVELY COMMIT TO A MORE INCLUSIVE CITY BY WORKING TOGETHER, [00:20:01] BY PROMOTING ONE, ONE ANOTHER, BY PROMOTING OPPORTUNITY, BY BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS. AND IT'S, IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR AS MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY TO BE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU DO AND THAT WORK WE CONTINUE TO DO. SO LET'S CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK. LET'S CONTINUE, CONTINUE TO MAKE LONG BEACH, UH, EQUITABLE AND MAKE LONG BEACH A CITY WHERE EVERYONE TRULY FEELS THAT THEY BELONG IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. BE LONG BEACH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. HE'S, HE, HE'S TOUGH TO FOLLOW. I'M JUST GONNA LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT , UM, I WE'LL MOVE TO VICE CHAIR BERT. THANK YOU. SO CAPE COD IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE FAMILY ENRICHMENT CENTER. AS ONE OF THIS YEAR'S HONOREES OF THE DIS DISABILITY ADVOCATES OF THE YEAR AWARD, AN ORGAN, AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE FAMILY ENRICHMENT CENTER WORKS TO REACH AND ENRICH FAMILIES BY PROVIDING VITAL RESOURCES, REFERRALS IN EDUCATION, FOOD SECURITY, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH AND LIFE SKILLS, ALL THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR IMPACT EFFORTS INCLUDES ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVES, SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVES, AND SPONSORSHIP OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS, ALONG WITH WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBU DISTRIBUTION, DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO THOSE IN NEED. A KEY FOCUS IS HELPING FAMILIES SECURE AND MAINTAIN SAFE, STABLE HOUSING THROUGH PERSONALIZED SUPPORT PLANS AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. IMPORTANTLY, THE FAMILY ENRICHMENT CENTER IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBILITY, ENSURING THAT EVERY PROGRAM AND EVENT IS INCLUSIVE AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES BY PROVIDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION AND FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF RESPECT AND EQUITY, THEIR DEDICATION TO REMOVING BARRIERS AND PROMOTING INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION TRULY AMPLIFIES THEIR ROLE AS CHAMPIONS FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY TODAY TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD. PLEASE HELP ME APPLAUD PRINCIPAL OFFICER KAREN RILEY. THANK YOU, CHAKA. IF YOU MAY, IF I MAY CALL YOU BY YOUR FIRST NAME. YES, YOU MAY. UM, IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE JUST TO BE HERE AND JUST TO ACCEPT THE AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY ENRICHMENT CENTER. UM, WE'RE ON GROUND LEVEL, BUT WE'RE TOUCHING SO MANY LIVES RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF, AS CHAKA HADN'T MENTIONED, THE, UM, FOOD DISTRIBUTION GOING TO HOMES. THERE ARE SO MANY TIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT GET OUT OF THEIR HOMES TO COME AND GET THE NECESSITIES. AND SO THAT'S A PART OF WHAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS DOING. SO WE'RE EXPANDING, ALSO HELPING WITH HOUSING. UM, YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS, NOT NECESSARILY LIVING ON THE STREET, BUT LIVING IN THEIR CARS OR LIVING WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS. THEY DO NOT HAVE RESIDENTS OF THEIR OWN. AND SO WE'RE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE HELPED THEM WITH THE RESOURCES, HELP THEM TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THOSE RESOURCES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A STABLE, UM, LIVING CONDITION. UM, CURRENTLY WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH, UM, THE MOLINA HEALTHCARE. UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH WHO NEED HEALTHCARE AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THE RIGHT PRIMARY DOCTOR, THE DENTIST, SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE TAKE SO MUCH FOR GRANTED. AND SO WE'RE THERE AGAIN TO JUST HELP THEM MANEUVER, MAKE SURE THEY GET TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS, AND, UH, JUST DO A GREAT FOLLOW UP. SO WE'RE ON THE GROUND LEVEL, UM, BUT WE'RE MAKING A GREAT IMPACT IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU ALL, UM, FOR THIS HONOR AND THIS AWARD THIS AFTERNOON. WOULD YOU BE OKAY? OKAY. LET'S, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET MARISSA IN THE BACK THERE. PERFECT. THERE. WAIT, WANT [00:25:01] US TO SCOOT OVER? YEAH. MOVING A LITTLE. THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. HOLD ON. MAKE SURE I CAN SEE JULIE. ALL'S GOOD OVER HERE. 1, 2, 3. OKAY. THIS IS WHAT PAPARAZZI LIFE IS LIKE. . THANK YOU. IT'S, UM, IT'S LOVELY. UH, IN THE POSITION I'M IN RIGHT NOW IS THAT I DON'T KNOW THESE FOLKS THAT WERE, UM, IDENTIFIED PERSONALLY. AND SO YOU READ ABOUT THEM IN MATERIALS THAT COME FORWARD, BUT ONE, YOU HEAR THEIR STORY AND MEET THEM. THERE'S JUST A WHOLE OTHER DIMENSION AND IT JUST AGAIN, MAKES ME SO IMPRESSED ABOUT BEING IN A COMMUNITY LIKE LONG BEACH. SO, UM, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, UH, AN HONOR FOR US TO BE HERE AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT. I'D LIKE TO, DID THEY LEAVE? DID FOLKS LEAVE? WE HAD A VICE MAYOR HERE JUST A MOMENT AGO. YES. VICE MAYOR WAS HERE AND THEN THE COUNCIL PERSON. I SEE THE COUNCIL PERSON. THAT'S COOL. WHERE DID VICE MAYOR GO? LIKE, IT'S A MAGIC ACT. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? PEOPLE ARE JUST LEAVING LEFT AND RIGHT. THERE HE IS. OKAY. WHEW. I WAS GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS. . I KNOW YOU WERE THERE AND THEN YOU WERE HERE. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING. DID YOU WANNA SPEAK INTO THE MIC? YOU SHAKA? OF COURSE. YEAH, YOU WANT HERE, WE'LL GIVE YOU A SEAT. YOU'RE ON THE COMMISSION NOW. OKAY, WELL, SORRY ABOUT NOW. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA SPEAK. SO I WAS HERE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF RECOGNIZING TWO WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND TWO WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THEY DO. TWO YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO NOW, I HAD A STROKE AND I WAS NOT DISABLED THEN. I AM DISABLED NOW. SO WHEN I GO ANYWHERE, I NOW HAVE ASSISTANCE TO HELP ME. I, UH, HAVE MY PLACARD AND I AM VERY MUCH AWARE OF PLACES NOW THAT ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE, UH, FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES OR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES IN GOING TO PLACES, INCLUDING CITY HALL. AND THAT BROUGHT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES UP TO OUR, UH, TEAM IN REGARDS TO LIKE, WE NEED A A DOOR HERE, WE NEED A WRAP HERE, THERE AND, AND WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT I GOTTA SAY THAT BACK IN THE DAY, 40 YEARS AGO, I WAS A PERSONNEL ASSISTANT FOR THE CITY WITH THE CIVIL SOURCE DEPARTMENT, AND I CONDUCTED EXAMINATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT. AND BACK IN THE DAY, THERE WAS NO A DA, THERE WAS NO ATTENTION BEING PAID TO PEOPLE WITH CHALLENGES. AND I RAN A TEST ONE TIME. I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA COMMIT IT, I DON'T WANNA THROW ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS. BUT THERE WAS A TEST THAT HAD OF A NUMBER OF, OF, UH, DISABLED PEOPLE HEARING ESPECIALLY, AND THEY COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR HANDS, THE JOB THEY APPLIED FOR REQUIR REQUIRED THAT, UH, THEY USE THEIR HANDS TO CUT PAPER AND THEY DIDN'T WANNA DO IT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THEY CUT THEIR NUMBER OF COMMUNICATION. SO THEY ASKED IF THEY COULD HAVE A PERSON WOULD FOR THEM AND JUST TALK IT THROUGH IT. THE, UH, THE PERSON WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE MAN, THE MANAGER OF THAT, OF THAT SHOP [00:30:01] DID NOT LIKE THAT EITHER. WE GONNA NEED A JOB PERSON TO HELP HIM. NOW HE'S GONNA NEED A PERSON TO HELP HIM FOREVER. AND I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. SO, NO, I GOT MAD SO SOON AFTER THAT WE HAD THE A DAI WAS STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT. I'LL TRY SUPPORT OF IT NOW, BECAUSE IF YOU DO IMPORTANT WORK, THE MAYOR SAID IT MORE, EXCUSE ME, MORE, UH, CONCISELY THAN I CAN BECAUSE HE HAD IT RIGHT NOW. 19. I, I DON, I'M TALKING YOU FROM HERE. I'M TALKING YOU FROM MY HEART AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I, UH, I, I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE A THE FIRST COMMISSION THAT WAS CREATED AS A RESULT OF THE A DA. AND I'VE BEEN SO PROUD OF THAT EVER SINCE. AND I'M PROUD OF YOUR WORK. CONTINUE WHERE YOUR HARD WORK, CONTINUE RECOGNIZING GOOD WORK ON THE COMMUNITY, AND I WISH YOU WILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VICE MAYOR. THE, THE HISTORY IS SO INCREDIBLE AND, UM, AND YOU REMIND US OF THE NEED FOR PASSION ACROSS THE, THE YEARS COUNCIL MEMBER. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS? WE'D LOVE IT. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY AND IT'S SO NICE TO MEET JACKIE AND KELLY AND CELEBRATE. UM, AND, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AS, AS COMMISSIONERS. AND I THINK THE MAYOR SAID SO MUCH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING ALL THE PLATES IN THE AIR BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT. SO YOU'RE TAKING ON THAT TASK AND IT REALLY MAKES ME PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE MAKING THINGS ACCESSIBLE IN OUR CITY. AND THERE HAVE BEEN PAST DECADES WHEN THAT OPPORTUNITY HASN'T BEEN AVAILABLE TO FOLKS. VICE MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT THE HISTORY. I WANNA TALK ABOUT JUST WHERE I AM COMING FROM AND, UM, WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF K COD AND JUST SHARE IN, UM, THE FUTURE. SO I THINK KELLY POND WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS TALKED ABOUT HOW ATHLETES ACTUALLY ARE ABLE TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY. UM, THEY'RE ABLE TO REALLY BE MORE SUCCESSFUL BY HAVING SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN REALLY, UM, ENJOY HELP WITH THEIR SKILLS AND SOCIALIZE. I THINK THE SOCIALIZING PART IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO I'M REALLY, I'M SO PLEASED TO, UM, MEET KELLY AND I, I WANT TO SUPPORT BOTH OF THESE OUTSTANDING, UM, PROGRAMS, BUT I JUST, I I'M JUST PROUD TO BE HERE TO HELP CELEBRATE AND TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TO, TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION AND OF ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. AND FIRST OF ALL, I REMEMBER MEETING KIM V SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I ACTUALLY THINK I MET HER THE NIGHT I WAS, UH, THE INAUGURATION NIGHT. AND I TALKED TO HER ABOUT, UH, A PROGRAM I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IN A PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE JENNIFER SO MUCH AND WHAT SHE DOES IN THE CITY. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO JACKIE. AND I'M SORRY, WHAT? KAREN, I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. , UM, AND KELLY AND, UM, JUST APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND JUST ON A, A FUN NOTE IN, UM, HER DISTRICT IS TWO OF THE THREE BEACH MATS THAT WE HAVE THAT INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY INTO THE OCEAN THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT OUT THERE. SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND, UM, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S SERIOUS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF JOY IN THE WORK THAT WE DO. NOW WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THAT RIGHT? NO, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. OKAY. MOVING, MOVING ON TO, UH, RE UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, [1. 25-56594 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting of Thursday, September 11, 2025.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MEETING FOR THURSDAY. OC UH, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION? SECOND IT MOVED BY SECRETARY DEAN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HOPE COMMISSIONERS. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARD IN THE MOTION? UM, IF NOT, WE'LL TAKE, [00:35:01] UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM. SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAM CHAIR, UM, A CALL FOR THE VOTE. UH, COMMISSIONER ADAMS AYE. COMMISSIONER JONES? AYE. COMMISSIONER HOPE. AYE. COMMISSIONER ROMO ABSTAIN. CHAIR SWANSON ABSTAIN. COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ ABSTAIN. SECRETARY DEAN. AYE. COMMISSIONER VONG. OKAY. VICE CHAIR GARBE. AYE. IF ANY OF THE MEMBERS THAT CHOSE TO ABSTAIN REVIEWED THE MINUTES IN THEIR AGENDA PACKET, THEN THEY CAN VOTE ON THE ITEM. AH, DO I ASK JUST EXTEMPORANEOUSLY OR SHOULD WE GO BACK THROUGH THE VOTE? UH, UH CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU ABSTAINED, PLEASE? WE ABSTAINED. OKAY. UH, CHAIR V. UH, I'M GONNA TAKE THE, THE VOTES OF THE, THE PEOPLE WHO FORMALLY ABSTAINED. UM, COMMISSIONER VONG AYE. COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ? AYE. COMMISSIONER ROMO? AYE. COMMISSIONER JONES? AYE. MOTION COMMISSIONER. HOPE. OH, COMMISSIONER, UH, CHAIR SWANSON. I ACCEPT THE MOTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, RECOMMENDATION [2. 25-56595 Recommendation to receive and file reports from current Ad Hoc Committees; discuss anticipated Ad Hoc Committees for upcoming projects; and, if appropriate, take action to dissolve or create Ad Hoc Committees.        Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO RECEIVE AND FI FILE REPORTS FROM THE CURRENT AD HOC COMMITTEES. DISCUSS ANTICIPATED AD HOC COMMITTEES FOR UPCOMING PROJECTS AND IF APPROPRIATE, TAKE ACTION TO DISSOLVE OR CREATE AD HOC COMMITTEES. MAY HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM. AYE. I'LL SECOND. IT WAS MOVED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER VONG AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ. I WILL READ THE REPORTS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEES. SO THE DISABILITY DATA AND COMMUNITY S SURVEY AD HOC COMMITTEE, UM, THEY'RE DOING REALLY GREAT WORK. UM, THEY'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF CREATING THE DATASET QUESTIONS. AND ONCE DONE, WE'LL SEND THOSE OFF TO BE REVIEWED BY LEADERSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON PRIORITIZING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SO THAT WE CAN GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO TAKE THE SURVEY. UM, THIS CONCLUDES THE REPORT FOR THIS COMMITTEE. UM, FOR OUR GUESTS HERE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE DISABILITY DATA AND COMMUNITY SURVEY, UM, IT'S THE FIRST EVER DISABILITY CENTERED, UM, DATA COLLECTION, UH, PROJECT WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND FY 25. THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL GRANTED THE COMMISSION $60,000 TO CONDUCT THIS WORK AND THIS WILL CULMINATE, UM, AND RESULT IN THE CITY'S FIRST EVER STATED DISABILITY REPORT. MOVING ON TO THE ENDING COMMITTEE, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE ENDING COMMITTEE HAS 29 RSVPS FOR THE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOP ON OCTOBER 23RD, 2025, WHICH WILL BE HELD BY ZOOM. UH, THE COMMITTEE EXPECTS MORE RSVPS AS THE DATE DRAWS NEAR. UH, THE WORKSHOP WILL BE FACILITATED BY, UM, DISABILITY ACTIVIST CANDACE WELCH. AND, UH, THEY ARE EXCITED TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE SHARED DURING THIS WEBINAR. THIS MIGHT CONCLUDES THE REPORT FOR THE END COMMITTEE DISABILITY ADVOCATES OF THE YEAR AWARD COMMITTEE. UM, WE JUST HAD ANOTHER GREAT, UH, SUCCESSFUL CEREMONY TODAY. UM, AND THE COMMISSION LOOKS FORWARD TO KEEPING THIS TRADITION. UM, WE ACTUALLY NEED TO DISSOLVE THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE. I MOTION THAT WE DISSOLVE THE DISABILITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AD HOC COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. SECOND? SECOND. IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROMO. I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE VOTE. UM, COMMISSIONER ADAMS. AYE. COMMISSIONER JONES? AYE. COMMISSIONER HOPE. AYE. COMMISSIONER ROMO. AYE. CHAIR SWANSON. AYE. COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ? AYE. SECRETARY DEAN. AYE. COMMISSIONER VONG. AYE. VICE CHAIR GARBE. AYE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS CONCLUDES THE REPORTS FOR THE AD HOC COMMITTEES. DO, DO WE NEED ANOTHER VOTE? NO. OKAY. I LOVE IT. SO WE'RE MOVING ONTO MY APOLOGIES. WHO WAS THE SECOND ON THAT MOTION AGAIN? ROMO. COMMISSIONER ROMO. THANK YOU. N NOW WE'RE GOING TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, WE'LL TAKE, UM, NON [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.] AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT. IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE, UH, PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA, UH, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM. IF YOU'RE ATTENDING IN PERSON OR IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION OR DIAL NINE CALLING IN BY PHONE. JENNIFER WILL CONFIRM. THANK YOU. OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS, UH, THIRD DISTRICT COUNCILWOMAN CHRISTINA DUGGAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM PLEASED TO, UM, TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AN [00:40:01] EVENT THAT I'M SPONSORING, BUT THE PERSON WHO'S PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, HER NAME IS AMY LARA. SHE RUNS A, A, AN ADAPTIVE PROGRAM CALLED ADAPTIVE FREEDOM. AND I MET HER IN 2019. THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE IN WATER SPORTS FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES IS INCREDIBLE. AND SHE BROUGHT AN IDEA, UM, TO MY OFFICE AND REALLY I JUST SET IT SPINNING WITH SPECIAL EVENTS. AND I'D REALLY LIKE YOU TO MEET AMY AND WE'RE GONNA GET YOU SOME FLYERS FOR AN EVENT THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN MARINE STADIUM ON NOVEMBER 8TH. UM, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING AMY UP AND GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE AND THE EVENT THAT SHE HAS. SO, AMY LARA, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M AMY LARA, FOUNDER OF ADAPTIVE FREEDOM FOUNDATION. WE TAKE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON WHEELCHAIR ADAPTED STANDUP PADDLE BOARDS, AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE SPEAKING WITH YOU ALL AND TO BE IN THE ROOM AS THE TWO HONOREES WERE HONORED. AND I JUST, IT JUST IS AMAZING TO SEE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BY YOU ALL. AND I'M JUST HUMBLED BECAUSE YOU'VE LAID THE GROUND FOR GROUPS LIKE US THAT ARE SMALL AND UNSEEN TO DO OUR WORK GROUND LEVEL LIKE MRS. RILEY WAS SAYING. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO COUNCILWOMAN CHRISTINA DUGGAN FOR THE INVITATION TO SPEAK HERE WITH YOU AND YOUR GROUP. THIS YEAR WE'RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH CHRISTINA'S DISTRICT THREE FOR THE WAVES OF ABILITY, WHICH IS AN ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND WELLNESS FAIR. IT'S GONNA BE TAKING PLACE NOVEMBER 8TH AT MARINE STADIUM. IT'LL BE A FULL DAY OF ADAPTIVE SPORTS CLINICS, COMMUNITY VENDORS, WELLNESS EXPERIENCES, LIVE MUSIC AND INCLUSION IN MOTION. BUT MORE THAN THAT, IT'S A STATEMENT, A MESSAGE THAT OUR CITY SEES THE VALUE IN ADAPTIVE ATHLETES. THAT WE BELIEVE IN VISIBILITY AND COMMUNITY AND POSSIBILITY, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING HARD TO BUILD SOMETHING SUSTAINABLE. MORE DONATIONS FROM VENDORS ARE POOLED AND SHARED WITH THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS GROUPS, WITH PARTNERING WITH THESE GROUPS TO CREATE AN ECOSYSTEM OF MUTUAL SUPPORT RATHER THAN COMPETITION. I BELIEVE WE ALL DESERVE TO FEEL THE SUN ON OUR SKIN TO FEEL THE THRILL OF MOVEMENT AND FEEL THE SUPPORT OF A COMMUNITY WHERE WE'RE FULLY SEEN. THAT'S WHAT ADAPTIVE FREEDOM STANDS FOR AND THAT'S WHAT WAVES OF ABILITY WILL BE ABOUT. UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING BRING LIFE THROUGH YOUR ADVOCACY, YOUR SERVICE, AND YOUR HEARTS. IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET INVOLVED, WHETHER AS A VOLUNTEER, A PARTNER OR A SPONSOR, YOU CAN FIND US@ADAPTIVEFREEDOMFOUNDATION.ORG OR YOU CAN SPEAK WITH ME AFTERWARDS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. NEXT. THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE HAVE JOHN KINDRED. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'VE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND I'VE BEEN ASKING THE SAME QUESTION, UH, ABOUT OUR BUS STOPS THAT EITHER DON'T HAVE NO SHELTER OR THE SHELTER THEY DO HAVE. IT IS NOT UP TO PAR AND IT DOES NOT DO THE JOB. AND I'VE ASKED YOU, UH, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE THIS. I SAID ON ONE OF THE COMMITTEES, ADVISORY COMMITTEES AT LONG BEACH TRANSIT, AND I'VE BEEN ASKING THEM FOR OVER 10 TO 12 YEARS, THE SAME QUESTIONS AND NEVER GOT A STRAIGHT ANSWER AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE. AND WE KNOW IT'S GETTING HOTTER, THE WEATHER'S GETTING WORSE AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK AND PEOPLE ARE DYING. AND SOME PEOPLE CANNOT EVEN USE THE BUSES ON DAYS LIKE THIS. I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, I'M SENSITIVE TO IT. SO I'M ASKING YOU, HAVE YOU FOUND ANYTHING OUT OR ANYTHING'S BEEN DONE? AND ALSO WE'RE HAVING A MEETING COMING UP PRETTY SOON, UH, I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK. AND THE MEETING'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IT'S ALL ON ZOOM. AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO TAKE PART IN THIS MEETING AND ASK QUESTIONS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S BEING DONE. BECAUSE IF YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BUT THEY CAN'T, WELL THEN WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? AND THEN THE DISABLED COMMUNITY, LOW INCOME AND SENIORS ARE THE MOST PEOPLE WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WE RELY ON IT. BUT YET THOUGH NOTHING'S BEEN DONE, WE HEAR A LOT OF TALK AND I'VE BEEN ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THE LONGEST OF ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND I USE IT DAILY. [00:45:01] AND I'VE BEEN RIDING THE BUS SINCE 1975. AND THIS IS NO EXCUSE. METRO SAYS THEY'RE 78% SHORT ON SHELTERS WITH WITH UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BUS STOPS. AND THIS CAME OUT BACK IN 2325 AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN IMPROVED. AND LONG BEACH IS NO DIFFERENT. SO I'M ASKING YOU TODAY, IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING, WHEN WILL YOU, AND WHEN WILL WE HEAR SOMETHING? AND PRETTY SOON WE HAVE COMING UP THE OLYMPICS. WE SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL TO HAPPEN. WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE. THANK YOU. SEE NO MORE. UM, PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAM CHAIR. UH, THANK YOU JOHN. UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. UM, I THINK WE'RE MOVING ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. YES. UM, COMMISSIONERS, [ANNOUNCEMENTS] ARE THERE ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM INDIVIDUALS HERE ON THE COMMISSION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? YEAH. NOT REALLY ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT JOHN, GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. I DID NOT GET THAT. ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? COMMISSIONERS? I'M SORRY I COULDN'T HEAR THEM. OH, WAS GOOD TO SEE JOHN. OH, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE. YES. I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. YES. UM, FROM OUR ORGANIZATION, TCC FAMILY HEALTH CENTER, WE HAVE A BEACH WALK, A 5K WALK AT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC, RIGHT BEHIND AQUARIUM IN THE LIGHTHOUSE. SO EVERYONE'S INVITED FOR THAT. AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME OUT AND ANNOUNCE AND PROMOTE TO OUR PATIENTS AND VISITORS TO THE BEACH WALK, WHICH IS GONNA BE OCTOBER 25TH, SATURDAY. THIS IS COMING UP OCTOBER 25TH. AND YOU CAN GO ON TO THE TCC FAMILY HEALTH CENTER WEBSITE AND JOIN AND GRAB A TEAM. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. UM, CAN JENNIFER, CAN YOU MICROPHONE PLEASE? MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING ON ZOOM EXHIBIT. CAN YOU USE YOUR MICROPHONE? OH, SORRY. UM, I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING ON ZOOM NEXT WEEK THAT MR. KENDRICK MENTIONED? YES, THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES. COMMISSIONER, VICE CHAIR? NO. ARE THERE ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CITY STAFF? YES. I'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT ON OCTOBER 23RD, 2025 AT 2:00 PM IS THE VIRTUAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UM, IT WILL BE HOSTED, UM, AND FACILITATED BY CANDACE WELCH. UM, IT IS FREE TO ATTEND AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. UM, PLEASE COME. IT IS OUR, UM, ANNUAL NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH CELEBRATION, UM, EVENT. UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY, UM, ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANK YOU. THEN IF THERE'S NO [ADJOURNMENT] FURTHER, UH, OBJECTION. I DECLARE THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT WHAT TIME? IT IS 1:48 PM I'M SORRY, I'M 1 48. THANK YOU. 1 48 . THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.